Manna issue 83 - Do Not Be Choked by the World 不要被世界卡住
The cares, riches, and pleasures
of life that threaten our faith.
今天的思慮，財富和享樂，
會威脅到我們的信仰
Jeffrey Lin—Seattle, Washington, USA
美國華盛頓州西雅圖 Jeffrey Lin
The parable of the sower illustrates
four types of ground (the wayside,
rocky ground, thorny ground, and
good ground) to represent the
different hearts of men, and the
difficulties we face when receiving
and keeping the word of God (Lk 8:4–
15). As believers who have heard the
word, kept it, and allowed it to take
root in our hearts, we might not relate
ourselves to the first two types of
ground (Lk 8:12–13). However, living
in this world, we are naturally exposed
to various “thorny” environments.
Let us examine the potential dangers
we might face in our spiritual lives, so
that we may gain a heart of wisdom
and overcome the trials and tests of
the thorny ground.
撒種的比喻，列出了四類型的土壤，
(路旁，有碎石的土，長荊棘的土，好土壤)，
代表了不同類型的人心，
當我們領受並且留住神的話語之時，所會面對的困難。
(路 8 4-15)
身為聽到聖經的信徒，要留住它，
讓它在自已的心中發芽，
我們或許不會讓自已像前二種的土壤一樣。
(路 8：12-13)
然而活在這個世界，
我們自然而然會曝露在各種長滿"荊棘"的環境中。
讓我們來檢視看看，各種我們在屬靈生活中，
會遇到各種可能的危險，
這麼一來，我們才能具有一個智慧的心，
勝過那長滿荊棘土壤的各種試探和測試。
A SEED AMONG THE THORNS 荊棘中的種子
“And some fell among thorns, and
the thorns sprang up with it and
choked it.” (Lk 8:7)
7有落在荊棘裡的，荊棘一同生長，把他擠住了。
(路 8：7)
Just like a seed, a thorny plant needs
time to grow. The verse states that
“the thorns sprang up with it,” which
is an explicit warning to us that thorns
will not only grow when we stray
from God’s word, but even when we
have God’s word in our hearts.
就像種子一樣，荊棘叢也需要時間來成長。
這個經節這麼說，
"荊棘一同生長"，是給我們一個很清楚的警告，
就是當我們偏離神的言語之時，不只荊棘會成長，
而且甚至當我們有神的言語在心中之時，荊棘也依然會成長。
Our hearts are like a piece of land
with a limited amount of space.
The environment around us and
our lifestyle choices—the people
we associate with, the decisions we
make—are all factors that directly
impact our spiritual lives. If we spend
a good amount of time each day with
God, through prayer and meditation
on His word, we are cultivating the
seed and giving it more space to grow.
If we do not set aside time to cultivate
the seed daily, we allow space for the
thorns to grow and thrive. Similarly,
if we are setting aside only minimal
amount of time for God, we must
beware that the thorns are also
constantly competing for the land.
As thorns grow along with the seed,
the things of this world can allure us
if we are not careful, no matter how
spiritually strong we think we are.
我們的內心，就像是一小塊土地，
其中只有一些有限的空間。
我們四周的環境，以及我們所選擇的生活方式 -
我們所熟悉的朋友，我們所作的決定 -
都是會直接影響我們靈命的所有因素。
若我們每天都和神一起渡過一段美好的時間，
常常禱告，思想神的話語，
就是在培育自已的種子，讓它有更多的空間來成長。
若我們每天沒有分別一些時間出來好好培養自已的種子，
就是我們允許荊棘在有限的空間來成長，發旺。
同樣的道理，若我們只為神，只留下少少的時間，
我們一定要小心，同時荊棘也在爭奪成長的空間。
隨著荊棘和種子一起成長，
若我們不小心，這個世界的事物就會引誘我們，
不論我們自認為，靈性有多麼的堅強。
IDENTIFYING OUR THORNS 認清自已的荊棘
“Now the ones that fell among
thorns are those who, when they
have heard, go out and are choked
with cares, riches, and pleasures
of life, and bring no fruit to
maturity.”(Lk 8:14)
14那落在荊棘裡的，就是人聽了道，走開以後，
被今生的思慮、錢財、宴樂擠住了，便結不出成熟的子粒來。
(路 8：14 )
Jesus defines thorns as the "cares,
riches, and pleasures of life," which
can become of greater importance to
us than the word of God. Before we
can uproot a thorny weed, identifying
and knowing which thorns are in our
heart helps us to target the areas
in which we need to change and
improve.
耶穌下了定義，
"今生的思慮，錢財和宴樂"，
就是他們會比神的言語，讓我們感覺更加重要。
在我們可以把荊棘雜草拔起來之前，
認清並了解，荊棘是長在我們的心中，
有這個認知，就能幫助我們，
針對那些我們需要去改變或改善的地方，好好改進。
Worrisome Cares 惱人的憂慮
The cares of this world cause us much
worry and anxiety—whether it is our
future, our career, our relationships,
there is always something to worry
about. Worrying can cause us to
stumble in our spiritual lives, especially
if we decide to take matters into our
own hands, without considering God.
It is not that we will never be without
worry in our lives, but whenever we
are anxious, we should look to Jesus
and fix our thoughts on Him. Giving
our lives to Him and letting Him take
full control is the first step toward
an anxiety-free mind (Prov 3:5–6).
A God-centered lifestyle helps us to
establish our trust in Him, alleviating
our worries. Rather than looking at
our problems, we can instead focus
on the promises of God, and find
security in Him.
今生的思慮，讓我們產生很多的煩惱和憂慮 -
不論是有關我們的未來，工作，與別人的關係，
總會有一些事情會讓我們煩惱。
在我們的靈性生活中，憂慮會讓我們跌倒，
特別若我們決定要把事情掌握在自已的手中，
而沒有考慮到神會怎麼作。
這裡不是在說，我們生活中，永遠不會有沒有煩惱的時候，
但是無論什麼時候，我們開始憂愁，
就應該仰望耶穌，堅定我們的心思在神身上。
把自已的生命交給神，讓他可以有完全的掌握，
就是往無憂無慮的生活，邁開了第一步。
(箴 3：5-6)
以神為生活中心的生活方式，
能讓幫我們來信靠神，
減輕我們的煩惱。
而不是看著我們的問題，
Deceitful and Seductive Riches 財富欺騙引誘人
But those who desire to be rich fall
into temptation and a snare, and
into many foolish and harmful lusts
which drown men in destruction and
perdition. For the love of money is
a root of all kinds of evil, for which
some have strayed from the faith
in their greediness, and pierced
themselves through with many
sorrows.
(1 Tim 6:9–10)
9但那些想要發財的人，就陷在迷惑、
落在網羅和許多無知有害的私慾裡，叫人沉在敗壞和滅亡中。
10貪財是萬惡之根。有人貪戀錢財，
就被引誘離了真道，用許多愁苦把自己刺透了。
(提前 6：9-10)
The world and the people around us
are focused on earning, gaining and
finding success. We all want to strive
for a better, more comfortable life.
While this is not necessarily bad, we
need to evaluate whether the things
we pursue are necessities or personal
desires. We may attend church
services, pray and read the Bible, but if
our desires take precedence over our
faith, we are giving more space for
the thorns to grow. True diligence in
our spiritual lives is greater than doing
just the bare minimum. It means that
we are vigilant about our personal
pursuits that are motivated by desire,
greed or impulse, and we strive to live
"soberly, righteously, and godly" (Tit
2:12).
世界和我們身旁的人，都圓注重賺錢，奪取，得到成功。
我們大家都想努力得到更好的東西，
更舒適的生活。
雖然這本質上不是壞事，
但要衡量，我們所追求的東西，
是不是真有需要，還是個人的慾望而已。
我們或許參加聚會，禱告，讀聖經，
但若是我們的把慾望優先順序置於信仰之前，
我們就是在留地步給荊棘生長。
在屬性生活中，真正的殷勤，
是比僅僅作到最低限度的要求，更重要。
這裡的意思就是，
我們自已要小心那些由慾望，貪心和衝動所觸發的追求，
而努力過著"警醒，公義，敬虔"的生活。
(多 2：12)
Lust for the Pleasures of Life 今天享樂的慾望
“[T]hat you put off, concerning
your former conduct, the old man
which grows corrupt according to the
deceitful lusts.” (Eph 4:22)
22就要脫去你們從前行為上的舊人，這舊人是因私慾的迷惑漸漸變壞的；
(弗 4：22)
When we seek after things that
please our senses, rather than that
which pleases God, we will start to
justify our actions. Eventually, the
roots of our lust can run so deep that
they become almost instinctive: the
need to satisfy our lusts will grow
stronger, while our sensitivity to sin
will grow numb. As humans, we
cannot avoid lust and are in constant
battle with it. However, let us not
forget that our Lord Jesus was very
much human as well (Heb 4:15), and
He was able to overcome lust during
His lifetime. He is living proof that lust
can be defeated as long as we walk
in the Spirit (Gal 5:16). Walking in
the Spirit means that we rely on the
Holy Spirit to renew us and cleanse us
daily. If we are willing to draw closer
to God and let His Spirit renew us, we
will find that lust will no longer be an
adversity for us.
當我們追求那些取悅感官的事物，
而不是去追求那些取悅神的事，
就會開始自已為自已的行為找藉口。
最後，慾望之根會長得很深，
他們變得幾乎很直覺：
要滿足自已慾望的想法會變得更強烈，
而犯罪的敏感度會麻木。
身為人，我們無法逃脫慾望，一直都在和它戰鬥著。
然而，我們不要忘記，主耶穌也同樣身為人，
(來 4：15)
在祂身前的時候，就能勝過慾望。
祂就是活著的見証人，
只要我們依靠聖靈而行，就可以打敗慾望。
(加 5：16)
依靠聖靈而行的意思，
就是依靠聖靈更新自已，每天潔淨自已。
若我們願意靠近神，讓聖靈更新我們，
就會發現，慾望不再是我們的困境了。
CHOKED BY THORNS 被荊棘卡住了
“Then, when desire has conceived, it
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is
full-grown, brings forth death.”
(Jas 1:15)
15私慾既懷了胎，就生出罪來；罪既長成，就生出死來。
(雅 1：15)
The process of thorns growing
and choking one’s faith can be slow,
gradual and even silent. We need to
be mindful of this. When our desire
for God no longer exists, it is the result
of our lives being choked up by the
thorns of the world. Eventually, we
may gain all that we want in this life,
but we will lose God, His promises,
and our home in heaven. Therefore,
let us always remind ourselves to
evaluate and reflect upon the state
of our spiritual lives, as well as the
choices we make from day to day.
荊棘成長，卡住信仰的過程，可能很慢，
是漸漸的，甚至是安靜的。
我們要留心這件事。
當我們為神作事的慾望不再存在，
這就是，我們的生活，被世上荊棘卡住的結果。
到最後，今生我們或許會得到一切自已想要的東西，
但是我們會失去神，失去祂的應許，及我們的天家。
所以，總要提醒自已，要衡量評估自已目前屬靈生命的狀態，
同時也要小心自已每天所作的選擇。
A SEED STRONGER THAN THE THORNS 比荊棘還強壯的種子
At times, the thorns which pose a
great threat to our spiritual lives seem
to be too deep-rooted. No matter how
hard we try, it seems like these thorns
will never stop growing. Despite the
difficulty of removing these thorns,
we must remember that the seed of
God’s word can grow stronger and
faster. We have God, and in Him we
can always find hope and assurance.
God knows our hearts and is willing to
offer His strength and guidance to us.
However, we must be willing to take
that first step. Once God has freed
us of our thorns, let us not forget His
grace and mercy, and resolve to live
a new life—a life that is worthy and
pleasing to God, filled with His hope
and blessings.
有時，對我們靈命造成很大威脅的荊棘，
看起來扎根很深。
無論我們是怎麼的努力，
看起來，這些荊棘永遠不會停止成長。
雖然要除去這荊棘很困難，
我們一定要記得，神言語的種子，可以長得很快又強壯。
我們有神，信靠祂，我們總是可以有盼望和信心。
神知道我們的內心，願意施以祂的能力來帶領我們。
然而，後一定要願意踏出那第一步。
一旦神把我們從荊棘中，釋放出來，
我們就不要忘記祂的恩典和慈愛，
下定決心過新生活 -
是一種配得與神名聲，讓神高興的生活，
讓生活中充滿祂的盼望和祝福。
“Do not love the world or the things
in the world. If anyone loves the
world, the love of the Father is not
in him. For all that is in the world—
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life—is not of
the Father but is of the world. And
the world is passing away, and the
lust of it; but he who does the will of
God abides forever.”
(1 Jn 2:15–17)
15不要愛世界和世界上的事。人若愛世界，愛父的心就不在他裡面了。
16因為凡世界上的事，就像肉體的情慾，眼目的情慾，
並今生的驕傲，都不是從父來的，乃是從世界來的。
17這世界和其上的情慾都要過去，惟獨遵行神旨意的，是永遠常存。
(約一 2：15-17 )
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)