圣经反覆呼吁我们要与穷乏人分享：在摩西律法中，在先知书中，在耶稣的教导中，还有这里，在保罗书信中。
努力工作的命令，“亲手作正经事”，挣足够的钱以至有余，这一点是和有怜悯心分不开的。
不仅如此，保罗还把工作和分享作为一种摆脱不诚实生活的途径。作正经事，并把余下来的分给人——这是清洁有益的。它会颠覆一个人旧有的生活方式——即常常埋伏在暗地，伺机下手，从毫无戒心、无辜的路人那里偷东西。
保罗呼吁我们从败坏的深渊，回到真理上来，就是神起初将工作分派给我们的始祖，让他去做。将种子播下，给它浇水，看着它们长出新芽，这一切是多么美好啊；修剪、清扫和照料神赐给我们的家园，这是多么美好啊（创 2:15）。
保罗向我们展示了一种生活方式，它的特点是在基督里成长，在一个充满爱的信徒团体中，做善事和正经事——而不是坐着闲聊，互相诽谤，引发冲突和苦毒。蒙基督救赎的，有爱心、有恩慈、有怜悯的团契是何等美好啊！
主啊，我们渴望成为在基督里有爱的团契，对有需要的人有怜悯、有益处。求你引领我们。阿们。
以弗所书 4:25-32
25所以你们要弃绝谎言，各人与邻舍说实话，因为我们是互相为肢体。
26生气却不要犯罪，不可含怒到日落，
27也不可给魔鬼留地步。
28从前偷窃的，不要再偷，总要劳力，亲手做正经事，就可有余，分给那缺少的人。
29污秽的言语一句不可出口，只要随事说造就人的好话，叫听见的人得益处。
30不要叫神的圣灵担忧，你们原是受了他的印记，等候得赎的日子来到。
31一切苦毒、恼恨、愤怒、嚷闹、毁谤，并一切的恶毒，都当从你们中间除掉；
32并要以恩慈相待，存怜悯的心，彼此饶恕，正如神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。
“Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.” — Ephesians 4:28
Again and again, the Bible calls us to share with people in need: in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, in Jesus’ teaching, and here in the letters of Paul.
The command to work hard, “doing something useful with [our] own hands,” earning enough that something might be left over, goes hand in hand with being compassionate.
What’s more, Paul presents working and sharing as a way to climb out of a dishonest way of life. There’s something clean and good about doing something useful—and then giving the surplus away. It reverses the old way of life in which a person would steal from unsuspecting, innocent passers-by, often by lurking in dark places and waiting to prey on them.
Paul calls us back from the abyss of a corrupt life to the truth that our first ancestors had God-given work to do. How good to plant seeds, water them, and see them send up shoots; how good to tend and prune and sweep, taking care of the garden of creation we were given (Genesis 2:15).
Paul shows us a way of life that is characterized by growth in Christ, in a loving community of believers who do something good and useful—not sitting around idly gossiping, sniping at each other, fueling conflict and bitterness. How wonderful is the fellowship of loving, kind, compassionate people redeemed by Christ!
Lord, we long to grow into a loving community in Christ, useful and compassionate to people in need. Guide us, we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
