第51章 委员会会议
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第51章 委员会会议
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Chap. 51—Committee Meetings
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凡参加委员会会议的人应当记住他们是和那位将工作交托他们的上帝一同开会。他们应当怀着敬畏和献身的心聚在一起。他们相聚是要考虑有关圣工的重要事情。他们各方面的举动都应表明他们在制订计划推进上帝圣工的事上是愿意明白上帝的旨意。他们不可把片刻的时间浪费在不重要的谈话中,因为主的事情应当以完善正规的方法来办理。如果委员会的某位成员有漫不经心,不恭不敬的举止,就当提醒他,有一位“见证人”在场,衡量人的一举一动。{7T 256.1}[1]
§4
Let those who attend committee meetings remember that they are meeting with God, who has given them their work. Let them come together with reverence and consecration of heart. They meet to consider important matters connected with the Lord’s cause. In every particular their actions are to show that they are desirous of understanding His will in regard to the plans to be laid for the advancement of His work. Let them not waste a moment in unimportant conversation; for the Lord’s business should be conducted in a businesslike, perfect way. If some member of a committee is careless and irreverent, let him be reminded that he is in the presence of a Witness by whom all actions are weighed.?{7T 256.1}[1]
§5
我蒙指示,得知委员会会议并不总蒙上帝悦纳。有些人是带着冷酷,刚愎,无情和批评的精神来参加会议的。这样的人会造成很大的损害。因为那恶者与他们一起,使他们站在错误的立场上。他们对正在考虑的措施所抱冷若冰霜的态度,往往制造困难,拖延了应该作出的决定。上帝的仆人原需要睡眠和脑力的休息,却为这些事务疲惫不堪,负担过重。为了作出决定,他们把会议开到深夜。可是生命十分宝贵,不应受到这样的危害。让主来负这个担子,等候祂来调处这些困难。让疲倦的脑子休息一下,时间用得不合理会损害人的体力,智力,和道德力量。如果大脑得到一段时间适宜的休息,思想就必清晰敏锐,事情就会迅速处理了。{7T 256.2}[2]
§6
I have been instructed that committee meetings are not always pleasing to God. Some have come to these meetings with a cold, hard, critical, loveless spirit. Such may do great harm; for with them is the presence of the evil one, that keeps them on the wrong side. Not infrequently their unfeeling attitude toward measures under consideration brings in perplexity, delaying decisions that should be made. God’s servants, in need of rest of mind, and sleep, have been greatly distressed and burdened over these matters. In the hope of reaching a decision, they continue their meetings far into the night. But life is too precious to be imperiled in this way. Let the Lord carry the burden. Wait for Him to adjust the difficulties. Give the weary brain a rest. Unreasonable hours are destructive to the physical, the mental, and the moral powers. If the brain were given proper periods of rest, the thoughts would be clear and sharp, and business would be expedited.?{7T 256.2}[2]
§7
【饮食与董事会议的关系】
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我们的弟兄在出席议事会或董事会之前,各人应亲自到上帝面前省察已心,严格检查自己的动机,求主亲自向你显现,使你不会提出不智的批评,或非难他人的提议。{7T 257.1}[3]
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【The Relation of Diet to Board Meetings】
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Before our brethren assemble in council or board meetings, each one should present himself before God, carefully searching the heart and critically examining the motives. Pray that the Lord may reveal self to you so that you may not unwisely criticize or condemn propositions.?{7T 257.1}[3]
§11
在佳肴纷陈的饭席上,人们往往饮食过度,不消化。胃负担过重会引起消化不良,结果脑子里就有不舒服的迟钝感觉,思想也不能敏锐活动。食物调配不妥,也会造成不安,发酵过程开始了。血液受到了污染,脑子也混乱了。{7T 257.2}[4]
§12
At bountiful tables men often eat much more than can be easily digested. The overburdened stomach cannot do its work properly. The result is a disagreeable feeling of dullness in the brain, and the mind does not act quickly. Disturbance is created by improper combinations of food; fermentation sets in; the blood is contaminated and the brain confused.?{7T 257.2}[4]
§13
饮食过量或一餐所用食物品种过多,这种习惯往往造成消化不良,给精致的消化器官带来严重的损害。胃部向头脑提出抗议,请求对这事的前因后果加以考虑,却是徒然。食物过量或配合不当实在是有害的。先是由不舒服的感觉发出警告,警告无效痛苦随之而来,疾病取代了健康。{7T 257.3}[5]
§14
The habit of overeating, or of eating too many kinds of food at one meal, frequently causes dyspepsia. Serious injury is thus done to the delicate digestive organs. In vain the stomach protests and appeals to the brain to reason from cause to effect. The excessive amount of food eaten, or the improper combination, does its injurious work. In vain do disagreeable premonitions give warning. Suffering is the consequence. Disease takes the place of health.?{7T 257.3}[5]
§15
一些人要问:这与董事会议有什么关系?关系很大。饮食的不合宜会影响议事会和董事会。因为人的头脑受胃部状况所影响。胃部失调会造成心思烦乱不安。病态的胃不仅能使脑子产生病态,还往往会使人固执坚持自己错误的意见。这种人的所谓智慧在上帝看来,乃是愚拙。{7T 257.4}[6]
§16
Some may ask, What has this to do with board meetings? Very much. The effects of wrong eating are brought into council and board meetings. The brain is affected by the condition of the stomach. A disordered stomach is productive of a disordered, uncertain state of mind. A diseased stomach produces a diseased condition of the brain and often makes one obstinate in maintaining erroneous opinions. The supposed wisdom of such a one is foolishness with God.?{7T 257.4}[6]
§17
我之所以提到这事,乃因许多议事会和董事会议的不良情形,大都由此造成。那本来需要详加研讨的问题,只予以少许的考虑,不少极关重要的决定,却仓促草率地通过了事。往往有许多意见,原应大家一致赞同的,但因为有人坚决反对,以致整个会场的空气竟为之完全改观。这一类的结果已一再地显现在我面前了。{7T 258.1}[7]
§18
I present this as the cause of the situation in many council and board meetings, where questions demanding careful study have been given but little consideration, and decisions of the greatest importance have been hurriedly made. Often when there should have been unanimity of sentiment in the affirmative, decided negatives have entirely changed the atmosphere pervading a meeting. These results have been presented to me again and again.?{7T 258.1}[7]
§19
我现在提到这些事,乃因我已蒙受指示,要转告担任传道工作的弟兄们:由于饮食的不节制,你们就不能清楚地看出圣火与凡火的分别来。同时,由于这种无节制的饮食,也表现了你们不顾主所给的警告。因为祂有话向你们说:“你们中间谁是敬畏耶和华、听从祂仆人之话的,这人行在暗中,没有亮光,当倚靠耶和华的名,仗赖自己的上帝。凡你们点火,用火把围绕自己的,可以行在你们的火焰里,并你们所点的火把中。这是我手所定的,你们必躺在悲惨之中”(赛50:10,11)。{7T 258.2}[8]
§20
I present these matters now because I am instructed to say to my brethren in the ministry: By intemperance in eating you disqualify yourselves for seeing clearly the difference between sacred and common fire. And by this intemperance you also reveal your disregard for the warnings that the Lord has given you. His word to you is: “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of Mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.”?Isaiah 50:10, 11.?{7T 258.2}[8]
§21
难道我们还不亲近主,使祂可以救拔我们摆脱在饮食上放纵无度的恶习,又使我们脱离那一切不圣洁的情欲和各种的罪恶吗?难道我们竟不肯在上帝面前自己谦卑,放弃各样败坏灵性和肉体的事,藉着敬畏祂,使我们得以完成圣洁的品格吗?{7T 258.3}[9]
§22
Shall we not draw near to the Lord, that He may save us from all intemperance in eating and drinking, from all unholy, lustful passion, all wickedness? Shall we not humble ourselves before God, putting away everything that corrupts the flesh and the spirit, that in His fear we may perfect holiness of character??{7T 258.3}[9]
§23
但愿每位出席议事会与委员会议的人,在他心中铭刻这样的话:“我是为了今生和永生而工作,我要为那促成我行为的动机向上帝负责。”但愿他将这话作为格言。但愿诗人的祷告也成为他的祈祷:“耶和华啊,求祢禁止我的口,把守我的嘴。求祢不叫我的心偏向邪恶”(诗141:3,4)。{7T 259.1}[10]
§24
Let everyone who sits in council and committee meetings write in his heart the words: I am working for?time and for eternity; and I am accountable to God for the motives that prompt me to action. Let this be his motto. Let the prayer of the psalmist be his prayer:?{7T 258.4}[10]
§25
在商讨推进圣工之时,不可让任何人取得控制权,也不容只有一人代表全体发言。一切提供的方法和计划,都应予以慎重的考虑,以便凡出席的弟兄都有机会权衡这些方法与计划的得失,然后决定取舍。在研讨那些我们似乎有责任要前往工作的地区时,最好也要考虑到在那些地区所将遭遇的种种困难。{7T 259.2}[11]
§26
“Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing.”?Psalm 141:3, 4.?{7T 259.1}[11]
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委员会要尽可能地使大众明了他们的计划,俾能博得会众公意支持他们的努力。教友中许多人有深谋远虑,并具有其它高超智力的;当鼓励他们注意工作的进展。许多人可能受到引导,对于上帝圣工具有深邃的见解,并且愿意寻求上面来的智慧,藉着为生命之道拯救那将亡的人,来扩展基督的国。具有高尚思想的男女,将来必加入一班有话论及他们的团体之中:“不是你们拣选了我,是我拣选了你们,并且分派你们去结果子”(约15:16)。{7T 259.3}[12]
§28
In counseling for the advancement of the work, no one man is to be a controlling power, a voice for the whole. Proposed methods and plans are to be carefully considered so that all the brethren may weigh their relative merits and decide which should be followed. In studying the fields to which duty seems to call us it is well to take into account the difficulties that will be encountered in these fields.?{7T 259.2}[12]