2. Manna issue 88 - To Serve God's Purpose for His Chosen 為神的選民，完成
FF Chong—London, UK 英國倫敦 FF Chong
WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE 服事的意思
For most Christians,
to worship God means coming to church, singing some hymns,
listening to a sermon, and saying a prayer or two.
Over time, weekly church attendance becomes routine,
and the worship of God inextricably linked with the setting of a church service.
At a push, we may bring our worship home in the form of a family service.
對於大多數的基督徒來說，
敬拜神的意思，就是去教會，唱讚美詩，
聽講道，並且祈禱一兩次。
過了一段時間，每週去聚會成為例行公事，
敬拜神，就與教會聚會的形式密不可分。
如果有必要，就可能以家庭聚會的形式，帶回我們的崇拜活動。
When it comes to serving God, we tend to see it as separate from worship.
We approach divine work as fulfilling the duties assigned to us by the church.
As long as we perform these tasks with a willing spirit, God will take delight.
In fact, we further compartmentalize our service to God in its own sphere
—it is something we render to God in the confines of the church, away from our personal and work lives.
當我們要服事神的時候，就傾向於將其視為與聚會崇拜不同。
我們將聖工，視為履行教會分配給我們的職責。
只要我們以樂意的心來進行這些任務，神就喜悅。
實際上，我們進一步把自己對神的事奉，劃分限制在其領域
-這是我們把屬於教會領域範圍內，限制了所要獻給神的東西，與我們的個人和工作生活有所分別。
However, the Bible’s concept of worship and service is very different.
Rather than being distinct from the rest of our day-to-day life,
worship and service are very much woven into a Christian’s existence and purpose.
但是，聖經裡面敬拜和事奉的觀念，是很不一樣的。
不是要與我們日常其餘的生活有所分別，
敬拜和事奉，在很大程度上，要與基督徒的生存和宗旨息息相關，交織在一起。
Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. (Gen 2:15)
15耶和華神將那人安置在伊甸園，使他修理，看守。
(創 2：15)
After God created man, He placed him in the garden.
But it was not for man to idly enjoy; rather,
God set man “to tend and keep” the garden.
Here, “tend” is translated from abedah,
whose root meaning is “to serve, cultivate, enslave, work.”[1]
In other words, it was God who gave man work, and entrusted man to work for Him.
Man has been divinely ordained to serve God through his labor.
神創造人之後，他將人放在伊甸園裡。
但這不是讓人可以偷懶，去享受； 反而是，
神要人來“照顧看守”伊甸園。
在這裡，“ tend 照顧”是從 abedah 翻譯而來的，
其字根含有“服事，培養，奴役，工作”的意思。[1]
換句話說，是神賜予人類工作，並委託人為祂作工。
人們被神聖地命定，為要通過工作來侍奉神。
This gives rise to the fundamental truth
that to work for our livelihood is God’s will for us:
“Six days you shall work” (Ex 34:21).
God ordains when we should work and when we should rest.
Not only that, our labor must reflect the godliness that God expects of His children.
Paul elaborates on this expectation for our secular jobs:
這產生了最為根本的真理，
為生計而工作，是神對我們的旨意：
“你六日要做工”（出 34:21）。
神命定了，我們什麼時候該工作，什麼時候該休息。
不僅那樣，我們勞動中，還必須反映出，神所期望祂兒女的敬虔。
保羅詳細闡述了，我們世俗工作中的這項期望：
Bondservants, obey in all things your masters
according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers,
but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.
(Col 3:22–23; see also Eph 6:5–8)
22你們作僕人的，要凡事聽從你們肉身的主人，不要只在眼前事奉，像是討人喜歡的，總要存心誠實敬畏主。
23無論做甚麼，都要從心裡做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的，
（西 3：22-23；又見，弗 6：5-8）
We must work for our employers with sincere hearts, as to Christ.
For a believer of God, work goes beyond the scope of earning a living
—it is to fulfill God’s will.
We should do our secular work with goodwill, as a service to God.
我們必須像基督一樣，以誠摯的心為雇主工作。
身為神的信徒，工作的意義，超出了單純謀生的範圍
—這是要成全神的旨意。
我們應該懷著善意，從事世俗的工作，就如同事奉神一樣。
Serving God, then, is not only about attending service on the Sabbath day and doing divine work in church.
Just as Adam had to tend the garden daily, service to God is a daily and active affair.
Serving God daily and actively occasions many moments to ponder and gain insight into
how to improve ourselves and our service.
And most important of all, it gives our lives purpose and meaning.
因此，事奉神，不僅只是在安息日參加聚會，在教堂裡做聖工。
就像亞當每天都要照料伊甸園一樣，服事神是要每天積極去作的。
每天積極地事奉神，會引起我們有很多機會，去深入思考和了解領悟，
思考要如何改善我們自己，和我們服神事神的工作。
最重要的是，它賦予了我們生活的有目標和意義。
SPIRIT OF SERVICE 服事的精神
We all desire our service to be acceptable to God.
But it is important to remember that God’s acceptance is incumbent on the way we conduct our lives.
God’s acceptance of our service does not depend on the type of work;
He looks at our hearts more than anything else.
If we live our lives contrary to His divine nature,
our service will not be acceptable to Him.
However impressive the work, a corrupt nature will render it invalid and even abominable in God’s eyes.
我們都希望自已的事奉讓神悅納。
但重要的是要記住，神的悅納，才是我們進行生活方式的主要責任。
我們事奉得到神的悅納，並不取決於工作的類型；
他重視我們的心意，比什麼都更重要。
如果我們的生活，違背神聖潔的性質，
神就不會接受我們的事奉。
無論工作作得多麼令人驚艷，若內在有墮落的性質，就會在神的眼中看為無用，甚至視為非常可憎。
The example of Cain and Abel says it all.
Cain murdered his brother
because Cain “was of the wicked one…[and] his works were evil”
(1 Jn 3:12)
—his behavior reflected his wicked nature.
The rejection of Cain’s offering was the tipping point for evil to get the better of him.
God exposed his wicked nature, telling him,
“If you do well, will you not be accepted?
And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door”
(Gen 4:7a).
該隱和亞伯的故事，說明了一切。
該隱謀殺了兄弟，
因為該隱“12他是屬那惡者，...，因自己的行為是惡的”
（約壹 3:12）
他的行為反映了他邪惡的本性。
神拒絕該隱的獻祭，是邪惡打敗自已的引爆點。
神揭露了他邪惡的天性，告訴他，
“7你若行得好，豈不蒙悅納？你若行得不好，罪就伏在門前。”
（創 4：7a）。
God’s rejection of Cain’s offering reveals to us
that the way we conduct ourselves impacts our service to God.
Spiritual cultivation becomes a must,
as the foundation to every service we render.
It must be infused into every aspect of our lives.
神拒絕該隱的獻祭，向我們啟示了
我們自已的行為方式，會影響我們對神的服事。
靈修必不可少，
作為我們為神服事的基礎。
它必須融入，我們生活的各方面。
PREPARATION FOR ACCEPTABLE SERVICE 蒙悅納事奉的準備
With All Our Heart 全心全意
At Saul’s ordination, Samuel addressed some important teachings relating to serving God.
Leading up to Saul’s ordination as king,
the Israelites demanded that Samuel appoint a king to rule over them.
This demand, however, did not originate from a positive impulse.
Rather, it signals their shift towards a Gentile lifestyle and model of nationhood
in a blatant disregard for God and a demonstration of their unfaithfulness.
膏立掃羅的時候，撒母耳講了一些關於服事神的重要教導。
任命掃羅為王之前，
以色列人要求撒母耳膏立國王來統治他們。
但是，這個要求並非來自正向的衝動情感。
相反的，這標誌了，以色列人轉移了方向，
公然無視神，而想要外邦人的生活方式，及國家管理的模式
並且展現了他們自已的不忠。
Samuel was determined to guide and correct this renegade nation,
and he put forth an unchanging principle to them:
serve God with all your heart.
He even stated this twice in his address to the Israelites
(1 Sam 12:20, 24).
In the first instance, Samuel said,
“You have done all this wickedness;
yet do not turn aside from following the LORD,
but serve the LORD with all your heart”
(1 Sam 12:20b).
Samuel did not hesitate to right their fundamental wrong
—God is their King,
and the wish to replace God with a human ruler was wicked.
Nevertheless, even if Israel insists on installing a king,
Samuel reminded them that they must still follow God.
The nation would not be able to serve the Lord wholeheartedly without this basic principle of obedience.
In other words, submitting to God’s word comes before serving Him.
撒母耳決心指導他們，導正這個叛變的國家，
他對提出了不變的原則：
盡心盡意事奉神。
他甚至對以色列人這樣說了兩次，
（撒上 12:20，24）。
第一次的時候，撒母耳說，
“20你們雖然行了這惡，卻不要偏離耶和華，只要盡心事奉他。"
（撒上 12:20b）。
撒母耳毫不猶豫地糾正了他們的根本錯誤
神才是他們的君王，
用人類統治者來取代神的期待，是邪惡的。
然而，即使以色列堅持要設立國王，
撒母耳提醒他們，他們仍必須要跟著神。
若沒有這個服從的基本原則，整個國家將無法全心全意地服事神。
換句話說，服事神之前，要先順服神的話。
In the second instance, Samuel added two more factors to the equation.
The first is:
“Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart”
(1 Sam 12:24a).
To “fear the Lord” is the mindset they should have.
The nation of Israel has committed the greatest evil, which is to forsake God.
They needed to eradicate all false gods in order to start anew with God,
believing Him to be the only true God and Savior.
Returning to God may well be a long and painstaking process,
but it is the very foundation of meaningful service towards Him.
The second is: to serve the Lord “in truth.”
The nation of Israel was to reacquaint herself with the Law of Moses and serve God strictly according to His way,
rather than following the Gentile way of life and worship.
This was a reminder that they had to be faithful to the word of God in their service to Him,
keeping His word in accordance to His will,
and never again assimilate pagan religious practices into their pure faith.
Otherwise, God would withhold His divine acceptance and blessing.
第二次的時候，撒母耳在方程式中又增加了兩個因素。
第一點是：
“24只要你們敬畏耶和華，誠誠實實地盡心事奉他”
（撒上 12：24a）。
他們應該要有“敬畏耶和華”的心態。
以色列國犯下了最大的罪惡，就是離棄神。
他們要剷除所有假神，以便與神重新開始，
信仰祂才是唯一真神和救主。
回歸神的動作，就可能是一個漫長而艱辛的過程，
但這正才是，有意義服事神的基礎。
第二點是：以“真理”事奉主。
以色列國，要再重新熟悉摩西的律法，並嚴格按照神的方式，來事奉神，
而不是跟著外邦人生活和崇拜的方式。
這就是在提醒，他們要服事神的時候，必須忠實遵行神的道理，
照著神的旨意遵行神的道理，
並不可再將異教徒的宗教習俗，吸納於他們純正的信仰中。
否則，神會拒絕神聖的悅納和祝福。
What would be their motivation to serve God in fear and truth?
Samuel told them to consider the great things God had done for them
(1 Sam 12:24).
Historically, God had saved their forebears from the Egyptians;
the story of this great deed was passed down from one generation to another.
In Samuel’s time, God again saved them from extinction by the hands of the Philistines.
On reflection, these deeds should lead to a greater understanding of God’s love towards His chosen
(Deut 10:15).
How could the Israelites respond, if not with gratitude?
以真理及敬畏的心，服事神的時候，他們的動機是什麼？
撒母耳告訴他們，要思想神為他們所做的偉大事蹟
（撒上 12:24）。
從歷史上來看，神從埃及人的手中，拯救了他們的先祖；
這個偉大事蹟的故事，一代傳給一代。
在撒母耳的時代，神從非利士人的手中，再次救他們免於滅絕。
反思後，這些事蹟將使人們更加了解，神對選民的慈愛
（申 10:15）
若不懷著感恩的心，以色列人能如何回應呢？
Samuel reminded the Israelites
that in serving God with all their heart means
a service that is founded on obedience, fear, and truth.
This means having a willing heart to serve God,
a fear for God as their rightful Ruler,
and keeping the word of God faithfully without bringing in other pagan or secular ideals.
These values likewise apply to us today in our service to God.
撒母耳提醒以色列人，
盡心盡意事奉神的意思，
是以順從，敬畏和真理的心為基礎，服事神。
這代表了，要甘心樂意服事神，
敬畏神, 作為他們正統的統治者，
不引進其他異教徒或世俗的想法，忠實遵守神的道理。
今天，這些價值觀念，在服事神的時候，也同樣是適用於我們。
Today, understanding God’s love, as manifested through Christ
(Rev 1:5),
should similarly generate in us an unquenchable motivation to reciprocate.
The momentum of such gratitude will help us overcome any difficulties we face in the course of serving God,
enabling us to serve with a heart of thanksgiving.
Not only this, we would seek to do so in full obedience, departing from evil, and with a pure faith.
We should be determined to remain faithful, knowing that we have already been saved.
今天，通過基督的表現，來明白神的慈愛
（啟 1：5），
同樣應該在我們心中，產生無法消滅的動力來回報神。
這種感謝的動力，在服事神的過程中，會幫助我們克服任何困難，
使我們懷著感恩的心來服事。
不僅如此，我們要以完全服從，遠離邪惡，並純正的信心，試著這麼行。
我們應該下決定保持忠心，要了解，我們是已經得救了。
With All Humility 凡事謙卑
Christ’s death on the cross is the most notable example of accomplishing God’s work with all humility.
In order to carry out the work of redemption, Jesus, being God,
humbled Himself to the lowest even before His incarnation
(Phil 2:7–11).
The very fact of His coming to the world is the epitome of humility.
And in spite of unceasing opposition and shame showered upon Him,
He persevered to fulfill the Father’s will.
基督在十字架上的死，是一種以最謙卑的心，來完成聖工的最佳例子。
為了進行救贖的工作，耶穌，雖身為神，
甚至在祂道成肉身之前，將自己謙卑至最底層的地位
（腓 2：7-11）。
祂來到世上的情況，正是謙卑下來的縮影。
儘管不斷有反對和羞辱落在祂身上，
祂堅持下去，履行天父的旨意。
Having learned from Christ’s example,
Paul too submitted himself fully to God’s authority in his service.
He understood the heart of Christ, which is a heart of sacrifice for the church.
In his final message to the elders of Ephesus,
this understanding is apparent in his care and tears for the church
(Acts 20:17–35).
He toiled and labored for the faith of the believers, counting everything as loss,
and suffering the loss of all things
(Phil 3:8–9).
And he persevered, despite constantly being plotted against.
因為從基督榜樣中學習，
保羅在服事中，也全心全意順從神的權柄。
他明白基督的心，願意為教會犧牲。
在他給以弗所教會長老的最後一封信中，
這樣內心的理解，很明顯存在於他對教會的關心和眼淚中。
（徒 20：17-35）。
他為信徒的信仰，辛勤勞苦，將一切都視為有損的，
承受損失一切事物
（腓 3：8-9）。
儘管別人設詭計，讓他不斷遭到反對，但他仍堅持不懈。
When we feel attacked or aggravated,
our natural instinct is to become defensive and retaliate.
But if we lose control of ourselves in such situations,
we put the work of God in jeopardy.
This is why Paul told Timothy to correct those in opposition with humility
(2 Tim 2:25–26).
當我們覺得被攻擊，受到激努的時候，
我們天生的本能，是進行防禦和報復。
但是，如果在這種情況下，我們失去自制，
就會讓聖工失敗。
這就是為何，保羅告訴提摩太，要謙卑地糾正那些反對的人
（提後 2：25-26）。
Correcting those taken captive by Satan is a mission fraught with danger.
First, we expose ourselves to the risk of being deceived.
Second, we risk being falsely accused by the deceived,
since they are no longer capable of telling the truth.
With humility, Timothy had to first submit himself to God’s will,
by following Paul’s instructions.
He would also need to exercise humility in the event of provocation and false accusation.
Doing this would enable him to overcome the immediate discomfort,
and to do whatever he can with reverence,
in the hope of saving the deceived from Satan’s snare.
去糾正那些被撒但迷惑的人，是個充滿危險的任務。
首先，我們置自己於被欺騙的風險。
其次，我們冒著被那些受到欺騙的人，錯誤指控的風險，
因為他們不再可能說實話。
帶著謙卑的心，按著保羅的指示，提摩太先要順服神的旨意，
面臨挑釁及虛假指控的時候，還需要保持謙卑。
這樣做，可以使他克服眼前的不適，
並以敬畏的心竭盡所能，
期待能拯救那些受到欺騙的人，可以離開撒旦的網羅。
Evidently, to serve God requires us to forgo our own will and status.
More often than not, to suffer shame and pain is part of serving God.
However, all these become more bearable when our heart is no longer dictated by ego,
knowing that Jesus Himself went through the greatest of suffering and shame for us.
Humility directs our heart to let go of negativity and any sense of grievance.
At the same time, it focuses our attention on God,
which assuages any pain we feel in the process of accomplishing God’s work.
The sense of peace and joy obtained from exercising humility,
despite unrelenting fiery darts, is inexpressible.
很顯然地，服事神需要我們放棄自己的想法和地位。
很多時候，遭受羞辱和痛苦，是服事神的一部分。
但是，當我們內心不再自作主張的時候，所有這些困難，都變得可以忍受了，
因為明白，耶穌為我們，己經歷了最大的痛苦和恥辱。
謙卑會帶領我們的內心，可以釋放消極情緒和任何不滿情緒。
同時，它幫我們把注意力集中在神身上，
在完成聖工的過程中，幫我們平息所感受到的痛苦。
儘管惡者不屈不撓以火箭攻擊，
但通過謙卑所得到平安和喜樂感，是筆墨無法形容的。
With a Heart of Purity 清心的人
The Book of Revelation gives a vivid account of those who survived the great tribulation.
Instead of depicting the excruciating sufferings the saints went through,
John emphasizes how the saints came through the trials unscathed.
This provides us with food for thought.
In our times of trial, do we only seek for a way of escape
or are we concerned about keeping ourselves pure and righteous in the eyes of God
(Rev 7:9, 14)?
啟示錄生動地描述了，那些在大災難中倖存下來的人。
與其描繪聖徒所經歷的極大苦難，
約翰強調聖徒是怎麼毫髮未傷地經過考驗。
這為我們反省的時候，提供了參考的養份。
在我們遇到試煉的時候，我們是否只尋求一條逃避的出路，
還是我們有想到，要在神眼中保持純正
（啟 7：9，14）？
In the vision, the victorious saints are standing on a sea of glass mingled with fire.
The fire indicates their struggle against the beasts
(Rev 14:9, 15:2),
and the suffering they underwent.
Despite their ordeals, the saints managed to find their way to come before the throne.
They could only do so because of two elements.
First, they kept their robes white and pure.
Keeping our robes clean is the only way to draw closer to God,
and it is by cleansing through trials that we experience God’s abiding presence.
God is interested in the spiritual wellbeing of His chosen more than anything else.
And it is only through purging trials that He ensures we are spiritually healthy
(Isa 4).
在異像中，得勝的聖徒，站在玻璃海上，其中有火攙雜。
火代表了他們與獸的鬥爭
（啟 14：9，15：2），
以及他們遇到的苦難。
儘管遭受了磨難，聖徒還是設法找到了，來到寶座前的道路。
由於有兩個要素，他們才能這樣做。
首先，他們保持長袍潔白純淨。
保持我們長袍潔淨，接近神的唯一途徑，
經由試煉，我們體驗到神同在，得到潔淨。
比起其他的事，神更加關心自己選民的屬靈福祉。
只有通過考驗的淨化，祂才能確保我們靈性健全
（賽 4）。
The second element is victory.
Aside from overcoming sins,
John conveys the trust and endurance that the tribulation saints had to have.
The victory that the saints obtained is a victory over deception.
In the Gospel of Matthew,
Jesus describes how deception will be ever on the increase,
so much so that it will become profoundly difficult to identify.
If we are to stand before God’s throne,
then our top priority must be to hold to the truth in the face of great deception.
第二個要素是勝利。
除了要克服罪惡之外，
約翰傳遞了，聖徒必須經歷過考驗，所帶來的信靠和忍耐。
聖徒所獲得的勝利，是超越欺騙的勝利。
在馬太福音裡，
耶穌說到，欺騙將會永遠不斷增加，
數量增加到如此之多，以至於很難加以判別。
如果我們要站在神的寶座前，
那麼我們第一重要的大事，必須在面對巨大騙局的時候，能堅守真理。
In our service to God,
then, we ought to remember where our focus lies.
It is not about escaping and finding the quickest way out of our trials and difficulties,
but maintaining our purity and righteousness before God.
Moreover, in the face of growing deception,
we have to remain faithful in our service and to stand firm and not be swayed.
我們服事神的時候，
然後，我們應該記住自已的注意力要放在那裡。
這並不是有關要如何逃脫，以及如何找到最快擺脫考驗和困難的方法，
而是能在神面前，保持我們的純正與公義。
而且，面對到越來越多的騙局，
我們必須忠心於自已的事奉，堅定不移。
CONCLUSION 結論
Serving God is a lifelong endeavor,
which reflects the greatness of God’s love received by His people.
Though once alienated from God and dead in sin,
we are now made alive in Christ and are the children of God.
We have been handed the opportunity to serve the Lord and,
in fact, divinely ordained to work for God.
Our service to God, however, is not to be isolated from our everyday lives.
To serve God acceptably,
as we have seen from the examples in the Bible,
is to redirect our entire lives towards God:
to serve Him with all our hearts, in obedience, fear, and truth.
We serve Him with humility,
even to the point of suffering shame and loss,
knowing that God has to be placed before everything else in our service.
And we serve with a heart of purity,
a heart that is not shaken or stirred in tribulation or temptation,
but that desires to stand before God on that great day.
事奉神是一生的投入，
這反映了神子民得到神慈愛的偉大。
雖然曾經遠離神，死在罪中，
我們現在在基督裡得到生命，是神的兒女。
我們已受託付，得到服事主的機會，
事實上，這是來自天國的任命，要為神工作。
但是，我們給神的事奉，不應與自已的日常生活有所分別。
為了服事神得悅納，正如同我們從聖經裡，所看到的榜樣，
要將我們的一生，重新轉向神：
以順服，敬畏，真理，全心全意地服事神。
謙卑地服侍神，
甚至會碰到別人的污辱，自已得到損失的情況，
但清楚明自，在我們服事神的時候，必須優先把神放在其他事之前。
因此我們以純潔的心來事奉，
不會因為患難，或是遇見引誘，內心有所動搖或受到刺激，
而是內心想要在那大日來到時候，能站在神面前。
The Book of Revelation indicates
that the end-time true church has been divinely ordained to fulfill the final phase of God’s plan,
during the most challenging time period.
John reveals that, for our service to be ultimately accepted,
we must stand before God’s throne.
The greatest struggle we face is the work of the beast against the church,
as he does his best to obscure the right way of salvation.
Only the servants of God shall be sealed by the Holy Spirit,
on account of their faithfulness towards the gospel of salvation
(Rev 7:3; Eph 1:13).
These victorious saints shall always serve before the throne of God
(Rev 7:15, 22:3–4).
Let us all therefore carry out our duties with enthusiasm and an appropriate conduct in the assurance that,
by doing so, God will accept our service.
啟示錄指出，在末日最具挑戰性的時間段
真教會已被神命定，要完成神計劃的最終階段。
約翰透露，為了使我們的事奉最終被接受，
就必須站在神的寶座前。
我們面臨的最大掙扎，是獸對教會的攻擊，
因為他會盡力隱藏正確的救贖方式。
只有神的僕人才能被聖靈蓋印記，
因為他們對救贖福音的忠心
（啟 7：3；弗 1:13）。
這些得勝的聖徒，將永遠在神的寶座前服事
（啟 7:15，22：3-4）。
因此，讓我們大家以熱情和合宜的方式，履行我們的職責，
以確保，
因為這樣作，神就會悅納我們的事奉。
[1] James Strong, The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
(Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010), H5647.
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
