5. Manna issue 93 - Do Not Lose Your Heirloom 不要失去傳家寶
Aun Quek Chin—Singapore 新加坡 Aun Quek Chin
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word “heirloom"
as “a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations.”
An heirloom’s significance
may be derived from its market price as a rare antique
or from its sentimental value as a tangible piece of family history.
For example, we may think of a sewing machine
that a great-great-grandmother used to make a living and raise her family,
subsequently passed down through the generations.
No matter its monetary worth,
an heirloom is a treasured item handed from parent to child.
牛津英語詞典定義“傳家寶”一詞,
作為“屬於家族世代相傳的珍貴物品”。
傳家寶的重要性
可能是來自其市場價格，因為是稀有的古董，
或有其情感價值，因為是家族歷史的有形物件。
例如，我們可能會認為，一台縫紉機，
曾曾祖母曾經用來謀生和養家糊口，
隨後代代相傳。
無論其貨幣價值如何，
傳家寶是父母傳給子女的珍貴物品。
As children of the heavenly Father,
we have a spiritual heirloom that He has set aside for us:
the kingdom of heaven.
We know, too, that this heirloom is not freely gained
—it is through the blood of Jesus
that we have come to receive this precious legacy.
So we ought to ask ourselves:
Have we esteemed this inheritance lightly?
How do we ensure that we do not lose this heirloom?
作為天父的兒女，
我們有一個屬靈的傳家寶，是祂為我們保留下來的：
天國。
我們也知道，這種傳家寶不是白白得著的
—是經由耶穌的寶血所得，
我們才能接受這份寶貴的遺產。
所以我們應該要捫心自問：
我們是否輕看這份產業？
我們如何確保，自已不會失去這個傳家寶？
GIVE EARNEST HEED TO THE WORD 鄭重所聽見的道理
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard,
lest we drift away.
(Heb 2:1)
2所以，我們當越發鄭重所聽見的道理，恐怕我們隨流失去。
(來 2：1)
In our day and age,
it is undeniable
that the most popular seminars are about wealth creation or wellness.
We all need money and health to lead comfortable lives;
unsurprisingly, everyone is looking for the best ways to gain both.
Nevertheless, these seminars only concern our body and our present life on earth.
No matter how healthy or wealthy we are,
we will all one day die,
and the years pass in the blink of an eye.
More important are our salvation and the heirloom that we are to receive.
在我們這個時代，
不可否認的是，
最受歡迎的研討會，都是關於創造財富或健康。
我們都需要金錢和健康，才能過上舒適的生活；
毫不奇怪的，各人都在尋找兼顧兩者的最佳方法。
然而，這些研討會只討論有關我們的身體和目前地上的生活。
無論我們有多麼健康或富裕，
大家終有一天會死去，
歲月於眨眼之間就消逝。
更重要的是，我們的救恩和自已要得到的傳家寶。
If we believe Jesus redeems us from our sins
so that we can receive the eternal inheritance,
we must give more earnest heed to what we have heard.
These things are not spoken by men
but by God concerning our eternal salvation and life.
Jesus said, “He who has an ear let him hear”
(Rev 2:7).
Jesus repeated this phrase throughout His message to the seven churches in Revelation,
to emphasize the need to hold on to the things we have heard and not drift away.
如果我們相信耶穌救贖我們脫離罪孽，
使我們能得到永遠的基業，
我們就必須更加認真注意自已所聽到的真道。
這些道理不是由人口所說的，
而是由神說到關於我們永恆的救恩和生命。
耶穌說：“7凡有耳的，就應當聽！”
（啟示錄 2：7）。
耶穌在啟示錄給七個教會的信息中，不斷重覆這句話，
強調需要堅持自已所聽到的真道，而不要隨波逐流。
Do we heed the word earnestly and hold on to what we have heard?
Or are we like a leaky pail
that brings home less water than it was filled with?
When we attend services and listen to the sermons each week,
do we retain the word of God that we receive?
Can we recall the teachings
or how God’s word may be applied in our lives?
Today, there are many things to learn and consider,
and we eagerly study these techniques and knowledge
in the quest for a better life or self-improvement.
But do we love these ideas more than God and our heirloom?
Be careful lest we drift away.
我們是否認真留心聆聽真道，並且持守自已所聽到的呢？
還是我們像是漏水的桶子，
帶回家的水比裝滿時的水更少？
每週我們參加聚會和聆聽講道時，
我們是否能保留自已所領受的神話語呢？
我們能否能想起教訓，
或者如何應用神的話語，在我們的生活中呢？
今天，有很多事情要學習和思考，
我們熱心學習這些技術和知識，
以尋求更好的生活，或自我成長。
但是我們是否更愛這些想法，勝過愛神和自已的傳家寶呢？
要小心別讓自已隨波逐流。
To “drift away” refers to a boat adrift at sea.
A drifting boat does not move according to the pilot’s wishes
but simply follows the tide and current.
If our faith is weak today,
it is not because we do not believe
but because we do not diligently and actively secure our faith.
We allow our faith to drift along with the ebb
and flow of the current of time,
and we drift farther and farther away from our heirloom.
Someone once asked Jesus,
“Lord, are there few who are saved?”
(Lk 13:23).
Jesus did not answer him directly
but told him to strive to enter the narrow gate.
The heavenly kingdom, the heirloom of our heavenly Father,
is for those who strive to receive it.
The heavenly kingdom belongs to those
who are diligent in entering it.
We should not relax and allow ourselves to drift along with the currents
but put in the effort to row the boat towards our destination.
“隨波逐流”指的是船在海上漂流。
漂流的小船不會隨著駕駛員的意願而行，
但只是隨著潮汐和洋流而漂浮。
如果我們今天的信心軟弱，
這不是因為我們不信，
而是因為自已沒有努力積極確保自已的信仰。
我們任憑信心隨著低潮，
和時間的流動而漂流出去，
我們就漂離自已的傳家寶越來越遠。
曾經有人問耶穌，
“23主阿，得救的人少麼？”
（路 13：23）。
耶穌沒有直接回答他，
但卻叫他要努力進窄門。
天國，我們天父的傳家寶，
是給那些努力要接受它的人準備的。
天國屬於那些人，
他們是努力想要進去的人。
我們不應該放鬆，讓自己隨波逐流，
而是要努力把船划向自已的目的地。
DO NOT NEGLECT OUR SALVATION 不要忽視我們的救贖
[H]ow shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation,
which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,
and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?
(Heb 2:3)
3我們若忽略這麼大的救恩，怎能逃罪呢？
這救恩起先是主親自講的，
後來是聽見的人給我們證實了。
(來 2：3)
We may think that “neglect” is a small matter
because it is so passive—we are simply not acting.
So we may wonder:
how can inaction be a sin,
and how can it cause us to lose our heirloom?
我們可能認為，“忽視”只是一件小事，
因為這個行為很被動——我們根本就沒有自主行動。
所以我們可能會想：
沒有行動怎麼可能會變成是一種罪過呢，
它怎麼會導致我們失去傳家寶呢？
The seat belt is one of the most basic safety systems in the car.
According to statistics,[1]
seat belt usage in the United States is high, at 90.4 percent in 2021,
but 51 percent of passengers killed in car accidents in 2020 were unrestrained.
In 2017, seat belts saved an estimated 14,955 lives,
but could have saved an additional 2,549 lives if they had been used.
Although it is widely accepted that seat belts save lives,
some commuters still do not use them.
Cherishing our heirloom is like fastening the seat belt of our souls.
If we neglect to put on this seat belt,
we may lose our eternal life.
安全帶是車內最基本的安全系統之一。
據統計，[1]
美國的安全帶使用率很高，2021 年為 90.4%，
但在 2020 年的車禍中，喪生的乘客中，有 51% 是沒繫上安全帶的。
2017 年，安全帶估計挽救了 14,955 人的生命，
但如果大家都使用它們，本就可挽救額外的 2,549 條生命。
儘管大家公認為安全帶可以挽救生命，
仍有一些通勤者不使用它們。
珍惜自已的傳家之寶，就好像是繫好自已靈魂的安全帶。
如果我們忽略了繫上這條安全帶，
自已就可能會失去永生。
Of course, the alternative
—actively striving to secure our heirloom
—is not easy,
and there will be times when our faith is unsteady.
Yet whatever the situation,
we must persist.
It may feel like a heavy burden,
but if we take small steps,
the burden will be bearable.
There have been testimonies of church members who,
even though they were reprimanded at work by their bosses,
could still quieten their hearts and go for service.
Imagine that you are starving but about to leave for church
—would you stop to eat food
even though you would certainly be late for service?
We can think of many excuses not to come to service,
but let us be diligent with the basics of our faith.
Remember that Jesus told us to strive to enter by that narrow way.
We must put in our due effort to hold on to our heirloom,
and Jesus will do the rest.
當然，是有可以選擇的方案，
—積極努力保護自已的傳家寶，
—這並不容易，
有時我們的信心並不穩定。
然而無論是什麼情況，
我們必須堅持。
這可能會讓人覺得負擔沉重，
但如果我們踏出很多小步，
重負仍是可以承受的。
有教會信徒的見證，
即使他們在工作時被老闆責備，
仍然可以安撫自已的內心，去參加聚會。
想像一下，你快餓死了，但時間正好要去聚會
—你會停下來吃東西嗎？
即使你肯定會遲到？
我們可以想出很多藉口不來聚會，
但請讓我們努力維持自已信仰的基礎。
請記住耶穌告訴我們，要努力進入那條窄路。
我們必須付出應有的努力，來保住自已的傳家寶，
耶穌會做其他的事。
ASSEMBLING TOGETHER 聚集在一起
And let us consider one another
…not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together
…and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
(Heb 10:24–25)
24又要彼此相顧，
...25你們不可停止聚會，
既知道（原文是看見）那日子臨近。
(來 10：24-25)
If we believe that the Lord’s Day is approaching,
we will all the more renew our efforts to gather with our brethren.
We may understand that Sabbath services are important,
but do we view other scheduled services in the same light?
Attending services and the coming of the Lord Jesus are inextricably linked.
如果我們相信，主再臨的日子靠近了，
我們將更努力，與弟兄姐妹聚在一起。
我們可能明白，安息日聚會很重要，
但我們是否以同樣的眼光，看待其他的定期聚會呢？
參加聚會，與主耶穌的來臨，有千絲萬縷很深的聯繫。
At Jesus’ second coming, where there are two in the field,
one will be taken,
and the other left behind
(Mt 24:40; Lk 17:36).
This is commonly interpreted as a distinction between believer and unbeliever,
but it can also describe a situation where both are believers of Christ.
It all depends on our relationship with Him.
耶穌再臨的時候，田野裡有兩個人，
一個將被接走，
另一個人留下
（太 24：40；路 17：36）。
這通常被解釋為，信徒和非信徒之間的區別，
但這也可以描述雙方都是基督徒的情況。
這都完全取決於我們與祂的關係。
“I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;
for without Me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in Me,
he is cast out as a branch and is withered;
and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
(Jn 15:5–6)
5我是葡萄樹，你們是枝子。
常在我裡面的，我也常在他裡面，這人就多結果子；
因為離了我，你們就不能做甚麼。
6人若不常在我裡面，
就像枝子丟在外面枯乾，
人拾起來，扔在火裡燒了。
(約 15：5-6)
Those baptized have established a relationship with God
and are connected to the true vine.
However, we should not take for granted
that we will always remain so;
baptism is only the beginning.
We must strive to stay connected to the vine and never depart.
Only then will we receive His preservation and our heirloom.
受洗的人與神建立了關係，
並連接到真正的葡萄樹。
但是，我們不該認為這是理所當然，
我們會永遠保持如此行；
洗禮只是開始而已。
我們必須努力保持葡萄樹的聯繫，永不離開。
只有這樣，我們才能得到祂的保護，得到我們的傳家寶。
The church is the body of Christ.
When we come to church, we abide in the Lord Jesus.
However, some have grown cold and no longer gather in church,
arguing that Christ, not the church, was nailed on the cross for us.
Therefore, they believe it unnecessary to gather in church
and that worshipping Jesus alone is enough.
However, the Bible tells us that the church is the body of Christ.
The Spirit of God fills the church, and we are saved through the church,
by water baptism in the name of Jesus.
Through the church, we partake in the Holy Communion, to have eternal life.
Through the church, where sermons are spoken,
we are encouraged.
When Christ comes again, we will be lifted up,
but those not in the church will be treated as unbelievers
—in Revelation,
Jesus told John not to measure those in the temple's outer court
(Rev 11:1–2).
Therefore, we must have a relationship with Jesus
in which we abide in His temple, the church.
Let us esteem coming to services and assembling.
We will only receive the heirloom prepared for us at the end of all things.
教會是基督的身體。
我們來到教會，就是住在主耶穌裡面。
然而，有些人冷淡了，不再聚集在教會裡，
會爭論，是基督，而不是教會，為我們被釘在十字架上。
因此，他們認為，沒有必要去教堂聚會，
只要敬拜耶穌就足夠了。
然而，聖經告訴我們，教會是基督的身體。
神的靈充滿教會，我們經由教會而得救，
奉耶穌的名洗禮。
通過教會，我們領受聖餐，獲得永生。
通過教會，講道的地方，
我們得到鼓舞。
當基督再來時，我們將被高舉，
但那些不在教會的人，會被視為不是信徒，
—啟示錄這樣說，
耶穌告訴約翰，不要丈量聖殿外院的那些人
（啟 11：1-2）。
因此，我們必須與耶穌建立關係，
我們可以住在祂的殿中，就是教會。
讓我們尊重前來聚會和聚集。
在萬物的終結之時，我們會收到為我們準備的傳家寶。
DRAW NEAR WITH FAITH 以信心聚在一起
[L]et us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience
and our bodies washed with pure water.
(Heb 10:22)
22並我們心中天良的虧欠已經灑去，身體用清水洗淨了，
就當存著誠心和充足的信心來到神面前；
(來 10：24-25)
Some have complaints against the church:
They say they do not feel God or His love,
or they see hypocrisy in the church.
They feel that their problems persist and God does not help them,
so there is no reason to continue attending church.
有些人對教會有怨言：
他們說，自已感受不到神或祂的慈愛，
或者他們教會中看到假冒偽善。
他們覺得，自已的問題仍然存在，神並沒有幫助他們，
所以就沒有理由繼續去教會。
However, when we come before God and seek to draw near to Him,
we should be relying on faith, not feelings.
We will be disappointed if we draw near based on what we feel.
Our coming before God with faith pleases God
(Heb 11:6).
And we should reflect on our intentions
—are we drawing near to God with a true heart?
然而，當我們來到神面前，想要尋求親近祂的時候，
我們應該依靠信心，而不是感覺。
如果我們憑著自己的感覺來靠近神，就會感到失望。
我們憑著信心來到神面前，就會蒙神喜悅
（來 11：6）。
我們應該反思我們的動機，
—我們有沒有真心想要親近神呢？
Suppose you are visiting a friend’s house,
and he does not tidy before you come
or serve you anything when you are there.
Complaining about these reveals
that you did not visit your friend with a true heart.
If you had, all the above would not matter.
You would just be glad to spend time with him,
even if no food is served, the sofa is hard,
or the ambiance is terrible.
Being happy to be there shows you are a true friend with a true heart.
假設你去朋友家做客，
你來之前他沒有打掃乾淨，
或當你在來時，沒好好接待你。
若抱怨這些事，就顯示，
你並不是真心想要拜訪你的朋友。
如果你有心，以上所有的事都不重要。
你只會很高興的與他共度時光，
即使沒有提供食物，沙發也很硬，
或者氣氛很可怕。
在那裡很高興，表明你是一個有真心，真正的朋友。
“God did not provide me with bread. God did not heal my sickness.
Brothers and sisters did not help me with my problems.”
All these complaints reveal the intents of our heart.
If we do have a genuine need, those needs should be secondary.
The primary purpose of coming to church is to worship the God who saved us,
and the grace of worshipping God should be enough for us to offer our life to Him.
No one was willing to die for us and suffer for us.
But Jesus was.
How can we neglect so great a salvation?
How can we neglect the heirloom paid for at so high a price?
With that in mind,
we should reflect on whether we go to church with a true heart to worship God.
“神沒有給我麵包。 神沒有醫治我的病。
弟兄姊妹沒有幫助我解決問題。”
所有這些抱怨都顯露了我們內心的想法。
如果我們確實有真的需求，那麼這些需求應該是次要的。
來教會的主要目的，是敬拜拯救我們的神，
敬拜神的恩典，應該足以讓我們將生命獻給祂。
沒有人會願意為我們死，為我們受苦。
但耶穌這麼作。
我們怎能忽視如此偉大的救恩呢？
如此高價付出的傳家之寶，我們怎能置之不理呢？
若想到這一點，
我們就應該反思，自己去教會是不是有真心敬拜神。
Let us treasure and hold fast
to the priceless heirloom of the heavenly kingdom
and the salvation God has given us.
Give earnest heed to His word,
not neglecting our salvation
or assembling with our fellow brothers and sisters,
but drawing near to worship God with a pure heart.
讓我們珍惜並堅守，
天國的無價傳家寶
以及神所賜給我們的救恩。
要認真聽從祂的話語，
不要忽視自已的救恩，
或與我們的兄弟姐妹聚會，
惟要以一顆清潔的心親近敬拜神。
[1] “Seat Belts,” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
accessed June 2, 2022,
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts.
[1] “安全帶”，國家公路交通安全管理局，
於 2022 年 6 月 2 日查詢資料，
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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