几年前有两位年轻的女士写过一本书，叫《二十几岁时你会遇到的人生挑战》。在书中，她们表达了对自己生活经历的失望。大学毕业之后并没有实现自我的价值，而是幻想的破灭。她们开始质疑：“我们为什么在这里？” 她们正在经历她们所谓的 “青年危机”。
其实不管是青年危机、中年危机，或退休危机，千千万万的人都在问同一个问题：我为什么在这里？或者说我人生的目的是什么？
耶稣那个按才干受托的比喻 (其中提到很多银子，每袋重75磅) 能帮助我们解答这个问题。不管我们是否相信神，我们每个人被造都有一个目的。为了完成这个目的，神将恩赐和资源托付给我们，用来事奉祂，在地上建造祂的国度。
神以各种各样的方式把我们每个人放置在不同的环境中，为要爱神和爱邻舍。我们有责任使用神给的恩赐和资源在每天的生活中服事我们的主。
当我们好好使用神给予的恩赐时，有一天我们会听到祂说：“好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人！”
父啊，感谢祢把恩赐托付给我们。求祢激励我们使用这些恩赐来事奉祢和服事他人。奉耶稣的名祷告。阿们。
马太福音 25:14-23
14“天国又好比一个人要往外国去，就叫了仆人来，把他的家业交给他们，
15按着各人的才干给他们银子：一个给了五千，一个给了二千，一个给了一千，就往外国去了。
16那领五千的随即拿去做买卖，另外赚了五千。
17那领二千的也照样另赚了二千。
18但那领一千的去掘开地，把主人的银子埋藏了。
19过了许久，那些仆人的主人来了，和他们算帐。
20那领五千银子的又带着那另外的五千来，说：‘主啊，你交给我五千银子。请看，我又赚了五千。’
21主人说：‘好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把许多事派你管理；可以进来享受你主人的快乐。’
22那领二千的也来，说：‘主啊，你交给我二千银子。请看，我又赚了二千。’
23主人说：‘好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把许多事派你管理；可以进来享受你主人的快乐。’
"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" — Matthew 25:23
Several years ago two young women wrote a book, The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties. According to their story, they were disappointed with the way life was turning out for them. Instead of finding fulfillment after college, they found themselves disillusioned. In their own way they began asking, Why are we here? They were experiencing what they called "the quarterlife crisis."
Whether it's because of a quarterlife crisis, a midlife crisis, or a retirement crisis, the same question is asked by millions of people: Why am I here? or What is the purpose of my life?
Jesus' parable about the bags of gold (or talents— measures weighing about 75 lbs. each) helps to answer that question. Each of us is created for a purpose, regardless of whether we believe or don't believe in God. And to fulfill our purpose, the Lord has entrusted us with gifts and resources, to be used to serve him and to build his kingdom here on earth.
Each of us in our own way and in our own setting has been placed on the earth to love God and to love our neighbors. It's up to us to use the gifts and resources we have been given to begin serving our Lord in our everyday lives.
When we use the gifts we've been given, we will someday hear him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Father, thank you for entrusting us with your gifts. Encourage us to use them in your service and in the service of others. In Jesus' name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
