12. Manna issue 66 - Rejoicing in Our Labor 勞碌中喜樂
Based on a sermon by Steve Hwang—USA 美國，節錄自 Steve Hwang 講道
In times of economic uncertainty,
many people experience hardship in their jobs.
Some may lose their jobs;
others may have increased work pressure.
These situations often create much stress in us;
as a result, we may complain or worry unceasingly about our job.
In light of this, how can we find joy in our work?
在經濟不確定的時期，
許多人工作中會遇到困難。
有些人可能會失業；
其他人可能會增加工作壓力。
這些情況往往會給我們帶來很大的壓力；
因此，我們可能會不斷地抱怨或擔心自已的工作。
有鑑於此，我們如何才能在工作中找到快樂呢？
As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth,
and given him power to eat of it,
to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor
--this [is] the gift of God.
(Eccl 5:19)
19神賜人資財豐富，
使他能以吃用，
能取自己的分，在他勞碌中喜樂，
這乃是神的恩賜。
(傳 5：19)
Among the many blessings of God for man,
one is for us to rejoice in our labor.
From the verse in Ecclesiastes, we can learn three points.
神給人類的眾多祝福中，
有一個是要我們在自已的工作中喜樂。
從傳道書的節經中，我們可以學到三點。
PURSUE LOVE INSTEAD OF WORK 追求相愛，而不是工作
In the world, people pursue jobs, and this is natural.
We seek after different types of jobs according to our interest or skills.
Having a job is an important means for us to survive in the world.
But even more important for us Christians is to pursue love.
In fact, Paul encourages us to do so:
在這個世上，人們追求工作，這是很自然的。
我們根據自己的興趣或技能，尋找不同類型的工作。
我們有工作，是一種世上生存的重要手段。
但對我們基督徒來說，更重要的是，要追求愛。
事實上，保羅鼓勵我們這樣做：
“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”
(1 Cor 14:1)
1你們要追求愛，也要切慕屬靈的恩賜，其中更要羨慕的，是作先知講道（原文作：是說預言；下同）
(林前14：1)
Where there is love, there is joy.
This statement holds true even when one may not be living a life of luxury.
The Bible gives us this exhortation to remind us
that a life with love brings about joy and is infinitely better than a life filled with negativity:
哪裡有愛，哪裡就有歡樂。
即使人或許沒有過著奢侈的生活，這種說法亦是正確的。
聖經給我們這種勸告，提醒我們
有愛的生活會帶來快樂，並且比起充滿消極情緒的生活，要是超級好得很多：
“Better is a dinner of herbs (vegetables) where love is, than a fatted calf with hatred.”
(Prov 15:17)
17吃素菜，彼此相愛，強如吃肥牛，彼此相恨。
(箴 15：17)
Pursuing love in our work is something that comes through learning.
We may need to put in effort and discipline to love the people we encounter at our workplace,
but it is something that we definitely have the ability to do.
若要工作中追求愛，就需要通過學習來實現。
我們可能需要付出努力和維持紀律，來疼愛自已工作場所遇到的人，
但這是我們絕對有能力能做到的事情。
Consider Jesus’ teaching on the greatest commandment,
where He taught us that we ought to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.
If we relate this to our work, we are exhorted to serve our earthly masters,
as if we were serving the Lord.
So when we have this mindset,
we understand that our role in our earthly job is to serve our employers to the best of our abilities.
For as long as we are working, we work as though it is unto the Lord.
When we do so, we will receive blessings from the Lord
(cf. Eph 6:7–8).
想想耶穌關於最大誡命的教導，
他教導我們，我們應該盡心、盡意、盡性、盡力愛神。
如果我們將此與我們的工作聯繫起來，我們就會被勸告為我們的世俗主人服務，
好像我們在侍奉主。
所以當我們有這種心態時，
我們明白，我們在塵世工作中的角色是盡我們所能為雇主服務。
只要我們在工作，我們就好像在為主工作一樣。
當我們這樣做時，我們會得到主的祝福
（參見弗 6：7-8）。
In a practical sense, this means that in whatever job we do,
we can do so with love and bring some form of encouragement to others.
If you are a bank teller, serve your customers with a smile.
If you work in an office, treat your colleagues sincerely.
When we learn to do so, we bring some beauty into the world.
Furthermore, we will find meaning in our work because we are doing it unto Christ.
實際上，這代表了，無論我們做什麼工作，
我們可以帶著愛心這樣做，並且帶給別人某種形式的鼓勵。
如果您是銀行櫃台服務人員，請帶著微笑服務客戶。
如果您是辦公室白領職員，請真誠的對待同事。
當我們學會這麼做的時候，自已就會給世界帶來一些美麗。
此外，我們會找到自已工作中的意義，因為我們是為基督而做的。
When we learn to pursue love in our work, we also actively avoid murmurings.
Our mindset changes as we seek to create joy and beauty in our work environment.
As we do so, we allow the love of God to shine through in our work place
and we bring about hope to those around us.
In this way, we gradually discover
that we will no longer pursue riches
nor will we care only about the pay cheque at the end of every month.
These things fall off our priority list when we pursue love in our work.
當我們學會在工作中追求愛心時，也會積極避免發出抱怨。
當我們尋求於工作環境中，創造出快樂和美麗時，自已的心態會發生變化。
當我們這麼做的時候，就讓神的慈愛在自已的工作場所中閃耀發光，
給周圍的人帶來希望。
因為這種方式，我們就逐漸會發現，
自已將不再追求財富，
也不會只關心每個月底的薪水支票。
當我們在工作中追求愛的時候，這些事情就會從自已優先事項名單中消失。
SETTING OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT 正確安排事情的優先順序
When we show love at our workplace, we also love God.
Admittedly, it is not always easy to do so.
Sometimes, this requires us not only to change our mindset,
but also to make certain rearrangements in our lives.
From Isaac’s example, we can learn how to set our priorities right.
當我們在職場中展現出愛的時候，也就是愛神。
誠然，要這樣做並不總是那麼容易。
有時候，這不僅需要我們改變心態，
還要重新調整自已某些生活。
從以撒的故事中，我們可以學習如何正確設定自已的優先事項。
After Isaac’s servants had successfully dug three wells in Gerar despite external problems,
he went to Beersheba and
“built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord,
and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well”
(Gen 26:25).
25以撒就在那裡築了一座壇，求告耶和華的名，
並且支搭帳棚；他的僕人便在那裡挖了一口井。
(創 26：25)
As Isaac moved on to Beersheba, we see three actions.
The digging of the well is akin to his career,
and the pitching of the tent is akin to his family life.
But above all, the building of the altar symbolizes his pursuit of a life of faith.
And in the pattern of things, he chose his faith first.
Consequently the Lord blessed him in his work
(cf. Gen 26:26–33).
當以撒繼續搬遷前往別士巴的時候，我們看到了三個動作。
挖井就像是他的事業，
而搭立帳篷，就像是他的家庭生活。
但最重要的是，建立祭壇，象徵著他追求的信仰生活。
在眾多事情的選擇模式中，他先選了自已的信仰。
因此，主祝福他的工作
（參考，創 26：26-33）。
The lesson here is very clear:
we need to first and foremost have a life of worshipping the Lord.
Isaac’s example also teaches us that once we put God first in our lives,
it becomes easy for us to pursue love and find joy in our work
—for God is the source of love and joy.
We can then spread the fragrance of Christ in our own work even in the face of challenges.
這裡的教訓很清楚：
我們首先要有敬拜主的生活。
以撒的榜樣也告訴我們，一旦我們把神放在自已生活的第一位，
工作中要追求有愛心，並找到快樂，就變得容易
—因為神即是慈愛喜樂的源泉。
然後即使要面對挑戰，我們也可以在自己的工作中，散發出基督的芬芳。
ENTER THE GARDEN OF EDEN 進入伊甸園
When God allowed the first man, Adam, to tend to the garden of Eden,
that was a form of exercise
(cf. Gen 2:15).
His work enabled Adam to exercise both his mind and his body.
Since all things were good in the eyes of God then,
this was truly a grace for man.
In fact, Adam and Eve led a simple life and found rest in God’s garden.
當神允許第一個人類，亞當，照料伊甸園的時候，
那是一種訓練的方式
（參考，創 2：15）。
亞當的工作能夠鍛煉他的大腦和身體。
既然在神眼中，一切都是美好的，
這真的是人類得到的恩典。
實際上，亞當和夏娃過著簡單的生活，在神的花園裡找到了憩息。
However, when sin entered the world,
man was driven out from the garden and had to toil for his daily bread.
This caused a change in the way man perceives work in the world.
Admittedly, most jobs today exert certain pressures on us, which can be stressful.
然而，當罪進入世界的時候，
人被逐出了伊甸園，需要為每日的糧食而辛勤勞力。
這導致了人類改變認知世上工作的方式。
無可否認，今日大多數的工作，都給我們施加一些壓力，這可能讓人感到壓力很大。
Despite our busy work schedules,
we need to enter into the spiritual garden of Eden today.
Only then will we have true peace and joy in the Lord.
Yet how do we enter this spiritual garden?
雖然我們的工作行程很忙，
但今日我們需要進入伊甸園的屬靈花園。
只有這樣，我們才能在主裡得到真正的平安和喜樂。
然而，我們要如何進入這個屬靈的花園呢？
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you.”
(Mt 6:33)
33你們要先求他的國和他的義，
這些東西都要加給你們了。
(太 6：33)
We enter into the garden of Eden when we choose a life that places God as our top priority.
As we seek first the kingdom of God,
He gives us the assurance that all these things
– be they food, clothing, or necessities
– will be given to us.
當我們選擇一種以神為重心的生活時，就是進入了伊甸園。
當我們先尋求神國的時候，
祂向我們保證，所有的事情
– 無論是食物、服飾，還是必需品
– 都將賞賜給我們。
Most people reverse the order of things and toil and labor for the sake of material needs.
They live a life “under the sun”,
which is the norm for the people of the world.
But as the chosen ones of God,
we are called to lead our lives above the sun.
We can do so by placing God first in our lives,
knowing that our daily work is but a means to our temporary survival on earth.
大部份的人為了物質的需要，顛倒了行事的順序，辛勤勞動。
他們過著“日光之下”的生活，
這就是世人的常態。
但作為神的選民，
我們被呼召，要帶頭過著太陽之上的生活。
我們可以通過把神放在自已生活中的第一位來達成，
只要知道，我們的日常工作只不過是地上暫時的一種生存手段。
Today, just as we have entered into Christ,
so too must our hearts enter into the spiritual garden of Eden to find rest and blessings.
It is inevitable that we face pressure and worries as we work.
Nonetheless, let us take comfort in knowing
that God will surely not allow His people to starve or face lack of daily necessities
(cf. Prov 23:5).
As far as testimonies in the church go,
God shows His love to our fellow brethren.
Seldom do we hear of brethren who love God but suffer from need.
Let us have faith in Him and put God first in our lives.
When we trust in His word, we will receive this blessing from Him.
今日，正如我們已進入了基督裡，
同樣我們的內心也必須進入伊甸的屬靈花園，才能找到安息和祝福。
我們在工作中，不可避免會面臨壓力和擔憂。
儘管如此，讓我們放心認清，
神一定不會讓祂的子女挨餓，或是缺乏生活基本的必需品
（參考，箴言 23：5）。
就如教會分享的見證一樣，
神向我們的弟兄姐妹展示了祂的慈愛。
我們很少會聽到，有弟兄姐妹因為愛神，卻有缺乏而受苦。
讓我們對祂有信心，把神放在自已生命的第一位。
當我們信靠祂的話語，就會從祂那裡得到祝福。
RELY ON GOD, NOT ON WORK 依靠神，而不是努力
Realistically, our source of income is our work
and it is unsurprising that many of us regard our work as very important.
We live in the world and we have real world issues to handle.
Mortgages, loans, and other monthly premiums
are necessary overheads and financial realities for us.
It is therefore natural that we rely heavily on our work to pay these bills.
實際上，我們的收入來源就是工作，
不出意料，我們大部份的人都認為，自已的工作是非常重要的。
我們活在這個世界，就會有現實世界的問題要處理。
房屋抵押貸款、借款、和每月其他保費，
對我們來說，是必要的日常費用和財務現實。
因此，很自然地我們嚴重依賴自已的工作，來支付這些賬單。
Concurrently, another reality is that
our work will not always stay with us regardless of how much importance we place on it.
In times of economic uncertainty,
there is always the risk of losing our jobs.
As much as no one likes the thought of it, troubled times can occur to anyone.
Even in the Bible, the people of God had to experience seven years of famine
after the initial seven years of plenty.
This is the very reason why we need to rely on God;
only He does not change.
同時，另一個現實是，
無論我們多麼重視工作，它都不會一直陪伴著我們。
在經濟不確定的時期，
我們總是有風險失去工作。
儘管沒有人喜歡這種想法，但每個人都有可能遇到麻煩。
即使在聖經中，神的子民也要經歷七年的飢荒，
在先前的七個豐年後。
這就是為何我們需要依靠神的原因。
只有神不會改變。
God certainly will not allow His chosen ones to go hungry,
and Abraham’s life is a testament to this fact.
Despite his times of weaknesses and spiritual lows,
the father of faith pursued God throughout his life.
While living in Egypt, Pharaoh unexpectedly gave him much livestock
to enable him to return to Canaan a rich man.
When his possessions grew to the point
that he could no longer live in the same place as Lot,
he allowed Lot to choose first where to settle.
Although Abraham ended up dwelling in the poorer land,
God still blessed him and he remained bountiful.
神當然不會讓選民飢餓，
亞伯拉罕的一生就是這個事實的證明。
儘管他有好幾次出現軟弱和屬靈低潮，
信心之父終其一生都在追求神。
住在埃及的時候，法老王出人意料給了他很多牲畜，
使他能夠成為一個富人回到迦南。
當他的財產增長到一定的程度時，
他不能再和羅得住在同一個地方，
他讓羅得先選擇去哪裡定居。
雖然亞伯拉罕最終住在貧瘠的土地上，
神仍然祝福他，他仍然很富裕。
In contrast, Jacob was a man who spent much of his youth grasping for things.
Yet after serving Laban many years,
he ended up with nothing.
Only after God inspired him to crossbreed the goats did he gain possessions for himself.
相比之下，雅各是一個年輕時花很多時間奪取財物的人。
然而服事拉班多年之後，
他最後卻一無所有。
只有在神啟示他去雜交山羊之後，他才獲得自已的財產。
From such examples, we learn that God’s blessing is the most important.
If God desires to give us wealth, He will do so.
And if He decides not to, He has the prerogative as well.
Nonetheless, He will still grant us contentment and happiness,
if we truly rely on Him.
從這些例子來看，我們知道神的祝福是最重要的。
如果神願意給我們財富，祂就會這樣做。
如果祂決定不這樣做，祂也有此主權。
儘管如此，祂仍會賜給我們滿足和幸福，
如果我們真的依靠祂。
Finally, the question arises again: How do we find joy in our work?
King Solomon’s wisdom sounds out to us again:
最後問題又來了：我們如何在工作中找到快樂呢？
所羅門王的智慧再次發出聲音告訴我們：
As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth,
and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage
and rejoice in his labor--this [is] the gift of God.
(Eccl 5:19)
19神賜人資財豐富，
使他能以吃用，能取自己的分，
在他勞碌中喜樂，這乃是神的恩賜。
(傳 5：19)
We find joy by pursuing love, by entering the spiritual garden of Eden,
and by relying on God above all.
Our work is but a means for us to lead our lives on earth,
and ultimately our possessions and wealth are blessings from God.
According to our individual portions in life,
God blesses us with the ability to work and to sustain our livelihood.
No matter what type of job we have,
we ought to rejoice in this blessing from God.
我們追求愛心時會找到快樂，進入屬靈的伊甸園，
並且依靠神高於一切。
我們的工作只不過是地上生活的一種手段，
最終，我們的家產財富是來自神的祝福。
依照我們個人生命中所當得的部分，
神賜祝福我們有能力工作，維持生計。
無論我們從事什麼類型的工作，
我們應該為從神而來的祝福而喜樂。
As we go about our daily work,
let us always remember that we should rely on God wholeheartedly,
for He alone truly has the power to sustain us,
bless us, and cause us to rejoice.
Amen!
在我們進行日常的工作時，
我們永遠要記住，自已應該全心全意依靠神，
因為只有祂真正有能力扶持我們，
祝福我們，使我們喜樂。
阿們！
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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