过去一年，我的菜园收成非常丰富。当豆角、南瓜、辣椒、番茄等产量最大的时候，我们都来不及吃完及把它们保存起来。心底里，我为自己的劳动成果感到骄傲。奇怪的是，我越是这样，那种占有欲就越强。
我的岳父教会了我大部分园艺知识，而他总能很好地纠正我的骄傲和不正当的占有欲。他时不时会说句像这样的话来提醒我：“你的成功，是因为你这儿有好的土。”
耶稣所讲有关贪婪的比喻，对我有更大的影响。你是否注意到“田地”是这个比喻里的主角呢？其中说，有一个富翁，他的“田地丰收”。这是一个使所有农夫和园丁都谦卑下来的提醒。
丰收取决于好田地以及很多其它的条件。盲目地骄傲于自己的努力，会使我们无视神和其他人，也会失去因慷慨分享神的赐与而得到的喜乐。总之，我们在神眼中成了愚昧无知的人，因为是良善、完美的祂赐下生命，也是祂赐给我们生命的一切所需。那“在神面前富足”的人，永远都是以神园中的出产学习感恩和慷慨给予的。
主耶稣，感谢祢警戒我免去“一切的贪心”以及促发贪心的骄傲。教导我学习真正的谦卑，好让我懂得感激祢；并教导我慷慨施与，与人分享祢所赐给我的丰盛。
路加福音 12:13-21
13众人中有一个人对耶稣说：“夫子！请你吩咐我的兄长和我分开家业。”
14耶稣说：“你这个人！谁立我作你们断事的官，给你们分家业呢？”
15于是对众人说：“你们要谨慎自守，免去一切的贪心，因为人的生命不在乎家道丰富。”
16就用比喻对他们说：“有一个财主田产丰盛；
17自己心里思想说：‘我的出产没有地方收藏，怎么办呢？’
18又说：‘我要这么办：要把我的仓房拆了，另盖更大的，在那里好收藏我一切的粮食和财物，
19然后要对我的灵魂说：灵魂哪，你有许多财物积存，可作多年的费用，只管安安逸逸地吃喝快乐吧！’
20神却对他说：‘无知的人哪，今夜必要你的灵魂；你所预备的要归谁呢？’
21凡为自己积财，在神面前却不富足的，也是这样。”
"The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do?'" — Luke 12:16-17
This past year my garden was prolific. At the peak of its output of beans, squash, peppers, tomatoes, and more, we could not eat and preserve the produce fast enough. Secretly I took pride in the fruits of my hard work. And, strangely, the more I did that, the more possessive I became.
My father-in-law, who taught me most of what I know about gardening, has always been a wonderful corrective to my pride and perverse possessiveness. From time to time, he will say something like "You have good dirt."
The parable told by Jesus about greed has an even greater impact. Did you notice that "the ground" is the star of the show? The ground of an already rich man "yielded an abundant harvest." This is a humbling reminder for all farmers and gardeners.
An abundant harvest depends on good ground and so much more. Blinded by pride in our own efforts, we lose sight of God, others, and the delight of being generous with God's gifts. In a word, we become fools in the sight of God, the good and perfect giver of life and of all that is needed for our lives. The person who is "rich toward God" is ever learning to be grateful and generous with the produce from God's garden.
Jesus, thank you for warning against "all kinds of greed" and the pride that fuels it. Teach me true humility that produces gratitude for your good gifts. and generosity that reflects a rich life in you. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
