The Dangers of Loving Money

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 6:1-10.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 6:1-2 (NIV) 
1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 
2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.

On verses 1-2:  These verses apply to working relationships, how employees should treat their employers.  Earlier in 1 Timothy we learned that how you treat your own family is a measure of your spiritual maturity.  In these verses we learn that how you treat people at work is also a measure of your spiritual maturity.

When you as a Christian treat your unbelieving boss/co-worker/client, as flawed and imperfect as he/she may be, with “full respect” (v1), you make the Gospel attractive.  On the other hand, if you’re a Christian and you treat your unbelieving boss/co-worker/client disrespectfully, you only give them one more reason to slander Christians and to not believe (v1).

淨光的磐石

以西結書 26:4  他們必破壞推羅的牆垣,拆毀她的城樓。我也要刮淨塵土,使她成為淨光的磐石。

閱讀經文:以西結書26:1-21

1第十一年十一月初一日,耶和華的話臨到我說: 2 「人子啊,因推羅向耶路撒冷說『啊哈!那做眾民之門的已經破壞,向我開放。她既變為荒場,我必豐盛』, 3 所以主耶和華如此說:推羅啊,我必與你為敵,使許多國民上來攻擊你,如同海使波浪湧上來一樣。 4 他們必破壞推羅的牆垣,拆毀她的城樓。我也要刮淨塵土,使她成為淨光的磐石。 5 她必在海中做曬網的地方,也必成為列國的擄物。這是主耶和華說的。 6 屬推羅城邑的居民必被刀劍殺滅,他們就知道我是耶和華。

公元前一千年,推羅港是腓尼基帝國最大的城市,亦是地中海最發達的通商口岸。正如以西結先知所稱:“你這有名之城,素為航海之人居住,在海上為最堅固”(以西結書廿六章17節)。在推羅的極盛時期,推羅人過著奢華的生活,因他們的驕傲和罪惡,並且多次攻擊神的子民,以及常用初生嬰兒作慘無人道的獻祭給假神摩洛。神在公元前587年藉著先知預言推羅城將被滅絕成為荒場。

果然,一年之後,巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領大軍圍困推羅城,他滿以為三個星期便可征服推羅城。但古推羅城在地形上分為兩區,一區建築在陸地上,當地居民稱它為“老推羅”。從老推羅港向地中海前行一千九百多尺,便有另一座建築在小島上的推羅城。許多世紀以來,每逢敵軍攻打,推羅居民便轉移到島上的懸崖絕壁避難。

How to Treat and Choose Leaders

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 5:17-25.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 5:17-18 (NIV) 
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 
18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 

On verses 17-18:  Here Paul gives instructions on how the senior leaders of the church (also sometimes called “overseers” and “elders” elsewhere in the New Testament) should be treated.  He says that those who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those who preach and teach the congregation.  What kind of “double honour” did Paul expect the church to give their most senior leaders?  Of course part of that “double honour” includes speaking to them with love and respect and treating them well.  From verse 18 we learn it also includes making sure that they are adequately compensated financially for their ministry.

他們就知道我是耶和華

以西結書 25:11  我必向摩押施行審判,他們就知道我是耶和華。

閱讀經文:以西結書25:1-17

1耶和華的話臨到我說: 2 「人子啊,你要面向亞捫人說預言攻擊他們, 3 說:『你們當聽主耶和華的話!主耶和華如此說:我的聖所被褻瀆,以色列地變荒涼,猶大家被擄掠,那時你便因這些事說「啊哈!」。 4 所以我必將你的地交給東方人為業,他們必在你的地上安營居住,吃你的果子,喝你的奶。 5 我必使拉巴為駱駝場,使亞捫人的地為羊群躺臥之處,你們就知道我是耶和華。 6 主耶和華如此說:因你拍手頓足,以滿心的恨惡向以色列地歡喜, 7 所以我伸手攻擊你,將你交給列國作為擄物。我必從萬民中剪除你,使你從萬國中敗亡。我必除滅你,你就知道我是耶和華。』

亞捫、 摩押、 以東、非利士,此四國是猶大的近鄰, 在猶大的東、 南、 西三方。俱為猶大之敵, 聽見猶大被毀的消息而歡樂不已。以西結在此預言他們必遭同樣的刑罰, 正如耶利米的預言(耶27:1-7) 。尼布甲尼撒王於征服猶大之後進攻非利士, 四年後侵入亞捫, 摩押和以東。

《聖經》為何要記載這些近東歷史呢?這些事跟我們有什麼關係呢?從這章的主要經文來看,神注重的不是刑罰,而是刑罰背後的教導:“他們就知道我是耶和華。”神揀選以色列的目的,不是只為了祝福雅各的後裔,而是希望全世界的人可以透過他們而認識宇宙唯一的真神耶和華。因為唯有認識真神,人才有可能得到永遠的生命。

一生蒼茫還留下什麼

以西結書 24:2  人子啊,今日正是巴比倫王就近耶路撒冷的日子,你要將這日記下。

閱讀經文:以西結書24:1-27

1第九年十月初十日,耶和華的話又臨到我說: 2 「人子啊,今日正是巴比倫王就近耶路撒冷的日子,你要將這日記下。 3 要向這悖逆之家設比喻說:『主耶和華如此說:將鍋放在火上,放好了,就倒水在其中。 4 將肉塊,就是一切肥美的肉塊,腿和肩都聚在其中,拿美好的骨頭把鍋裝滿。 5 取羊群中最好的,將柴堆在鍋下,使鍋開滾,好把骨頭煮在其中。

最近讀〈以西結書〉,心裡感到非常沉悶。他們的罪孽和神的傷心憤怒交織成一首可怕的《天問》-天在審問,與余光中的“一生蒼茫還留下什麼”成為十分寫實的對照。這一章講到猶大被巴比倫破圍之日,神讓以西結的妻子死了,用這樣顯明和沉痛的例子,來表明神的心痛和猶大人的悲哀。讓人去思想:“一生蒼茫還留下什麼”?

在余光中先生的詩裡,他用黃昏來比喻人的老年,落日彷彿是人在中年時的燦爛和能力逐漸消失,把海峽交給晚霞,總是要放手的,放手前,再看一次往日的輝煌。當晚霞去時,連海峽也失去了,只留下燈塔,希望有人接班,繼續照顧好自己曾擁有的一切。當桌燈亮起時,又是面對自己的時候,也是向交交帳的時候。詩人用比喻,神也用比喻。耶路撒冷是鍋,裡面的人民是肉,羊群中最好的最肥的,也就是那些多行不義,欺凌百姓,強拿民脂民膏而致富之人。

Am I Reflecting Jesus to Others?

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 5:9-16.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 5:9-10 (NIV) 
9 No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, 
10 and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. 

On verses 9-10:  It appears that Timothy’s church in Ephesus gave widows a special opportunity to get on “a list of widows” where they would receive financial or material support from the church, possibly in exchange for a pledge not to remarry but to serve in the church full time (this pledge may be alluded to in verses 11-12).  Here Paul outlines the requirements that a widow must meet in order to be on this list.  Since the widows chosen were leaders in the church in some way, it is no surprise that most of the requirements a widow must meet to be on the list have to do with the widow’s character.  Thus Paul says that to qualify a widow must have been faithful to her late husband (v9) and be well known for her good deeds, having the attitude of a humble servant and host (v10).

Your Love for God Is Reflected in THIS

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 5:1-8.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 5:1-2 (NIV) 
1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 
2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

On verses 1-2:  Paul tells Timothy to treat the people in his congregation like family.  These verses remind us that since as Christians we are one family in Christ, we are to treat each other like family as well.

Also, Paul tells Timothy to treat the women in his church with absolute purity. Similarly, men in the church, be careful to treat your sisters in Christ with absolute purity, not lusting after them or leading them on, but serving them, protecting them and reflecting Christ to them.

墮落的姐妹

以西結書 23:49  人必照著你們的淫行報應你們,你們要擔當拜偶像的罪,就知道我是主耶和華。

閱讀經文:以西結書23:1-49

1耶和華的話又臨到我說: 2 「人子啊,有兩個女子,是一母所生。 3 她們在埃及行邪淫,在幼年時行邪淫。她們在那裡做處女的時候,有人擁抱她們的懷,撫摸她們的乳。 4 她們的名字,姐姐名叫阿荷拉,妹妹名叫阿荷利巴。她們都歸於我,生了兒女。論到她們的名字,阿荷拉就是撒馬利亞,阿荷利巴就是耶路撒冷。

本章除了指摘以色列宗教上的墮落外,更指出他們政治聯盟的不當與不信之惡心。阿荷拉是指撒瑪利亞(北國以色列),阿荷利巴是指耶路撒冷(南國猶大)。二女的惡行是離棄丈夫,與不同的男人行淫;聖經通常都是以婚約來象徵與以色列的約,先知以此諷喻撒瑪利亞及耶路撒冷離棄神、崇拜異國偶像,並且倚賴外邦的力量,與外邦結盟,而不祈求神的援助,是信仰上的不貞與淫亂。

V.5-10責備北國以色列與述結盟,亞述的戰士被描寫為撒瑪利亞為之著迷的威武騎士,以色列尋求與亞述結盟,並因此而拜起亞述的假神來,因此他的結局就是被亞述國所蹂躪。主前722年,亞述攻陷撒瑪利亞,北國從此滅亡。

堵住破口的人

以西結書 22:30  我在他們中間尋找一人重修牆垣,在我面前為這國站在破口防堵,使我不滅絕這國,卻找不著一個。

閱讀經文:以西結書22:1-31

1耶和華的話又臨到我說: 2 「人子啊,你要審問審問這流人血的城嗎?當使她知道她一切可憎的事。 3 你要說:『主耶和華如此說:哎!這城有流人血的事在其中,叫她受報的日期來到;又做偶像玷汙自己,陷害自己。 4 你因流了人的血,就為有罪,你做了偶像,就玷汙自己,使你受報之日臨近,報應之年來到。所以我叫你受列國的凌辱和列邦的譏誚。 5 你這名臭、多亂的城啊,那些離你近、離你遠的都必譏誚你。

本章提出社會中許多的罪惡(V.7-12)如不孝敬父母、欺壓貧窮、不敬畏神、淫亂、賄賂、亂倫、暴力、放高利貣….等,這些罪惡不僅是當年以色列百姓中常犯的罪,就是在當今的社會中,也是司空見慣之事。打開電視、報紙,每天充斥的都是這類的消息。

對於這些我們習以為常的惡事,神卻表達出祂的痛心與忿怒,祂必定會審判刑罰所有作惡的人。因此,我們需要天天到主的面前來察驗,求神光照我們,改變我們的生命,不但不作不討神所喜悅的事,更要成為世界上的鹽和光,帶領百姓離棄罪惡、歸向神。

Lead By Your Words and By Your Example

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 4:11-16.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 4:11-12 (NIV)
11  Command and teach these things.
12  Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

On verses 11-12:  Some commentators speculate that Timothy had a shy and not so aggressive personality and because of that Paul is encouraging Timothy to step into his role as a pastor with confidence.  Whether or not that’s true, verses 11-12 show us that for Paul being an effective pastor and spiritual leader is not just about what you say (v11) but also how you live (v12). Godly leaders don’t just message people about how to follow Christ; they model it for them too.  For those around you, may you set an example of what a Christian should be in the way you speak (speech), the way you live (life), the way you treat others (love), the way you trust and believe God’s Word (faith), and the way you seek to please God with your life (purity).