6. Manna issue 86 - As a Servant 為僕
Joshua Phoong—Ipoh, Malaysia 馬來西亞怡保 Joshua Phoong
Editor’s note:
The Lord’s Great Commission to the disciples, recorded in Matthew 28:18–19, is well known to Christians.
Throughout the centuries, many have been inspired to obey this directive.
Some have lived to see the results of their labor—winning converts, establishing churches and,
as we can see from some celebrity evangelists, even garnering fame and fortune.
But there are those who have left family and familiarity to travel to far-flung corners of the world,
persevering through physical deprivation, only to meet rejection and loss of life.
What would sustain us if the latter scenario
—exactly what our Lord Himself suffered during His ministry
—were what we encounter in our service?
One important factor is to have the mind of Christ: a servant’s mind (Phil 2:5–8).
In this article, the author shares with us what being a servant entails.
編者註：
基督徒對馬太福音28章18-19中，記載了主給門徒的大使命，是眾所周知的。
幾個世紀以來，許多人受到感動，來遵守該命令。
有些人，活著的時候，看到自己的勞力工作的成果---贏得的了人來改信，建立許多教會，以及
正如我們一些有名的佈道家那裡，所看到的那樣，他們甚至獲得了名聲和財富。
但是有些人，他們離開家人和熟悉的地方，去了遙遠世界的各個角落，
剝奪了物質的享受，而堅持不懈，唯一面對的，是別人拒絕和犧牲生命。
如果面對後面的這種情況，我們會怎麼支持下去呢
---正如我們的主，在他服事期間，所遭受的苦難，
---而我們在服事時，正好也遇到這些事？
一個要點，就是抱有基督的想法：僕人的思想（腓 2：5-8）。
在本文中，作者與我們分享了作為僕人所需要具備的。
When the Lord Jesus Christ was en-route to Jerusalem with His disciples,
He was approached by the mother of James and John with a request:
“Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”
The Lord replied, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink that cup that I am about to drink?”
They then answered, “We are able” (Mt 20:21–22).
When the other ten disciples heard of this incident, they were upset.
Perhaps they too wanted to occupy these positions of power.
If these brothers’ request were granted, where would the rest of the disciples sit?
Jesus seized this opportunity to teach His disciples about servanthood.
He emphasized that
“the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28).
當主耶穌基督與他的門徒們，在前往耶路撒冷的途中時，
雅各和約翰的母親，向他提出要求：
“21願你叫我這兩個兒子在你國裡，一個坐在你右邊，一個坐在你左邊。
22耶穌回答說：你們不知道所求的是甚麼；我將要喝的杯，你們能喝麼？他們說：我們能。”
（太20：21-22）。
當其他十個門徒聽說這件事的時候，他們很沮喪。
也許他們也想佔據這些權力位置。
如果這兩個兄弟的請求得到了批准，其餘的門徒要坐在哪裡？
耶穌抓住這個機會，向門徒講授僕人服事的態度。
他強調
“28正如人子來，不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並且要捨命，作多人的贖價。”
（太 20:28）。
Jesus came to serve men and to give them salvation.
Christians—literally, followers of Christ
—must walk in His footsteps.
We follow our Lord Jesus Christ in many ways but,
most importantly, we must follow His example of servanthood.
耶穌來服事人，並給他們救恩。
基督徒-從字面上講，是基督的跟隨者
-必須跟隨他的腳步。
我們在很多方面，要跟隨主耶穌基督，但是，
最重要的是，我們必須效法他作僕人的榜樣。
Servanthood is not merely theory; it is a way of life.
Our lives must testify that we are servants of the Lord God.
To know how much like our Lord Jesus we are in this aspect,
we must examine whether we have the following attributes:
服事人不僅是理論； 而是一種生活方式。
我們的生活必須能見證，我們是主耶穌的僕人。
要明白我們在這方面，有多像我們的主耶穌，
就必須檢查，我們是否具有以下屬性：
1. SENSE OF DUTY 責任感
“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep,
will say to him when he has come in from the field,
‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?
But will he not rather say to him,
‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk,
and afterward you will eat and drink’?
Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?
I think not. So likewise you,
when you have done all those things which you are commanded,
say, ‘We are unprofitable servants.
We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”
(Lk 17:7–10)
7你們誰有僕人耕地或是放羊，從田裡回來，就對他說：你快來坐下吃飯呢？
8豈不對他說：你給我預備晚飯，束上帶子伺候我，等我吃喝完了，你才可以吃喝麼？
9僕人照所吩咐的去做，主人還謝謝他麼？
10這樣，你們做完了一切所吩咐的，只當說：我們是無用的僕人，所做的本是我們應分做的。
After the servant has finished his duties and returns to the master’s house,
he does not expect the master to invite him to take a rest and recline at the table.
Rather, he will have to prepare and serve his master’s supper.
Only when the master has eaten and drunk his fill can the servant assuage his own hunger and thirst.
After every instruction is carried out, no thanks from the master is expected or given.
This is the life of a servant.
僕人完成職責後，並返回主人的房子，
他不會希望主人邀請他去休息，坐在桌子旁。
相反地，他將不得不准備主人的晚餐，並給予服事。
只有主人吃飽暢飲之後，僕人才能緩解自己的飢渴。
執行完每條主人命令後，亦不會期待主人發出的感謝。
這就是僕人的生活。
When our Lord Jesus Christ was in this world, He led a very hectic life.
He had to busy Himself over many things,
but He accepted that He had come not to do His own will,
but that of the heavenly Father (Jn 4:34).
This was the work entrusted to Him.
Similarly, if we want to follow our Lord Jesus Christ and be a servant,
we would complete our duties faithfully with no demand for reward (Lk 17:7).
We may baptize hundreds, but we do not expect our Master to go out of His way to thank us.
當我們的主耶穌基督在這個世界的時候，他過著非常忙碌的生活。
他不得不忙於許多事情，
但是他接受了自己來，不是實行自己的旨意，
乃是要實行天父的那一刻（約 4:34）。
這就是託付給他的工作。
同樣，如果我們想跟隨我們的主耶穌基督，並成為一個僕人，
我們就會忠實完成自己的職責，而不會希望有酬勞（路 17：7）。
我們可能為數百人施洗，但是我們不期望，我們主人費盡全力來感謝我們。
2. SENSE OF URGENCY 急迫感
Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place.
And the crowd sought Him and came to Him,
and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them,
“I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also,
because for this purpose I have been sent.” (Lk 4:42–43)
42天亮的時候，耶穌出來，走到曠野地方。眾人去找他，到了他那裡，要留住他，不要他離開他們。
43但耶穌對他們說：我也必須在別城傳神國的福音，因我奉差原是為此。
(路 4：42-43)
During His ministry, our Lord Jesus Christ moved from village to village, city to city,
to bring the gospel of the kingdom to the people.
That was the purpose for which He had been sent to this world.
He had no time to rest because He had to complete the work entrusted to Him.
在他的事奉期間，我們的主耶穌基督，從村莊到另一個村莊，從城市到另一個城市，
把天國的福音帶給人們。
那就是他被送到這個世界的目的。
他沒有時間休息，因為他必須完成託付給他的工作。
The people wanted to prevent Jesus from leaving
because it was good to have Jesus
—Provider, Healer, Teacher—with them.
However, He was not distracted from His task,
knowing the urgency of preaching the kingdom of God to all.
The Bible tells us that we must work while it is day.
When night comes, we will not be able to work.
While we have the opportunity, we must use it to do the work of the Lord.
One day, when the door of salvation is closed,
even if we wanted to preach the gospel,
we would not be able to do so.
As the Lord’s servants,
we must be driven by a deep sense of urgency
to complete the commission entrusted to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.
人們要阻止耶穌離開
因為有耶穌很好
-耶穌對他們而言，是供給者，治療者，和老師-與他們在一起。
但是，他並沒有分心了自己的任務，
知道要向所有人傳講神國的急迫性。
聖經告訴我們，我們必須趁白天的時候工作。
當夜幕降臨時，我們將無法工作。
當我們有機會時，必須利用它來做主的工作。
有一天，當救贖之門關閉了，
即使我們要傳福音
也將無法這樣做。
作為主的僕人，
我們必須為深切的緊迫感所驅動
來完成主耶穌基督賦予我們的任務。
3. RIGHT PRIORITIES 正確的優先順序選擇
Now it happened as they journeyed on the road,
that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”
And Jesus said to him,
“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Lk 9:57–58).
57他們走路的時候，有一人對耶穌說：你無論往那裡去，我要跟從你。
58耶穌說：狐狸有洞，天空的飛鳥有窩，只是人子沒有枕頭的地方。
(路 9：57-58)
Jesus bluntly described what it is like to follow Him.
Even animals have a home to return to,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.
In other words, we must expect a busy life
if we want to follow our Lord Jesus Christ
—a life without rest, a life lived to accomplish the will of God, with no time for ourselves.
耶穌直率地描述了跟隨他的感覺。
甚至動物也有家
但是人子無處可以休息。
換句話說，
如果想跟隨我們的主耶穌基督
就必須看到有忙碌的生活
-沒有休息的生活，為了實現神的旨意而生活，沒有自已的時間。
In the example the Lord Jesus used in Luke 17,
after the servant had completed his work in the field,
he returned to the master’s house to prepare the master’s supper.
This servant was probably extremely weary and hungry from his work in the fields.
However, because he was a servant, he was ordered to prepare supper.
As servants, we too are expected to give priority to the affairs of our Master.
We may have our own needs, but our Master’s needs and His call take priority.
主耶穌在路加福音17章，使用的例子中
僕人在野外完成工作之後，
他回到主人的屋子，進而準備主人的晚餐。
這個僕人可能在田里幹活，而非常疲勞和飢餓。
但是，由於他是僕人，因此被勒令要準備晚餐。
作為僕人，我們也應優先考慮主人的事務。
我們可能有自己的需求，但是主人的要求和召喚，要優先執行。
Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
(Lk 9:59–62)
59又對一個人說：跟從我來！那人說：主，容我先回去埋葬我的父親。
60耶穌說：任憑死人埋葬他們的死人，你只管去傳揚神國的道。
61又有一人說：主，我要跟從你，但容我先去辭別我家裡的人。
62耶穌說：手扶著犁向後看的，不配進神的國。
(路 9：59-62)
These two individuals wanted to follow our Lord Jesus Christ.
However, they were unable to give priority to His work.
There were other things in their lives they considered important and wanted to do before following Him.
Our Lord teaches us that people who put their own needs above the call of the Lord God are not worthy.
We must always prioritize the affairs of our Master above our own needs and affairs (Mt 10:37, 39).
這兩個人想跟隨主耶穌基督。
但是，他們無法優先考慮神的工作。
他們一生還有其他重要的事情，想在跟隨主之前，要先做完。
主教導我們，那些將自己的需求置於主神的召喚之前的人，是不配進天國的。
從頭到尾，我們必須將主人的事情，排在我們自己的需要和事務之前（太 10:37，39）。
4. READINESS 準備好
In Luke 17:8, the master instructs the servant to gird himself and be ready to serve him.
A servant must always be ready to serve when his master calls.
No good servant is caught unprepared when the master needs him.
路加福音17章第8節談到，主人指示僕人束好腰，準備為他服務。
主人呼叫的時候，僕人必須隨時準備好，出去服務。
當主人需要僕人的時候，不會有好僕人是措手不及的。
“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;
and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master,
when he will return from the wedding,
that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.
Blessed are those servants whom the master,
when he comes, will find watching.
Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.”
(Lk 12:35–37)
35你們腰裡要束上帶，燈也要點著，
36自己好像僕人等候主人從婚姻的筵席上回來。他來到，叩門，就立刻給他開門。
37主人來了，看見僕人儆醒，那僕人就有福了。我實在告訴你們，主人必叫他們坐席，自己束上帶，進前伺候他們。
(路 12：35-37)
Such is the proper attitude of a servant pleasing to the master:
he is ready at all times to immediately answer the call of his master.
Today, we hear repeatedly that workers are still needed
to take the gospel to the rest of the world, to other nations and peoples.
Are we ready to spring to our feet at any time to answer this call of our Lord Jesus?
這就是僕人該具有的合宜態度，能讓主人高興：
他隨時準備好，要立刻回應主人的呼叫。
今天，我們反复聽到，仍然需要更多工人
去把福音傳到世界其他的地方，其他國家和人民。
我們是否準備好，能隨時站起來，回應我們主耶穌的呼召呢？
5. NO PERSONAL OPINION 不帶有個人的意見
The servant has no opinion of his own.
His exhaustion or desire to rest is irrelevant.
He must be ready at all times to respond and serve his master.
Sometimes, in our service to God, we take time to consider
whether we would like to do the work before we agree.
僕人沒有自己的意見。
他的疲憊或渴望休息，都無關緊要。
他必須隨時準備好，回應並為主人服務。
有時候，在服事神的時候，我們需要花一些時間考慮
在首肯之前，我們是否想清楚願意做這項工作。
Acts 8 tells us the story of Philip, who preached the gospel to Samaria.
Many came to believe and were baptized in Samaria,
and when the apostles came to lay hands on them,
they received the Holy Spirit.
After a while, the apostles returned to Jerusalem.
There were now new members in Samaria,
who probably needed Philip to pastor them
(Acts 8:4–8, 14–17).
However, when an angel of the Lord told Philip
to go down to the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, Philip arose and went.
He never questioned this command.
There was much work to do in Samaria because the believers were newly baptized.
However, as a true servant,
Philip obeyed the calling of the Spirit without question,
converting the Ethiopian eunuch on that desert road (Acts 8:26–39).
使徒行傳第8章，告訴我們腓力的故事，他向撒瑪利亞傳福音。
許多人來信主，並在撒瑪利亞受洗，
當使徒們為他們按首的時候，
他們就得到了聖靈。
過了一會兒，使徒們回到了耶路撒冷。
撒瑪利亞現在有新加入的信徒，
可能要腓力來牧養他們
（徒 8：4-8，14-17）。
但是，當主的天使告訴腓力的時候，
要他出發走路從耶路撒冷，到迦薩去，腓力就馬上起身走了。
他從未質疑過這個命令。
撒瑪利亞現有許多工作要做，因為信徒才剛剛受洗。
但是，作為一個真正的僕人，
腓力毫無遲疑地，服從了聖靈的召喚，
在那條沙漠路上，讓衣索匹亞的太監改信主（徒 8：26-39）。
In this age, the calling of the Lord is through the church.
When the church in Antioch sent Saul and Barnabas,
the Holy Spirit instructed them to set apart these two workers for the work (Acts 13:1–3).
Given a choice, the church would probably have wanted Saul and Barnabas to remain
because they were the first preachers to pastor there.
However, when the church was moved by the Holy Spirit, they obeyed.
在這個時代，主的呼召是通過教會傳達的。
當安提阿的教會，派遣掃羅和巴拿巴外出時，
聖靈指示他們，將這兩個工人分開，各從事其工作（徒 13：1-3）。
如果有選擇的話，教會可能會希望掃羅和巴拿巴留下來
因為他們是最早在那裡牧養的傳道人。
但是，當教會得到聖靈感動的時候，他們就順從聖靈。
Therefore, whether individually or as a church,
servants of the Lord have no opinion with regard to their calling.
They submit absolutely to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
This too is what we must be able to do.
Like Philip, we may be doing fine pastoral work
amidst a large and thriving community in our respective churches.
But if we are suddenly plucked out
and asked to evangelize to just a single person
or a small group in a remote place,
we must go willingly and joyfully,
reminding ourselves that a true servant submits to the direction of the Lord Jesus through His Holy Spirit.
因此，無論是信徒個人，還是整個教會，
主的僕人，對於他們所接受的呼召，是沒有意見。
他們絕對服從聖靈的指示。
這也是我們必須能夠做到的。
像腓力一樣，我們可能把牧養工作作的普普通通，
而在我們各自教會中，正是人數眾多且篷勃發展的團契。
但是如果我們突然被挑出來，
得到委託去傳福音給一個人
或是到一個偏遠的地方，
我們要樂意喜悅而去，
提醒自己，一個真正的僕人，通過他的聖靈指引，會服從主耶穌的指示。
6. NO EXPECTATION OF PRAISE 不期待別人的誇讚
Common courtesy requires us to thank people when they have rendered us a service.
But will the master thank the servant after he has completed his work?
Luke 17:9 indicates that masters do not have to thank their servants.
After all, the servant is only doing the work that he has been told to do;
he is just doing his part.
Likewise, for us today, when we have completed the work entrusted to us,
we should not expect thanks or praise from others.
出於禮貌，我們會感謝人們，為我們提供了服務。
但是主人會在僕人完成工作後，再感謝他嗎？
路加福音17章9節指出，主人沒必要感謝僕人。
畢竟，僕人只是在做，之前被告知要做的工作。
他只是在儘自己的本份。
同樣，對於今天的我們來說，當完成委託給我們的工作時，
我們不應該期待，得到別人的感謝或稱讚。
Only two types of people seek after praise:
the self-righteous and the hypocrite.
In Jesus’ parable, the Pharisee prays,
“God, I thank You that I am not like other men
—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess” (Lk 18:11–12).
This Pharisee seems to be worried that the Lord God does not know of his good works.
Therefore, he has to tell the Lord all the good that he has done.
He also wants to compare himself to the tax collector next to him.
Self-righteous people love to tell others what they have done and exalt themselves above others.
Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that people who exalt themselves will be humbled (Lk 18:14).
He also describes the behavior of hypocrites:
只有兩種類型的人，會追求別人稱讚：
不是自以為是，就是一個偽君子。
耶穌的寓言裡，法利賽人祈禱：
“11神阿，我感謝你，我不像別人勒索、不義、姦淫，也不像這個稅吏。
12我一個禮拜禁食兩次，凡我所得的都捐上十分之一。”
（路 18：11-12）。
這個法利賽人，似乎擔心神不知道他的善行。
因此，他必須將自己所做的一切善事告訴主。
他還想與自己身邊的稅吏，作比較。
自以為是的人，喜歡告訴別人他們做了什麼，並高舉自我。
我們的主耶穌基督告訴我們，高舉自己的人會壓制（路 18:14）。
他還描述了偽君子的行為：
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites.
For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets,
that they may be seen by men.
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.” (Mt 6:5)
5你們禱告的時候，不可像那假冒為善的人，愛站在會堂裡和十字路口上禱告，故意叫人看見。
我實在告訴你們，他們已經得了他們的賞賜。
(太 6：5)
Hypocrites love to show off their work to others.
They love to receive the praises of men.
When they have no audience, they may not do the work at all.
Yet, when others are present, they work assiduously to earn the praise of men.
We must not be like these people:
we must do our work, whether in secret or in plain view.
Only then are we truly faithful servants.
偽君子喜歡向別人炫耀自己的工作。
他們最愛受到別人的讚美。
當他們沒有聽眾的時候，他們可能根本不做這工作。
然而，有其他人在場的時候，他們就會努力工作，以贏得人們的讚美。
我們一定不能像這些人一樣：
無論是秘密進行，還是大家都看得到，我們都必須做好我們的工作。
只有這樣，我們才是真正忠心的僕人。
In fact, servants are not always aware of their own great works.
In Matthew 25:31–40, Jesus describes the final judgment,
when He will come to separate the sheep and the goats.
The righteous sheep on His right will say:
“Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You or thirsty and give You drink?”
(Mt 25:37).
And the King will reply:
“Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me”
(Mt 25:40).
實際上，僕人並不會一直注意自己的偉大成就。
在馬太福音25章31-40節，耶穌形容了最後審判的情形，
那時他會區分綿羊和山羊。
在祂右邊的行事公義的羊群會說：
“37主阿，我們甚麼時候見你餓了，給你吃，渴了，給你喝？”
（太 25:37）。
國王會回答：
“40我實在告訴你們，這些事你們既做在我這弟兄中一個最小的身上，就是做在我身上了。”
（太 25:40）。
These righteous servants were unaware of the good work they had done
because they did not do it to be seen by men.
They did not do it for a reward.
Doing this good work,
even to the least of their brethren, was only natural to them.
However, the Lord has seen and will reward them for their good work.
We must strive to be these true servants:
to do what is required of us without thinking of the reward.
這些公義的僕人，沒有注意到他們所做的工作很出色，
因為他們所做的事，並不是要讓人們看到。
他們不是為了獎勵，而為神工作。
做這善工，
甚至是幫忙他們之中，最卑微的弟兄，對他們而言，是自然而然的。
然而，主已經看見了，並會因他們作的好事，而經予獎賞。
我們必須努力付出，才能成為真正的僕人：
去做需要我們去完成的工作，而不是去想得到什麼獎勵。
7. GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY 感謝神給予機會
“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded,
say, ‘We are unprofitable servants.
We have done what was our duty to do.’ ” (Lk 17:10)
10這樣，你們做完了一切所吩咐的，只當說：我們是無用的僕人，所做的本是我們應分做的。
(路 17：10)
Does the Lord profit from our work?
The Lord does not need us, as we are mere mortals and sinners.
His work can and will definitely be accomplished, without us.
主會從我們的工作中得到好處嗎？
主並不需要我們，因為我們只不過是凡人和罪人。
沒有我們，祂的工作一定能夠實現。
Esther 4 reminds us of this.
At that time, the Persian king had passed a decree to annihilate the Jews.
Mordecai sent a message to Esther, who was the queen,
telling her to petition the king for her people.
However, Esther explained her predicament:
anyone who goes to the inner court without the king’s summons could be put to death,
and the king had not called her for thirty days.
She thought it was impossible for her to go before the king to plead for her people.
以斯帖記第四章，使我們想起了這一點。
當時，波斯王已通過法令，要殲滅猶太人。
末底改傳訊給女王以斯帖，
請她向國王為自已的民族請願。
然而，以斯帖解釋了她的困境：
任何未經國王召喚「而進入內院的人，都可能被處死，
而國王已經三十天，沒有給召喚她了。
她認為，自已不可能到國王面前，為自己的民族祈求。
Mordecai replied to Esther: 莫底改回覆以斯帖：
“Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.
For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance
will arise for the Jews from another place,
but you and your father’s house will perish.
Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
(Est 4:13–14)
13末底改託人回覆以斯帖說：你莫想在王宮裡強過一切猶大人，得免這禍。
14此時你若閉口不言，猶大人必從別處得解脫，蒙拯救；
你和你父家必致滅亡。焉知你得了王后的位分不是為現今的機會嗎？」
(帖 4：13-14)
Mordecai’s point was clear:
God had allowed Esther to rise to become queen for this very moment
—to plead to the king for the life of the Jews.
If she did not do this work, she and her family would perish.
But for the rest of the Jews, deliverance and relief would still come,
if not through the hands of Esther, then through another way.
末底改的觀點很明確：
此時此刻，就是神允許以斯帖升為女王的原因，
-讓祂能為猶太人的生命，向國王求情。
如果她不做這項工作，她和她的家人將會滅亡。
但是，對其餘的猶太人而言，仍有拯救和救濟會來臨，
即使不是通過以斯帖的手，那就經由另一種方式達成。
When we are able to do the work of the Lord God,
it is not because of our outstanding capabilities,
but because He shows us favor.
It is not because we are indispensable to the work of the Lord,
but because His grace is with us.
We have been given opportunity and great privilege to be the Lord’s servant
and participate in the work of the Lord.
當我們能夠為主工作的時候，
不是因為我們有出色的能力，
而是因為祂眷顧我們。
不是因為我們在主的工作中，不可或缺，
而是因為祂的恩典與我們同在。
我們被賦予了機會和極大的特權，成為主的僕人
並參與主的工作。
In 1 Corinthians 15:9, 哥林多前書15章9節，
Paul claims to be the least of the apostles because he had been a persecutor of the church of God.
He confesses:
保羅宣稱，自已是使徒中最小的，因為他曾是神教會的迫害者，
他坦白說明：
“For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle,
because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am,
and His grace toward me was not in vain;
but I labored more abundantly than they all,
yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (1 Cor 15: 9–10)
9我原是使徒中最小的，不配稱為使徒，因為我從前逼迫神的教會。
10然而，我今日成了何等人，是蒙神的恩才成的，並且他所賜我的恩不是徒然的。
我比眾使徒格外勞苦；這原不是我，乃是神的恩與我同在。
(林前 15：9-10)
Even though Paul had labored more than others,
he attributed this to the grace of God.
If not for God’s grace, Paul would not have been able to do the work of the Lord.
即使保羅比其他人更加努力，
他將此歸因於神的恩典。
如果不是因著神的恩典，保羅將無法做主的工作。
We once visited a believer who was bedridden with cancer.
He told us that if the Lord God healed him,
he would surely do the work of God.
He was a member of the church, but had not been fervent.
When he fell ill, he wanted to do more for the Lord God.
Sadly, he passed away soon after that.
This is an example of one who did not take the opportunity to work for God when he had time.
Today, we have received opportunities to pastor, to evangelize, to serve.
We must be thankful for this grace of God and make good use of every opportunity,
to be a faithful servant of the Lord until the very end.
我們曾經訪問過一位臥病於床的癌症信徒。
他告訴我們，如果神醫治了他，
他一定會從事神的工作。
他是教會的信徒，但沒有很熱心。
當他生病的時候，他想為神做更多的事情。
可悲的是，他不久之後就去世了。
這個例子是，當一個人有時間的時候，沒有把握機會為神工作。
今天，我們得到了牧養教會，傳福音和服事主的機會。
我們必須感謝神的恩典，並善用一切的機會，
成為耶和華的忠心僕人，直到世界末了。
8. LIFELONG HUMILITY 一生保持謙卑
At the beginning of our Christian lives, it is easy to serve humbly.
But as we progress along our journey of faith,
it becomes more challenging to remain an obedient servant of the Lord.
在我們基督徒生活，一開始的時候，會謙卑地服事主。
但是隨著我們信仰之旅的走下去，
要成為能夠保持順從神的僕人，將變得更具挑戰性。
Saul began his kingship as a humble man (1 Sam 10:16, 27) and good servant (1 Sam 11:6, 13).
As time passed, his position went to his head.
In 1 Samuel 15, the Lord instructed Saul to destroy the Amalekites.
Saul fought with the Amalekites and was victorious because God was with him.
However, Saul did not destroy all of them.
He spared the life of Agag and the best of the cattle.
Samuel rebuked him.
掃羅一開始是謙卑的人（撒母耳記上 10:16，27）及一位好僕人（撒母耳記上 11：6，13）而成就了他的王權。
隨著時間的流逝，他的腦海中加入了自已的立場。
在撒母耳記上15章，耶和華指示掃羅，要消滅亞瑪力人。
掃羅與亞瑪力人開戰，因為神與他同在，所以取得了勝利。
但是，掃羅並沒有消滅全部的人。
他放過亞甲王的生命，和他國內最好的牲畜。
撒母耳先知就來斥責他。
“When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel?
And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?
Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said,
‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’
Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD?
Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”
(1 Sam 15:17–19)
17撒母耳對掃羅說：從前你雖然以自己為小，豈不是被立為以色列支派的元首麼？耶和華膏你作以色列的王。
18耶和華差遣你，吩咐你說，你去擊打那些犯罪的亞瑪力人，將他們滅絕淨盡。
19你為何沒有聽從耶和華的命令，急忙擄掠財物，行耶和華眼中看為惡的事呢？
(撒上 15：17-19)
Despite this, Saul still insisted he was in the right.
He claimed that it was the people who had brought back the best of the cattle to sacrifice to the Lord.
But Samuel became even more severe.
儘管如此，掃羅仍然堅稱自己是正確的。
他聲稱，是那些百姓，要把最好的牲畜帶回來獻給耶和華的。
但是撒母耳變得更加嚴厲。
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
As in obeying the voice of the LORD?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
He also has rejected you from being king.”
(1 Sam 15:22–23)
22撒母耳說：耶和華喜悅燔祭和平安祭，豈如喜悅人聽從他的話呢？
聽命勝於獻祭；順從勝於公羊的脂油。
23悖逆的罪與行邪術的罪相等；頑梗的罪與拜虛神和偶像的罪相同。
你既厭棄耶和華的命令，耶和華也厭棄你作王。
(撒上 15：22-23)
When we start off as nobodies, we can be obedient servants.
However, as we grow, we start to feel that we are very important in the work of God.
We think that the work will not be done without us.
With that mindset, we cannot be obedient servants.
We start to have—and stubbornly cling to—our own opinions and thinking;
we begin to prioritize these in our lives and service.
This is not a servant’s heart.
當我們開始成為新手時，我們可以成為聽話的僕人。
但是，隨著我們的成長，我們開始感到自己在神的工作中，非常重要。
我們認為，沒有我們就不會完成這項工作。
有了這種心態，我們就不能成為順從的僕人。
我們開始會，擁有並固執地堅持自己的觀點和思想；
我們在生活和服事中，針對這些情況，會開始排優先順序。
這不是僕人的心態。
No matter how great the offerings and labors we render to God,
if we cannot obey in the smallest matters, then we cannot please our Master.
Do we deem our time and energy as too valuable to spend on the lowliest tasks?
Are we able to humbly co-operate with our fellow servants to follow God’s will?
無論我們獻給神的奉獻和工作多麼偉大，
如果我們不能在最小的事情順服，那我們就不能取悅主人。
我們是否認為，自已的時間和精力太寶貴，無法花在最低等級的任務上？
我們是否能夠謙卑地，與我們的同工僕人合作，以順服神的旨意？
Let us examine our service and consider what we have learnt from the servanthood of Jesus
—to have His mind, and to become and remain true servants of God.
Amen.
讓我們檢查一下自已的服務的態度，並想想自已從耶穌的僕役工作中，學到的功課
-擁抱祂的想法，並保持成為神的真正的僕人。
阿們。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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