第八章

1弟兄們，我現在把神賜給馬其頓眾教會的恩典告訴你們：2他們在患難中受到極大的考驗的時候，他們滿溢的喜樂和極度的貧乏，匯流出豐厚的慷慨來。3我可以作證，他們是按著能力，並且是超過了能力，4自動地再三懇求我們，准許他們在供應聖徒的事上有分。5他們超過了我們所期望的，照著神的旨意，先把自己獻給主，然後獻給我們。6因此，我們勉勵提多，既然開始了這慈善的事，就應當在你們那裡把這事辦好。7你們在一切事上，就如信心、口才、知識、熱情和愛我們的心，既然都是富足的，那麼，在這慈善的事上，也要顯出你們是富足的。

8我這樣說，不是吩咐你們，而是藉著別人的熱心來考驗你們的愛心是否真實。9你們是知道我們的主耶穌基督的恩典的：他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮，要使你們因他的貧窮成為富足。

 

默想

1. 生活在物質主義的社會中，我們很容易就被“獲有慾”所控制 — 去爭取、收藏、看管，就像那個建造倉房的財主，很快連靈魂也失去。“給予”是向「物質追求」的抗衡。聖經教導的「給予」是先將收入的一部分奉獻給神。奉獻的基礎是本于神：若神不先賜我們土地來耕種、體力來勞動、頭腦去思想、社區來工作、生活，我們所有努力的血汗都不會有任何成果。我們所有的一切都是來自神，陽光雨水、豐收繁殖、力量健康，都是來自神。「奉獻」就是承認這個事實，是尊敬祂并感謝祂的方式。
2. 我是否常存感恩的心來奉獻？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

CHAPTER 8

¹And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. ²Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. ³For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. ⁵And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will. ⁶So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. ⁷But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

⁸I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

MEDITATION

1. Living in a materialistic society, we can easily become dominated by a spirit of acquisition – of getting and storing and then guarding what we’ve gotten and stored. The biblical practice of giving is an offering of a portion of the fruits of our labour to God.  The offering is based upon the conviction that we would have gotten nothing from all our sweat and exertion if God hadn’t first given us the ground to use, the muscles to work, a brain to think, and a community to live and be employed in.  Everything comes to us as a gift from God.  Sunshine and rain.  Fruitfulness and fertility.  Strength and health.  They are all from God.  Our offering is an acknowledgment of that.  It’s a way of honouring him and giving thanks to him.
2. Do I always give with a thankful heart?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.