慷慨的人生
保罗是一个懂得知足的基督徒。是的，靠着基督的能力，他能应对各种情况，不论好的坏的。但每个人都时不时地需要朋友帮帮忙。承认这一点很正常。
腓立比教会帮助了保罗，他们给他钱，可能还有食物和衣裳，而且不止一次。保罗并没有视若无睹，他没有假装说他不需要帮忙，或者没有这些他也无所谓。保罗承认说，腓立比教会给他的礼物很好，帮助很大。
他甚至说，在这方面，腓立比教会比他一起同工的其它教会做得更好；似乎保罗在背后羞辱其它教会，这或许会让我们觉得奇怪。
但从这封信前面的内容，我们可以看出保罗的心肠；他不是在乞讨金钱，也不是想要操控任何人。对保罗来说，慷慨很清楚是整个基督徒生活的一部分。待人慷慨表明我们在接受福音的时候是“得到”了。为了回应上帝奇妙的恩典，我们也给予！保罗很想每个人都明白这一点，因为正确的相信耶稣是整个宇宙中最重要的事。
主耶稣，祢把自己给了我们；除了祢那伟大的爱，祢倒空了祢的一切。帮助我们抓住这个异象，并且能过一个舍己的慷慨人生。奉祢的名祷告，阿们。
腓立比书 4:14-16
14 然而，你们和我同受患难原是美事。
15 腓立比人哪，你们也知道我初传福音，离了马其顿的时候，论到授受的事，除了你们以外并没有别的教会供给我。
16 就是我在帖撒罗尼迦，你们也一次两次地打发人供给我的需用。
Living Generous Lives
"It was good of you to share in my troubles." — Philippians 4:14
Paul was a contented Christian. Yes, he could put up with all kinds of things (good and bad), in Christ’s strength. Still, everyone needs a little help from friends now and then. And there is nothing wrong with admitting that.
The Philippians had helped Paul by supplying him with some money, and perhaps some food and clothing, on more than one occasion. That did not go unnoticed, and Paul did not pretend that he didn’t need the help, or that he would have been just fine without it. Paul admitted that it was kind and helpful of the Philippians to send their gifts to him.
He even said that the Philippians did a better job than some other congregations he had worked with. Here it seems that Paul was engaging in a bit of back-handed shaming toward those other churches, and this may be surprising to us.
But from earlier in this letter we know where Paul was coming from. It’s not that he was begging for money or trying to manipulate anyone. For Paul, generosity was clearly a part of the whole Jesus package. Living generous lives shows that we “get it” when it comes to the gospel. In response to God’s amazing grace, we give too! And Paul dearly wanted everyone to understand this—because getting Jesus right is the most important thing in the whole universe!
Lord Jesus, you gave yourself for us, emptying yourself of everything but your great love. Help us to catch this vision and to lead generous lives of self-giving always. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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