11. Manna issue 60 - A Life of Simplicity 簡樸的生活
Focus on the right things. 專心正確的事
Based on a sermon by Derren Liang—San Jose, California, USA 美國加州聖荷西，依據講道
The dream of owning a house, a car, and living in luxury
puts many of us on a timeconsuming chase after material things.
But somewhere in the process of these pursuits, sooner or later,
we will come to a rude awakening
that this dream is more like a nightmare, taking with it our peace.
擁有房子，汽車，奢華生活的夢想，
讓我們許多人耗費時間追逐物質的事物。
但在這些追求過程中的某個時間點，遲早，
我們會猛然驚醒，
這個夢想更像是一場惡夢，帶走了我們的平安。
As much as we live in the luxury of technological advances
that are supposed to help streamline our lives,
we still do not have enough time to do everything that needs to be done.
If fact, we are doing more.
High-speed Internet, teleconferencing, and smart phones notwithstanding,
we still work long hours and have little leisure time.
我們幾乎生活在科技進步的奢侈之中，
應該有助於簡化我們的生活，
我們仍然沒有足夠的時間來完成所有需要進行的事情。
事實上，我們會處理更多的事情。
雖然有高速網路，電話會議和智慧型手機，
我們仍然長時間工作，很少休閒時間。
Despite the standard of a forty-hour workweek,
many people routinely spend fifty or sixty hours at the office.
Add to this a family and spiritual life,
and it is no wonder that people feel overwhelmed.
儘管有標準每週工作四十小時，
許多人日常會花費五十或六十個小時在辦公室。
再加上有家庭和屬靈生活，
難怪大家會感受到巨大的壓力。
The question is whether there is anything we can do to make our complex lives simpler.
While we still have to work to make a living for ourselves,
there must be a way for us
to get off the worldly track and get back on the spiritual track.
問題是我們是否可以做些什麼事，來使自已複雜的生活變得更簡單。
雖然我們仍要工作，養活自己，
我們一定有辦法，
脫離世俗的軌道，回到屬靈的軌道上。
To regain our peace and reestablish a joyful life,
we need to go back to the Bible and learn from God’s servants
—the people He chose to carry out His work
and were trained to lead complex yet simple lives
that were wholly devoted and dedicated to Him.
為了重獲自已的平安，重新過著喜樂的生活，
我們要回到聖經，並向神的僕人學習，
—祂所揀選來執行祂工作的人
並受訓練去度過複雜又簡單的生活，
那就是要完全專心獻身給祂。
FOCUS ON GOD 一心靠神
Take our first example, Moses.
His was a complicated life.
Growing up as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
he lived in the palace and enjoyed all the available luxuries and pleasures.
For forty years, he was treated to all the best in food, clothes, entertainment, and education.
His status and wealth filled his life with possessions and complexities.
讓我們來看看第一個例子，摩西。
他的生活很複雜。
作為法老女兒的兒子長大，
他住在宮殿裡，享受一切可得的奢華和享樂。
四十年來，他享受著一切最好的食物，衣飾，娛樂，教育。
他的地位和財富使他的生活充滿了資產和複雜的事物。
But Moses did not value his life of luxury
and was instead set on rescuing his Hebrew peers from slavery in Egypt.
Hebrews 11:24, 25 tells us:
但摩西不珍惜他奢華的生活，
相反的，他決心從自已的希伯來同胞脫離埃及的奴役。
希伯來書 11 章 24，25 節告訴我們：
By faith Moses, when he became of age,
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God
than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.
摩西因著信，長大成人後，
拒絕被稱為法老女兒的兒子，
選擇與神的子民一同受苦,
而不是去享受罪中短暫的快樂，
重視基督的凌辱比埃及的財富更寶貴。
God was willing to use Moses,
but his training and service did not happen
when he was a prince living in the palace.
In order for Moses to be able to serve wholeheartedly,
God trained him for forty years as a shepherd in the wilderness.
During this time, he had nothing
— no status, no possessions, and no money.
Everything he had in Egypt was stripped away
so that his heart could be unobstructed in reconnecting with God.
神願意使用摩西，
但他的訓練和事奉並沒有發生，
當他還是王子住在皇宮的時候。
為了讓摩西能夠全心全意事奉，
神訓練他四十年在曠野牧羊。
這段時間他一無所有，
—沒有地位，沒有財產，也沒有金錢。
他在埃及擁有的一切都被剝奪了，
使他內心才能暢通無阻重新與神連結。
When Moses became the leader of the Israelites,
he began a new chapter that was filled with another forty years of complications.
He was entrusted with leading the Israelites
and was in charge of every aspect of their lives.
This is a responsibility hard for us to imagine.
當摩西成為以色列人的領導者時，
他開始了新的篇章，其中充滿另一次四十年的錯綜復雜。
他受命領導以色列人，
並且負責他們生活的各種層面。
這是我們難以想像的責任。
Even with all these complications,
Moses managed to live a simple life and keep his focus on God.
He knew how important it was
to keep drawing strength, direction, and fulfillment from God
and often entered the tabernacle to talk to God face to face
(Ex 33:8-11).
即使有這一切錯綜復雜的事情，
摩西設法過著簡單的生活，並將專心在神的事上。
他知道這事有多重要，
不斷從神那裡汲取力量，方向和滿足，
並且常常進入會幕面對面與神交談
（出 33：8-11）。
With a heart trained by God to focus on the right things,
Moses was able to lead the Israelites without becoming overwhelmed.
For us to survive in this complicated world,
we need to have the same focus.
We need to learn how to lead a simple life despite the complexities.
一顆得神訓練的內心才可以專心於正確的事情，
摩西能夠帶領以色列人而不被重擔壓垮。
為了讓我們可在這個複雜的世界生存下去，
我們要有同樣的專心。
我們需要學習如何在複雜的環境下過簡單的生活。
By pursuing the kingdom and righteousness of God,
we renew our lives and change its direction.
Then we will no longer be self-centered
and lost in our worldly responsibilities;
instead, we will have a simple heart that does not lose strength.
藉著追求神國和神義，
我們更新自已的生活且改變方向。
那麼我們就不再以自我為中心，
並迷失於自已世俗的責任中；
相反的，我們會有一顆單純的心，而不失去力量。
HAVE FAITH IN GOD 信靠神
As a prophet in the idolatrous Northern Kingdom,
Elijah’s task to renew the faith of the Israelites was daunting.
To prepare him for the difficulties he would face,
God caused him to live by the Brook Cherith.
作為崇拜偶像北方王國的先知，
以利亞的任務要更新以色列人信仰是艱鉅的。
為了讓他做好應對即將面臨困難的準備，
神讓他住在基立溪旁。
There Elijah had to focus on God
because there was no way for him to find food.
He had to place his hope in God’s promise:
“And it will be that you shall drink from the brook,
and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there”
(1 Kgs 17:4).
以利亞必須專心靠神，
因為他並沒有辦法找到食物。
他必須把自已盼望寄託在神的應許上：
“4你要喝那溪裡的水，
我已吩咐烏鴉在那裡供養你。”
（王上 17：4）。
The ravens brought Elijah food twice a day by God’s command.
In this exercise of faith,
Elijah needed to have complete faith and reliance in God,
believing that, since God put him there,
He would take care of him.
It was essential that his trust in God remained strong
so he would be able to face the king and bring the Israelites back to God.
照著神的命令，烏鴉一天兩次給以利亞帶來食物。
在此信仰的進行中，
以利亞需要有完全的信心和依靠神，
相信既然神把他安置在那裡，
祂就會照顧他。
他信靠神保持堅定至關重要，
使他就能面對國王，並帶領以色列人歸向神。
When the water in the brook dried up,
God told Elijah to go to Zarephath,
where a widow would provide for him.
The test of his faith,
whether he could rely on God to live a simple life,
wasn’t finished yet.
當小溪的水枯乾了，
神吩咐以利亞去撒勒法，
那裡有一個寡婦會供養他。
這是他信心的考驗，
是否能夠依靠神去過著簡單的生活，
卻還沒有完成。
Elijah had nothing
—no money or food
—only the clothes on his back.
He had to do whatever God told him to do just to survive.
He had to trust that God would provide,
even though the widow had only enough oil and flour for one small cake.
以利亞一無所有，
—沒有金錢，也沒有食物，
—只有他背上的衣服。
為了生存，他必須進行任何神告訴他去做的事情。
他必須相信神會預備，
儘管寡婦只有一點油和麵粉可以做一個小餅。
With no room for doubt or despair,
Elijah demonstrated great faith,
asking the widow to make a cake for him first.
With this absolute faith and reliance on God,
the flour and oil never ran out.
不能容許有懷疑或絕望，
以利亞表現出很大的信心，
請寡婦先為他做一個小餅。
憑著這種對神絕對的信心與依靠，
麵和油永遠用不完。
When life is stripped down to its bare essentials,
when we have nothing and must trust in God to provide for all our needs,
we can see whether we have the focus
and hope it takes to have complete faith in God.
Elijah was able to focus on God during this time with simple faith,
and it gave him the strength and training he would need to carry on in his difficult work.
當生活很簡樸只剩下最基本的東西時，
當我們一無所有，而必須信靠神會預備我們一切的需要時，
我們可以看看自已會不會專心，
並盼望對神有完全的信心。
在這段時間以利亞可以簡單的信心專心靠神，
這種行為給了他需要繼續自已困難工作所需的力量和訓練。
But we don’t often rely on God the same way.
We worry too much over the difficulties we encounter,
the endless issues that crop up in our complicated lives.
Will I be the next person to get laid off?
Can I afford a new computer?
When will I find a job?
Where should my child go to school?
但我們通常不會以同樣的方式依靠神。
我們對於自已遇到的困難太過煩惱，
在我們複雜的生活中有不斷的問題出現。
我會是下一個被解僱的人嗎？
我能買得起一台新電腦嗎？
我何時才能夠找到工作？
我的孩子應該去哪裡上學呢？
Immersed in making decisions,
we forget to put our focus on God instead of these issues.
As Jesus told His disciples,
we should place Him first in our lives:
沉浸於下很多決定，
我們忘記去專心靠神，而不是卡在這些問題上。
正如耶穌告訴祂的門徒，
在我們生命中，我們應該將祂擺第一：
“Therefore I say to you,
do not worry about your life, what you will eat;
nor about the body, what you will put on.
Life is more than food,
and the body is more than clothing…
And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink,
nor have an anxious mind.
For all these things the nations of the world seek after,
and your Father knows that you need these things.
But seek the kingdom of God,
and all these things shall be added to you.”
(Lk 12:22, 23, 29-31)
”22所以我告訴你們，
不要為生命憂慮吃甚麼，
為身體憂慮穿甚麼；
23因為生命勝於飲食，
身體勝於衣裳。…
29你們不要求吃甚麼，喝甚麼，
也不要罣心；
30這都是外邦人所求的。
你們必須用這些東西，你們的父是知道的。
31你們只要求他的國，
這些東西就必加給你們了。”
（路 12：22，23，29-31）
If we have faith in God, we will give Him all our burdens, t
rusting in His power to provide a way for us in all things.
如果我們對神有信心，我們就卸給他自已一切的重擔，
依附著祂的能力，來給在我們凡事上開路。
OBSERVE THE SABBATH 守安息日
Before David became king, he was on the run from Saul,
who was intent on killing him.
Yet, even in this difficult time,
in the valley of the shadow of death,
his heart sought after God.
大衛成王之前，他曾逃離掃羅，
他故意要殺他。
然而，即使在這此困難的時期，
在死蔭幽谷裡，
他的心尋求神。
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
(Ps 27:4)
4有一件事，我曾求耶和華，
我仍要尋求：
就是一生一世住在耶和華的殿中，
瞻仰他的榮美，
在他的殿裡求問。
（詩 27：4）
This is the true test of our faith:
that in the midst of our busy and stress-filled lives,
we are still able to truly place God first and seek Him.
Because David kept his priorities straight during a life-threatening situation,
he did not come to any harm.
這真的是們信心的考驗：
在我們忙碌且充滿壓力的生活中，
我們仍然能夠真正以神為先，並尋求祂。
因為在危及生命的情況下，大衛始終保持他的優先順序，
他沒有受到任何的傷害。
David’s desire to seek after God
did not change after he became king.
Though different from his days of running from Saul,
his life remained complicated and stressful.
Nevertheless, he kept the desire most important to him,
which was to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life.
大衛期盼尋求神，
成為國王後也沒有改變。
雖然與他逃離掃羅的日子有所不同，
他的生活仍然很複雜且充滿壓力。
然而，他還是保留了對他來說最重要的渴望，
就是他一生都可以住在耶和華的殿中。
God’s house today is the church.
God dwells there,
and we go there to worship Him and behold His beauty.
We need to recognize just how important it is to worship Him in His house.
If we hold onto the Sabbath and leave behind all our worldly cares and affairs,
we can establish a good relationship with God.
今日神的家就是教會。
神居住在那裡，
我們去那裡敬拜祂，瞻仰祂的榮美。
我們需要認知到，在祂殿中敬拜祂是有多麼的重要。
如果我們持守安息日，拋開自已一切世俗的憂慮和事務，
我們可以與神建立良好的關係。
Constant renewal of our relationship with God every week
will give us a faith that cannot be affected by worldly concerns.
Those who do not have time to draw close to God on the Sabbath
are those who lose their faith.
They value the things of the world so much that they become numb to spiritual things.
每週不斷更新自已與神的關係，
會給我們一種不受世俗憂慮影響的信心。
那些安息日沒有時間親近神的人，
就是那些失去自已信心的人。
他們太看重世上的事物，以致對於屬靈的事物變得麻木。
Therefore, it is essential to focus on God that one day of the week
so that we can pray and be filled with His Spirit,
meditate on Him, and receive peace and power in our hearts.
As Hebrews 4:11 says,
“Let us be diligent to enter that rest,”
the rest of observing the Sabbath.
因此，重要的是每週有那一天可以專注於神，
所以我們能禱告，得到祂聖靈的充滿，
思想祂，並在我們內心得到平安和力量。
正如希伯來書 4 章 11 節所說，
“11所以，我們務必竭力進入那安息，”
遵守安息日的安歇。
Then, like David,
we will not lose our faith
because of our busy lives and our struggles,
but we will draw closer to God and find strength in Him.
If we want simplicity in our lives,
we must observe the Sabbath.
One of the greatest enjoyments is having a peaceful and quiet life,
and the Sabbath is the one day of the week
we can find true peace and rest.
然後，像大衛一樣，
我們不會失去自已的信心
因為我們很忙碌的生活和奮鬥，
反而我們會更接近神，並在祂裡面找到力量。
如果我們想要自已生活變得簡單，
我們必須遵守安息日。
最大的享受之一就是擁有平安寧靜的生活，
安息日就是每週中的那一天，
我們可以找到真正的平安與休息。
OUR GOAL 我們的目標
We struggle to balance all the responsibilities in our lives,
but we are trying to solve our difficulties the wrong way.
Instead of viewing our life in simple terms of reprioritizing,
we need to change our focus and clear away distractions to our goal
—to live a simple life that is focused on God.
我們努力平衡自已生活中的所有責任，
但我們試圖以錯誤的方式解決自已的困難。
而不是以簡單重新安排優先順序的方式來看待自已的生活，
我們需要改變自已的焦點並清除自已目標的干擾，
—過著專心靠神的簡單生活。
Living a simple life doesn’t mean that
we have no possessions and don’t work.
We can see that the servants of God still had many responsibilities to carry out.
Simplicity means not allowing our possessions or responsibilities to control us;
rather, we are in control of every aspect of our lives.
And in order for us to be in charge of our lives,
we must have a good relationship with God.
過簡單的生活並不是代表，
我們沒有財產，也不工作。
我們可見，神的僕人還有許多責任要履行。
簡單的意思是不允許我們的財產或責任來控制我們；
相反的，我們掌控自已生活的各個層面。
且為了讓我們能夠掌控自己的生活，
我們必須與神有良好的關係。
Learning how to focus on God and making time to worship Him
gives us an inner peace that will not leave us
even during the most difficult times.
學習如何專心信靠神且騰出時間來敬拜祂，
會給予我們不會離棄自已的內心平靜，
即使要面對最困難的時期。
We do not want to be trapped by worldliness and materialism,
vying for a lofty position in society
and chasing after money.
If we are clear on our goal,
we are able to evaluate our lives and make adjustments
as we learn how to lead a simple life
that is pleasing to God.
我們不想被世俗和物質主義所捆綁，
爭奪社會崇高的地位，
且去追逐金錢。
如果我們很清楚自已的目標，
我們能夠評估自已的生活且做出調整，
在我們學習如何上過簡單的生活時，
那是神所喜悅的。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
留言列表
