全新四年樂活讀經
經文: 哥林多後書 8:14 乃要均平，就是要你們的富餘，現在可以補他們的不足，使他們的富餘，將來也可以補你們的不足，這就均平了。
默想: 這可以說是基督教社會主義 (Christian Socialism) 的聖經根據，也應該是近代保險 (insurance) 思想的起源。這是自主性 (autonomous)、相互性 (mutual)、截長補短的均平主義 (egalitarianism)。主耶穌在馬太二十五章中所提到山羊與綿羊的比喻，也是拿擁有者看見缺乏者時，是否能夠自動自發的拿出自己的擁有，來幫補欠缺者之不足，作為區分綿羊與山羊的標準。主耶穌在山羊與綿羊比喻中所提的幫補欠缺的內容，似乎都是基本生存所必須的飲水、食物、衣物、住所、疾病中之照顧以及下監時之探望。如此看來，這樣的補足，似乎並不是把大家的收入都集合起來，再除以總人數，所得到的平均值再分給大家，讓大家所擁有的，都是完全一樣的共產主義 (communism)。保險業的做法可能相當接近基督教社會主義的思想，可惜的是保險業者把這個慈惠事業商業化了，保險公司的老板成為最大的獲利者。我在美國唸神學院時，就參加過一種基督徒的醫藥保險，這個保險強調是基督徒彼此間之互相幫助，公司除了維持營運的必要開銷之外，並不追求任何利潤，因此，每個人所繳交的保險費，比一般保險公司低很多。
題目: 馬其頓在患難中充滿快樂，受困中慷慨捐助，且將自己奉獻給主上帝。這樣的生命、價值觀，你有何看法？ (4-5節)
8:1 弟兄們，我把 神賜給馬其頓眾教會的恩告訴你們，
We want you to know, brethren, about the grace of God which has been shown in the churches of Macedo'nia,
8:2 就是他們在患難中受大試煉的時候，仍有滿足的快樂，在極窮之間還格外顯出他們樂捐的厚恩。
for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part.
8:3 我可以證明，他們是按著力量，而且也過了力量，自己甘心樂意的捐助，
For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will,
8:4 再三的求我們，准他們在這供給聖徒的恩情上有分；
begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints --
8:5 並且他們所做的，不但照我們所想望的，更照 神的旨意先把自己獻給主，又歸附了我們。
and this, not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
8:6 因此我勸提多，既然在你們中間開辦這慈惠的事，就當辦成了。
Accordingly we have urged Titus that as he had already made a beginning, he should also complete among you this gracious work.
8:7 你們既然在信心、口才、知識、熱心，和待我們的愛心上都格外顯出滿足來，就當在這慈惠的事上也格外顯出滿足來。
Now as you excel in everything -- in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us -- see that you excel in this gracious work also.
8:8 我說這話，不是吩咐你們，乃是藉著別人的熱心試驗你們愛心的實在。
I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.
8:9 你們知道我們主耶穌基督的恩典：他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮，叫你們因他的貧窮，可以成為富足。
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
8:10 我在這事上把我的意見告訴你們，是與你們有益；因為你們下手辦這事，而且起此心意，已經有一年了，
And in this matter I give my advice: it is best for you now to complete what a year ago you began not only to do but to desire,
8:11 如今就當辦成這事。既有願做的心，也當照你們所有的去辦成。
so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.
8:12 因為人若有願做的心，必蒙悅納，乃是照他所有的，並不是照他所無的。
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he has not.
8:13 我原不是要別人輕省，你們受累，
I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened,
8:14 乃要均平，就是要你們的富餘，現在可以補他們的不足，使他們的富餘，將來也可以補你們的不足，這就均平了。
but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality.
8:15 如經上所記：多收的也沒有餘；少收的也沒有缺。
As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack."
8:16 多謝 神，感動提多的心，叫他待你們殷勤，像我一樣。
But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
8:17 他固然是聽了我的勸，但自己更是熱心，情願往你們那裡去。
For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord.
8:18 我們還打發一位兄弟和他同去，這人在福音上得了眾教會的稱讚。
With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel;
8:19 不但這樣，他也被眾教會挑選，和我們同行，把所託與我們的這捐貲送到了，可以榮耀主，又表明我們樂意的心。
and not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work which we are carrying on, for the glory of the Lord and to show our good will.
8:20 這就免得有人因我們收的捐銀很多，就挑我們的不是。
We intend that no one should blame us about this liberal gift which we are administering,
8:21 我們留心行光明的事，不但在主面前，就在人面前也是這樣。
for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of men.
8:22 我們又打發一位兄弟同去；這人的熱心，我們在許多事上屢次試驗過。現在他因為深信你們，就更加熱心了。
And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you.
8:23 論到提多，他是我的同伴，一同為你們勞碌的。論到那兩位兄弟，他們是眾教會的使者，是基督的榮耀。
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service; and as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
8:24 所以，你們務要在眾教會面前顯明你們愛心的憑據，並我所誇獎你們的憑據。
So give proof, before the churches, of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.
We want you to know, brethren, about the grace of God which has been shown in the churches of Macedo'nia,
8:2 就是他們在患難中受大試煉的時候，仍有滿足的快樂，在極窮之間還格外顯出他們樂捐的厚恩。
for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part.
8:3 我可以證明，他們是按著力量，而且也過了力量，自己甘心樂意的捐助，
For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will,
8:4 再三的求我們，准他們在這供給聖徒的恩情上有分；
begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints --
8:5 並且他們所做的，不但照我們所想望的，更照 神的旨意先把自己獻給主，又歸附了我們。
and this, not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
8:6 因此我勸提多，既然在你們中間開辦這慈惠的事，就當辦成了。
Accordingly we have urged Titus that as he had already made a beginning, he should also complete among you this gracious work.
8:7 你們既然在信心、口才、知識、熱心，和待我們的愛心上都格外顯出滿足來，就當在這慈惠的事上也格外顯出滿足來。
Now as you excel in everything -- in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us -- see that you excel in this gracious work also.
8:8 我說這話，不是吩咐你們，乃是藉著別人的熱心試驗你們愛心的實在。
I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.
8:9 你們知道我們主耶穌基督的恩典：他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮，叫你們因他的貧窮，可以成為富足。
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
8:10 我在這事上把我的意見告訴你們，是與你們有益；因為你們下手辦這事，而且起此心意，已經有一年了，
And in this matter I give my advice: it is best for you now to complete what a year ago you began not only to do but to desire,
8:11 如今就當辦成這事。既有願做的心，也當照你們所有的去辦成。
so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.
8:12 因為人若有願做的心，必蒙悅納，乃是照他所有的，並不是照他所無的。
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he has not.
8:13 我原不是要別人輕省，你們受累，
I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened,
8:14 乃要均平，就是要你們的富餘，現在可以補他們的不足，使他們的富餘，將來也可以補你們的不足，這就均平了。
but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality.
8:15 如經上所記：多收的也沒有餘；少收的也沒有缺。
As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack."
8:16 多謝 神，感動提多的心，叫他待你們殷勤，像我一樣。
But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
8:17 他固然是聽了我的勸，但自己更是熱心，情願往你們那裡去。
For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord.
8:18 我們還打發一位兄弟和他同去，這人在福音上得了眾教會的稱讚。
With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel;
8:19 不但這樣，他也被眾教會挑選，和我們同行，把所託與我們的這捐貲送到了，可以榮耀主，又表明我們樂意的心。
and not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work which we are carrying on, for the glory of the Lord and to show our good will.
8:20 這就免得有人因我們收的捐銀很多，就挑我們的不是。
We intend that no one should blame us about this liberal gift which we are administering,
8:21 我們留心行光明的事，不但在主面前，就在人面前也是這樣。
for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of men.
8:22 我們又打發一位兄弟同去；這人的熱心，我們在許多事上屢次試驗過。現在他因為深信你們，就更加熱心了。
And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you.
8:23 論到提多，他是我的同伴，一同為你們勞碌的。論到那兩位兄弟，他們是眾教會的使者，是基督的榮耀。
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service; and as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
8:24 所以，你們務要在眾教會面前顯明你們愛心的憑據，並我所誇獎你們的憑據。
So give proof, before the churches, of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.
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這幾節經文提到馬其頓教會在極窮乏中還是樂意奉獻，可作哥林多人的榜樣。馬其頓教會不但盡力奉獻，甚至過了他們的力量。也就是說：他們經濟能力所負擔不起的。把金錢奉獻了之後，會叫他們在現實生活上立即面臨艱難的局面。這「過了力量」也表現他們奉獻的信心。
回覆刪除奉獻錢財幫助人，是我們經常要學習的功課。就是在「大試煉……極窮……」的時候，還是應該學習盡本分奉獻。求主幫助我們，在每日感恩中，來經歷神！按著神給我們的力量、甘心樂意的願為神的聖工奉獻。若信心大的，就神那「過了力量」的恩典、來再次經歷神! 這甘心樂意的願為神的聖工奉獻，不是彰顯個人的偉大，不是虧損，倒是對神所的恩典而有自然的回應。