关于致富的书摆满了书店的书架,卖得很火。主流的观念是钱能给我们安全感和幸福感。有些人也在他们的教会里传讲这个信息。但这不是基督和圣经的信息。
一心追求财富的人会陷入试探,最终折磨自己。许多人在不受控制的贪婪中偏离了信仰。
相反,使徒保罗说敬虔加上知足的心便是大利。有衣有食,就当知足。我们的幸福和保障不在于金钱,而在于神。
那么,拥有财富是坏事吗?使徒并没有这么说。金钱本身并不坏。但“贪财是万恶之源”。对物质上蒙祝福的信徒来说,这是一个有益的警告。
保罗劝勉富人不要倚靠不定的钱财,而要倚靠神。当我们拥有钱财时,它可以是好的,但当钱财占有了我们,它就不再是好的。钱财是好仆人,却是坏主人。当我们慷慨而明智地使用金钱时,我们可以用它带来幸福,但如果我们贪婪地抓取钱财或为自己积攒财宝,就会错过幸福。
主啊,求你帮助我们有知足的心,并分享你丰盛的供应,好使他人也得蒙祝福,并赞美你!阿们。
提摩太前书 6:6-10
6然而,敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了。
7因为我们没有带什么到世上来,也不能带什么去。
8只要有衣有食,就当知足。
9但那些想要发财的人,就陷在迷惑,落在网罗和许多无知有害的私欲里,叫人沉在败坏和灭亡中。
10贪财是万恶之根。有人贪恋钱财,就被引诱离了真道,用许多愁苦把自己刺透了。
"We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." - 1 Timothy 6:7-8
Books about how to get rich fill the shelves of bookstores and are bought up quickly. The main idea is that money can give us security and happiness. Some people preach that message in their churches too. But that is not the message of Christ and the Bible.
People who want only to pursue riches fall into temptation and end up tormenting themselves. Many have strayed from faith in their unchecked greed.
In contrast, the apostle Paul testifies that godliness accompanied by contentment is great gain. When we have enough to eat and clothes to wear, we can be content. Our happiness and our security are not in money but in God.
Is it bad, then, to have wealth? That is not what the apostle is saying. Money in itself is not bad. But "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." This is a helpful warning to believers who have been materially blessed.
Paul urges the rich not to trust in the instability of riches, but in God. Money can be good when we own it, but not when it owns us. Money is a good servant, but it's a bad master. We can use money to bring happiness when we distribute it generously and wisely, but not if we greedily withhold it or keep it for ourselves.
Lord, help us to be content with having our needs supplied. And help us to share from the abundance you have given so that others too may be blessed—and praise you! Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳