11. Manna issue 66 - What Can I Do 我能作什麼呢？
En Chia Hsieh—Singapore 新加坡 En Chia Hsieh
There is a children’s hymn,
entitled “We All Can Do Something for Jesus”.
The hymn reminds us that everyone can serve the Lord,
even if it is just through a word of kindness,
a simple hymn or a cup of cold water.
有一首兒童詩歌，
曲名為“我們大家都可以為主耶穌做些事”。
讚美詩提醒我們，每個人都能事奉主，
哪怕只是一句善意的話，
一首簡單的讚美詩，或一杯冷水。
WHY SERVE FROM YOUNG? 為何從小事奉？
In addition, the hymn tells us that serving the Lord requires training,
which needs to start early.
From Israel’s history,
we can see that the earlier the next generation was trained,
the better their quality as servants.
此外，詩歌告訴我們，事奉主需要訓練，
這需要儘早開始。
從以色列的歷史來看，
我們可以看到，下一代訓練得越早，
他們成為僕人的品德越高。
Serving the Lord is to bear the yoke for Him.
Although we may not be able to bear a heavy yoke at a young age,
we must be willing to be as a soft lump of clay, ready to be molded by the potter.
事奉主就是為祂負軛。
雖然我們可能年紀小，就無法承受沉重的枷鎖，
我們必須樂意像一團柔軟的粘土，準備好給窯匠塑造。
Every wise farmer knows that an ox needs to bear the yoke from young,
while he is still flexible and able to learn.
In this way, he will work hard, learn to bear hardship,
and will eventually be of optimal help to the farmer.
On the contrary, an old ox is stubborn in his ways
and difficult to teach, less efficient, and may even end up as a burden to the farmer.
每一個聰明的農夫都知道，一頭牛從小就需要負軛，
趁著他仍然靈活並且能夠學習的時候。
這樣，他會努力工作，學會吃苦，
最後會成為農夫最好的幫助。
反倒是老牛固執己見，
教導困難，效率低下，甚至可能成為農民的負擔。
When a farmer trains a young ox, he usually puts him together with an experienced ox,
so that the younger may observe and learn from the older one.
Under the influence of the older ox,
the young animal will gradually learn the skill to serve and develop a spirit of longsuffering.
農夫訓練一頭小牛的時候，通常會把它和一頭有經驗的牛放在一起，
這樣小牛就可以觀察，和向老牛學習。
在老牛的影響之下，
這頭小動物會逐漸學會服務的技能，並培養出忍耐的精神。
The same pattern is evident throughout the Bible:
When Moses talked to God in the tent of meeting,
Joshua would be there, listening too.
Elisha served Elijah before he was handed the baton.
Paul chose Timothy at Lystra to accompany him on his missionary journey.
Observing and learning from others will help us realize our strengths.
For this reason, we should take up the opportunity
to accompany experienced workers and participate in various church works, learning on the job.
整本聖經同樣的模式都很明顯：
當摩西在至聖所與神說話的時候，
約書亞在那裡，也會聆聽。
以利亞交棒之前，以利沙服侍他。
保羅在路司得，挑選提摩太來陪伴他的宣教之旅。
觀察別人，並向他人學習，有助於我們發揮自己的優勢。
因此，我們應該抓住機會，
陪伴有經驗的工人，參與各種教會工作，在工作中學習。
HOW CAN WE GET INVOLVED? 我們怎樣才能參與？
Today, holy work is much more diversified compared to the time of the early church.
The purpose, however, is the same:
to cater for the believers’ needs and to create a better worship environment.
Today, we can serve God in many different areas of church work.
The following are starting points,
from which we can delve into further fields of service.
今日，與早期教會的時代相比，聖工是更加的多樣化。
然而，目的是相同的：
滿足信徒的需要，營造更好的祟拜環境。
今天，我們可以在教會工作許多不同的範疇事奉神。
以下只是起點，
從中我們可以探究更深的服事領域。
1. Evangelism: 傳福音：
Youths are one of the groups most receptive to the gospel.
So, as youths we are the most suitable candidates to preach to our peers.
Youths are also often perceived as the engine of the church.
If we do not have the enthusiasm to preach,
who else can the church count on for such zeal?
We may feel that we lack the ability to evangelize,
but we can all share personal testimonies,
how our families came to believe and our experiences of the Holy Spirit.
Even merely inviting our friends to “come and see” can lead people to the Lord.
Most importantly, through our actions,
we can touch those around us who are yet to believe.
青年是最容易接受福音的群體之一。
所以，作為年輕人，我們是最適合向同齡人傳道的人選。
青年也經常被視為教會發展動力的引擎。
如果我們沒有熱心去傳道，
教會還能指望誰，能有如此熱心呢？
我們可能會覺得，自已缺乏傳福音的能力，
但我們都可以分享個人的見證，
我們的家庭怎麼來信主的，以及我們得聖靈的體驗。
即使只要邀請自已的朋友“來看一看”，也能把人帶到主面前。
最重要的是，通過我們的行動，
我們可以接觸自已周圍尚未信主的人。
2. Bible studies and sharing: 查經與分享：
Moreover the church often lacks members
who are willing and able to care for truth-seekers
and to lead truth-seeker Bible study classes.
Only those who truly love the word of God
and have the heart to “rightly divide the word of truth”
(2 Tim 15)
are competent enough to take on this task.
Willing youths can shadow their elders
who are experienced in this field to answer queries
and expound the truth regarding Christianity,
as well as the True Jesus Church articles of faith.
此外，教會經常缺乏信徒，
願意並有能力照顧慕道者的人，
並帶慕道者的查經班。
只有那些真正喜愛神話語的人
才會有心“正確解釋真理的話語”
（提後 15）
有足夠的能力承擔這項任務。
樂意的青年可以跟隨他們的長輩，
在這方面他們有經驗回答問題，
並闡述有關基督教的真理，
以及有關真耶穌教會的信條。
3. Work in pioneering areas: 開拓地區工作：
Today there are many pioneering areas that require pastoral care.
Those who work in this field need to contact members, sermonize, lead Bible studies,
and visit local members and truth seekers,
including those in developing countries.
Visiting such places can broaden our horizons
and help us develop a better understanding of service to God.
Quite often, members who visit brethren in less-developed countries will gain a wider perspective
and realize how insignificant their own problems are in comparison.
Moreover, while these brethrens’ lives are not materially abundant,
they may be more joyful.
今天有許多開拓區域需要牧養關懷。
在這個區域工作的人，需要聯繫信徒，講道，帶領查經，
並訪問當地的信徒和慕道者，
包括那些在發展中國家的人。
參訪這些地方可以拓寬我們的視野，
並幫助我們更好的了解如何服事神。
很多時候，信徒去發展不足的國家訪問弟兄姐妹，就會獲得更廣闊的視野
並意識到，相比之下他們自己的問題是多麼微不足道。
此外，雖然這些弟兄姐妹的物質生活並不富裕，
他們可能是更快樂的。
4. Care for the elderly: 照顧長者：
Due to the aging of society,
there are more and more elderly members in church who need our care and concern.
As physically able youths,
we should extend a helping hand to those
who use walking sticks or are bound by wheelchairs,
and talk to them during free time on the Sabbath day.
When the church arranges visits to the homes of those with long-term illnesses,
the presence of youths can add vitality and joy.
At the same time, youths can learn from the wisdom and experience of the elderly.
由於社會的年齡老化，
教會裡有越來越多的長者，需要我們的關心照顧。
作為身體健康的年輕人，
我們應該給那些人伸出援助之手，
那些使用拐杖走路，或受限輪椅束縛的人，
並且安息日的空閒時間，能與他們交談。
當教會安排探訪久病信徒家庭的時候，
年輕人的存在可以增添活力和歡樂。
同時，年輕人也可以藉鑑老年人的智慧和經驗。
WHOM DO WE SERVE? 我們要服事誰？
Youths must also understand whom we serve,
so as not to strive to please men more than God.
We do not serve to receive men’s praise.
King Saul was more concerned about the voice of the Israelites than about God’s voice;
he was more afraid to lose the support of the people than the abidance of God.
Thus, Saul went beyond his authority to offer sacrifices,
losing the abidance of God and, eventually, the heart of his people.
青年也必須明白我們服事的是誰，
以免變成努力取悅人，勝於取悅神。
我們不是因為接受別人的讚美而來服事。
掃羅王更關心以色列人的聲音，而不是聽從神的聲音。
他更害怕失去百姓的支持，而不是神的同在。
因此，掃羅逾越權限，進行了獻祭，
失去了神的同在，最終亦失去了他百姓的心。
We must therefore examine our attitudes:
are we afraid to hinder the divine work
or are we afraid to lose face?
In other words, is our service to God motivated by the desire to glorify God or ourselves?
The skills for serving God can be cultivated
—we need not worry.
More importantly, we must adopt the correct mindset
as we serve the Lord.
Service that pleases God is not to do what others do or are pleased with,
but to understand the needs of the church
and to do our best without shrinking back when others criticize us.
因此，我們必須檢視自已的態度：
我們會害怕阻礙聖工嗎
還是我們害怕丟臉？
換句話說，我們服事神的動機，是為了榮耀神，還是自己？
服事神的技能是可以培養的，
—我們不必擔心。
更重要的是，當我們服事主的時候，
必須採用正確的心態。
取悅神的事奉，不是進行別人正在進行，或喜歡做的事情，
而是要了解教會的需要，
並且盡力而為，當別人批評我們時，不會退縮。
“I’M NOT GOOD ENOUGH” 我不夠優秀
Sometimes we may feel we are not qualified to serve God
because we think that we are not charismatic, eloquent or educated.
Yet we need to remember that God looks at our hearts, not our abilities.
有時我們會覺得，自己沒有資格事奉神，
因為我們認為，自已沒有魅力、好口才或受過很好的教育。
然而我們必需記住，神看的是我們的內心，而不是我們的能力。
Mary of Bethany might not have been able to do what the disciples did,
but she gave what she had:
she freely broke that expensive alabaster flask of fragrant oil to anoint Jesus,
while everyone around her was staring at her.
These people did not understand why she had done so,
and even rebuked her for her action.
Yet Jesus praised her because she understood the Savior’s heart.
Other such examples from the Bible include Abigail
who counseled David and prevented him from doing harm to others in his anger,
the Canaanite servant girl who advised Naaman
to seek help from the Israelite prophet,
and Dorcas who cared for those whom nobody wanted to care for.
伯大尼的馬利亞可能無法做到門徒所做的事，
但她給了自已所擁有的：
她隨意打碎了那昂貴的香膏玉瓶，用來膏耶穌，
而她周圍的人都在盯著她看。
這些人不明白她為什麼這樣做，
甚至責備她的行為。
然而耶穌卻稱讚她，因為她明白救主的心。
聖經中其他此類的例子，包括亞比該，
她勸告大衛，防止他在憤怒中傷害別人，
迦南服事的女子建議乃縵，
去尋求以色列先知的幫助，
還有多加，她會照顧那些沒人願意照顧的人。
All these people made use of the opportunity
to do something for the Lord while they were able.
For this reason, God remembered and blessed them.
所有這些人，都利用這個機會，
在他們有能力的時候，為主做點事。
因此，神紀念並祝福了他們。
So, let us
“remember now [our] Creator in the days of [our] youth,
[b]efore the difficult days come”
(Eccl 12:1),
and seize each opportunity to serve God.
Let us serve Him to the best of our ability,
no matter how great or small our task may be
—for we all can do something for Jesus.
“12你趁著年幼、衰敗的日子尚未來到”，
(傳 12：1)
抓住每一次的機會事奉神。
讓我們盡已所能，來事奉祂，
無論我們的任務有多大或是很微小，
—因為我們都可以為耶穌做點事。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)