第36章 慈善工作的特别资金
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第36章 慈善工作的特别资金
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Chap. 36 - Specific Funds for Welfare Work
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基督徒要作上帝的司库——穷人是上帝的遗产。基督为他们舍了自己的性命。祂号召那些祂所指定作祂管家的人，慷慨地奉献所委托给他们的钱财，去救济穷人，维持祂在地上的圣工。主是富有资源的。祂已指定人们作祂在这世界的司库。祂所赐给他们的，他们要用来侍奉祂。—《文稿》1903. 146 {WM 272.1}[1]
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Christians to Act as Gods Treasurers.--The poor are Gods heritage. Christ has given His life for them. He calls upon those whom He has appointed to act as His stewards, to give liberally of the means entrusted to them to relieve the poor and to support His work in the earth. The Lord is rich in resources. He has appointed men to act as His treasurers in this world. That which He has given them they are to use in his service.--Manuscript 146, 1903. {WM 272.1}[1]
§5
帮助穷人的感恩祭——在各地教会之中，应当为穷人准备款项。让每位教友随其方便，每周一次或每月一次，向上帝献上感恩捐。这种感恩捐，要表明我们感谢主赐我们健康，食物，及舒适的衣着。我们可照上帝所赐的这些享受，分出一部分来济助那些贫穷，困苦及遭难的人。我要求本会的弟兄们特别注意这一件事。当记念穷人。应当放弃一些奢侈的享受，甚至于牺牲一些舒适便利，来帮助那些只能得到微薄衣食的人。你们为他们行好事，行在圣徒身上，亦即行在耶稣的身上。祂自认是与受苦的人类相同。不可等待直到你们所想象的一切需要都满足了。你们不可信任自己的感情，在爱给的时候就给，在不爱给的时候就不给。应当有规则地施舍，每周不论是一角，二角，或五角，按你们在上帝审判之日所愿看的天庭记录而定。——《证言》卷五150页. {WM 272.2}[2]
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A Thank Offering for the Poor.--In every church there should be established a treasury for the poor. Then let each member present a thank offering to God once a week or once a month, as is most convenient. This offering will express our gratitude for the gifts of health, of food, and of comfortable clothing. And according as God has blessed us with these comforts will we lay by for the poor, the suffering, and the distressed. I would call the attention of our brethren specially to this point. Remember the poor. Forgo some of your luxuries, yea, even comforts, and help those who can obtain only the most meager food and clothing. In doing for them you are doing for Jesus in the person of His saints. He identifies Himself with suffering humanity. Do not wait until your imaginary wants are all satisfied. Do not trust to your feelings and give when you feel like it and withhold when you do not feel like it. Give regularly, either ten, twenty, or fifty cents a week, as you would like to see upon the heavenly record in the day of God.--Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 150, 151. {WM 272.2}[2]
§7
家中的舍己箱——每一个人在自己的家中都要有一个捐款箱，及至他要把分分角角用来满足自己时，要让他记得非洲、印度和他自家门口不远处的赤贫饥饿的人。我们中间有穷人。要实行节约，并在各方面把自己的事向上帝讲明。求祂赐给你基督的精神，以便你在完全的意义上作基督的门徒并领受祂的福气。你在转离对自己的敬拜，设法解救受苦的人类时，要祈求上帝赐给你一份真正的救灵传道工作。这样，那些来到上帝的殿敬拜上帝的人就会看到一班衣装正派、与信仰及上帝的道相和的人。正是这些事偷走了上帝子民对祂的爱与信赖，损害了宗教经验，发展了上帝看不了的自私自利的精神。—《文稿》1898. 52 {WM 273.1}[3]
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A Self-denial Box at Home.--Let everyone have a self-denial box in his home, and when he would spend pennies and shillings in self-gratification let him remember the needy and starving in Africa and India and those close by his own door. There are poor among us. Practice economy, and in every line present your case to God. Ask Him to give you the spirit of Christ, that you may be in every sense of the word Christs disciples and receive His blessing. As you turn from the worship of self and try to relieve suffering humanity, pray that God will give you a true missionary work to do for souls. Then those who come to worship in the house of God will see a people clothed in modest apparel in harmony with the faith and Word of God. It is these things that steal away the love and trust and confidence of Gods people in Him, that mar the religious experience and develop a selfishness that God cannot look upon.--Manuscript 52, 1898. {WM 273.1}[3]
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第二个十分之一——以色列民为要参加宗教的节期并周济穷人起见，必需从一切进款之中提出另一个十分之一来。关于头一个十分之一，耶和华曾说：“凡以色列中出产的十分之一，我已赐给利未的子孙为业”（民18:21）。至于第二个十分之一，祂吩咐说：“又要把你的五谷，新酒，和油的十分之一，并牛群羊群中头生的，吃在耶和华你上帝面前，就是祂所选择要立为祂名的居所；这样，你可以学习时常敬畏耶和华你的上帝”（申14:23;29;16:11-14）。他们要把这个十分之一，或把它换成相同价值的金钱，两年一次带到建立圣所的地方。奉献的人把感恩祭献与上帝，并把特定的一部分送给祭司之后，就用剩下的部分举行宗教性的宴会，邀请利未人，寄居的外人和孤儿寡妇来参加。……{WM 273.2}[4]
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The Second Tithe.--To promote the assembling of the people for religious service, as well as to provide for the poor, a second tithe of all the increase was required. Concerning the first tithe, the Lord had declared, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel, But in regard to the second He commanded, Thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. This tithe, or its equivalent in money, they were for two years to bring to the place where the sanctuary was established. After presenting a thank offering to God and a specified portion to the priest, the offerers were to use the remainder for a religious feast, in which the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow should participate. . . . {WM 273.2}[4]
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但每逢第三年，这第二个十分之一就要用在家里，来款待利未人和穷人，正如摩西所说的：“使他们在你城中可以吃得饱足”（申26:12）。这一个十分之一要作为准备金，用来周济穷人并接待远人。——《先祖与先知》530页. {WM 274.1}[5]
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Every third year, however, this second tithe was to be used at home, in entertaining the Levite and the poor, as Moses said, That they may eat within thy gates, and be filled. This tithe would provide a fund for the uses of charity and hospitality.--Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 530. {WM 274.1}[5]
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百姓从一切收入中，不论是从果园田地，羊群牛群，或是劳心劳力所得的，都抽出十分之一来奉献给上帝，再抽出十分之一来周济穷人或用于其他慈善事业。这是为了让百姓记住万有的主权属于上帝；他们有机会成为上帝福惠的通道。这也是一种训练，以消除小气自私，培养宽宏大量的品格。——《教育论》44页. {WM 274.2}[6]
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The consecration to God of a tithe of all increase, whether of the orchard and harvest field, the flocks and herds, or the labor of brain or hand; the devotion of a second tithe for the relief of the poor and for other benevolent uses, tended to keep fresh before the people the truth of Gods ownership of all and of their opportunity to be channels of His blessings. It was a training adapted to kill out all narrowing selfishness and to cultivate breadth and nobility of character.--Education, p. 44. {WM 274.2}[6]
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用于慈善工作的礼物和供物——必须有仁慈的行为；必须帮助穷人和受苦的人。应该将礼物和供物用于这个目的。特别是在新的园地，真理的旗帜还从未举起来的地方，必须做成这项工作。—《特别证言》系列二，9号68页。{WM 274.3}[7]
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Gifts and Offerings for Welfare Work.--Deeds of mercy must be done; the poor and the suffering must be aided. Gifts and offerings should be appropriated for this purpose. Especially in new fields, where the standard of truth has never yet been uplifted, this work must be done.--Special Testimonies, series A, no. 9, p. 68. {WM 274.3}[7]
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医疗布道士会找到一块园地，以解除遭受身体疾病之人的痛苦。他们应该拥有钱财，以便给赤身的人衣服穿，给饥饿的人东西吃。基督徒帮助圣工，会比讲道更有成就。——《评论与通讯》.1895.12.24. {WM 274.4}[8]
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Medical missionaries can find a field in which to relieve the distress of those who are failing under bodily ailments. They should have means so that they may clothe the naked and feed the hungry. Christian help work will do more than the preaching of sermons. --Review and Herald, Dec. 24, 1895. {WM 274.4}[8]
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有必要建立一个基金，好使工人们有钱财去帮助贫穷痛苦的人，这项实际的传道事工会使他们打开心门响应真理。—《评论与通讯》1896.1.28. {WM 274.5}[9]
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It will be necessary that a fund shall be created so that the workers may have means with which to help those who are in poverty and distress, and this practical ministry will open their hearts to respond to the truth.--Ibid., Jan. 28, 1896. {WM 274.5}[9]
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要委派人在新的地方传扬真理。这些人必须得到资金上的支持。他们必须有一笔资金可以提取，用来帮助工作中遇到的穷人和有需要的人。他们对穷人表现的仁心善举会使他们宣讲真理的努力更有感化力。他们欣然帮助那些有需要的人，既得到受助之人的感激，也获得上天的嘉许。——《信函》1903. 32. {WM 275.1}[10]
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Men are appointed to proclaim the truth in new places. These men must have funds for their support. And they must have a fund to draw upon for the help of the poor and needy whom they meet in their work. The benevolence that they show toward the poor gives influence to their efforts to proclaim the truth. Their willingness to help those in need gains for them the gratitude of those they help and the approval of Heaven.--Letter 32, 1903. {WM 275.1}[10]
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从特别的捐献得帮助，而不要从教会的固定收入得帮助——在《使徒行传》第六章中，我们看到要选人充任教会中的职位时，如何把这事带到主面前，并且献恳切的祈祷求指导。要用来自教会的捐献供养寡妇孤儿。他们的需要不应用教会的收入而应用特别的捐献来救济。十分之一要分别为圣献给主，始终要用来维持传道事工。必须拣选人员监管照顾穷人的工作，谋求适当分配手中的钱财，免得信徒中有一人因缺乏生活所需而受苦。——《信函》1899. 9. {WM 275.2}[11]
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Aided From Special Contributions, Not Regular Church Income.--In the sixth chapter of Acts we are shown how when men were to be selected to fill positions in the church, the matter was brought before the Lord, and most earnest prayer was offered for guidance. The widows and fatherless were to be supported by contributions from the church. Their wants were not to be relieved by the church but by special donations. The tithe was to be consecrated to the Lord, and was always to be used for the support of the ministry. Men must be chosen to oversee the work of caring for the poor, to look after the proper distribution of the means in hand, that none among the believers should suffer for the necessaries of life.-- Letter 9, 1899. {WM 275.2}[11]
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如果实行上帝的计划，就没有人会受苦——摩西所传的律法除了承认上帝的要求之外，其中没有什么比向穷人表示慷慨，仁爱和款待的精神更为明显的了。上帝虽然已经应许大大的赐福与祂的百姓，但祂的意思并不是要使他们中间完全没有穷人。祂曾说地上的穷人永不会断绝。祂的百姓中间总有一些穷人需要他们发挥同情，怜爱慈善的心。此外，人总不免遭遇不幸，病痛和财产上的损失，正如今日一样； 但是只要以色列人遵从上帝所给他们的教训，他们中间总不致有乞丐或任何受饥挨饿的人。——《先祖与先知》530页. {WM 275.3}[12]
§26
None Suffer If Gods Plans Are Followed.--There is nothing, after their recognition of the claims of God, that more distinguishes the laws given by Moses than the liberal, tender, and hospitable spirit enjoined toward the poor. Although God had promised greatly to bless His people, it was not His design that poverty should be wholly unknown among them. He declared that the poor should never cease out of the land. There would ever be those among His people who would call into exercise their sympathy, tenderness, and benevolence. Then, as now, persons were subject to misfortune, sickness, and loss of property; yet so long as they followed the instruction given by God, there were no beggars among them, neither any who suffered for food.--Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 530, 531. {WM 275.3}[12]