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智慧的超越

2022-12-25 in , /by

传道书7:20 时常行善而不犯罪的义人，世上实在没有。

阅读经文：传道书 7:19-22

19智慧使有智慧的人比城中十个官长更有能力。20时常行善而不犯罪的义人，世上实在没有。21人所说的一切话，你不要放在心上，恐怕听见你的仆人咒诅你。22因为你心里知道，自己也曾屡次咒诅别人。

第19节的经文在吕振中译本如下：“智慧使智慧人有能力，比城中十个咨议员更有权势”，“更有能力”的原文还可被译为“胜了”，“压制”或“得胜”。“城中十个官长”类指古时候地方处理事务的长老会议，在印度农村也有类似的五人制的村议会，都是治理城巿事务的掌权者。这节经文有一个很重要的意思，掌权者不一定有智慧，而往往真的有智慧者，他们的话比当权者有更大的影响力。

在许多电影或故事里，掌权者碰到突发事件，往往要靠谋士帮忙，以度难关。在旧约圣经的〈士师记〉里有一个故事，讲到士师基甸有一个儿子叫亚比米勒，为了夺权做王，他杀掉了基甸其他的儿子，只有一个逃跑了。后来亚比米勒和帮助他做王的示剑人反目成仇，两边厮杀不已。亚比米勒一路追杀，直取提备斯城，城里有一栋高楼，所有的城里人都躲到楼里，亚比米勒便叫人用火烧楼。事情十分紧急，众人束手无策，当然那些官长们也不知该如何了，这时有一个妇人把一块磨石丢到亚比米勒的头上。她的急智拯救了全城的人，躲过这场杀戮。

Jesus’ Heart for His House

2022-12-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 11:12-19.  Let’s go!

Mark 11:12-14 (NIV)
12  The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
13  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.
14  Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
 
On verses 12-14:  We will see the fall out of this in verse 20.  In the meantime, we can learn a few things from these verses:
 
– In the first centuries of the church, history shows that some people had more of an issue with whether Jesus was human than whether Jesus was divine.  The fact that Jesus was hungry in verse 12 shows that Jesus was human.
 
– Was it fair for Jesus to curse the fig tree for not bearing fruit when it was not the season for bearing fruit (v13)?  The fact is: Jesus is sovereign.  He can do whatever he wants.  Perhaps a lesson here is that God always wants us to bear fruit, in any season or circumstance (e.g. see Jeremiah 17:8).  What kind of fruit?  The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and the fruit of praise (Hebrews 13:15). 
 

行义和行恶

2022-12-23 in , /by

传道书7:16 不要行义过分，也不要过于自逞智慧，何必自取败亡呢？

阅读经文：传道书 7:15-18

15有义人行义反致灭亡，有恶人行恶倒享长寿，这都是我在虚度之日中所见过的。16不要行义过分，也不要过于自逞智慧，何必自取败亡呢？17不要行恶过分，也不要为人愚昧，何必不到期而死呢？18你持守这个为美，那个也不要松手，因为敬畏神的人必从这两样出来。

这是个长久以来占据在人心里的问题：为什么有义人行义反致灭亡，有恶人行恶倒享长寿？为什么？数年前在温哥华有位年轻的牧师，刚刚被封牧，在回家的途中就出车祸死了。听到的人都难过不已，神不是要用他吗？神不是已经呼召他吗？他那样爱主事人，为什么还才踏出第一步就走了？神不是白白浪费了好多时间塑造这个年轻人吗？生命是一场玩笑吗？

假如我们记得那些在中国因为义和团事件而死的宣教士，因为文化大革命被逼迫的基督徒，在刚果或非洲某些地方被土人吃掉的宣教士，甚至近几年来不断死在伊斯兰军ISIS手下的无数基督徒，从大人到小孩，受到令人发指的苦难和压迫。你一定会问吧。行义，是指遵行神的旨意；行恶，是指心里没有神，任意妄为。那些因为行义的基督徒，为何死得那么早？那么惨？

Treat Jesus Like Royalty Every Day

2022-12-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 11:1-11.  Let’s go!

Mark 11:1-11 (NIV)
1  As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,
2  saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
3  If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'”
4  They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it,
5  some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”

On verses 1-11:  Apparently when ancient kings entered a city on a war horse, it signaled that the king had come to bring war.  When ancient kings entered a city on a colt, it signaled that the king had come in peace.  Jesus entered to Jerusalem on a colt to show that Jesus was coming to bring peace to the people of Jerusalem.  Even more, Jesus entering Jerusalem on a colt fulfilled the prophecy about the Messiah in Zechariah 9:9.

智慧和产业

2022-12-22 in , /by

传道书7:11   智慧和产业并好，而且见天日的人得智慧更为有益。

阅读经文：传道书 7:11-14

11智慧和产业并好，而且见天日的人得智慧更为有益。12因为智慧护庇人好像银钱护庇人一样，唯独智慧能保全智慧人的生命，这就是知识的益处。13你要察看神的作为，因神使为曲的，谁能变为直呢？14遇亨通的日子你当喜乐，遭患难的日子你当思想，因为神使这两样并列，为的是叫人查不出身后有什么事。

据说每个犹太家庭的孩子，都要回答这个问题：“如果家里的房子有一天失火或财产被劫，那么你在逃命时将会带走什么东西？”倘若孩子回答的是钱或者钻石，父母就会马上耐心地启发他：“孩子，有这样一种宝贝，一没有形状，二不见颜色，三无什么气味，你知道是什么吗？”要是孩子还回答不上来，父母就严肃地说：“记住！你要带走的不是钱，也不是钻石，而是智慧。智慧像健康一样，任何人都无法抢走，你将终身拥有。只要活着，智慧将永远与你结伴而行。”

在以色列人进迦南地时，神让约书亚给他们按人数抽签分地，抽到的土地就是他们的产业，也就是他们立足生根的地方。所以产业是非常重要的。在这里所罗门王把产业和智慧相比较，指出对活人（见天日的人）有智慧比有产业更好。因为人有产业而无智慧，很可能就在不善经营管理下，失去产业，而变得一无所有。但是倘若没有产业却有智慧，还可以逐渐去得到更多的产业。犹太人历经战乱，又被丢到世界万国之中，他们知道若不是靠着神给他们的智慧去生存，他们就早已灭亡了。

The Example of Bartimaeus

2022-12-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 10:46-52.  Let’s go!

Mark 10:46-52 (NIV)
46  Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging.
47  When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48  Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49  Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.”
50  Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51  “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52  “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
 
On verses 46-52:  Contrast Bartimaeus to the rich young man in verses 17-22:
–  The rich young man hoped he could earn salvation on his own merit (“What was I do to inherit eternal life” – v17).  In contrast, Bartimaeus knew that his only hope was Jesus (“Son of David, have mercy on me!” – v47)   

起头与终局

2022-12-21 in , /by

传道书7:8 事情的终局强如事情的起头，存心忍耐的胜过居心骄傲的。

阅读经文：传道书 7:8-10

8事情的终局强如事情的起头，存心忍耐的胜过居心骄傲的。9你不要心里急躁恼怒，因为恼怒存在愚昧人的怀中。10不要说：「先前的日子强过如今的日子是什么缘故呢？」你这样问，不是出于智慧。

在这个社会里，年轻的父母越来越重视怎样才能让孩子赢在起跑点。但是有一位作家提出一个问题：赢在起跑点的孩子，有多少在终点哭泣？所罗门王提出一个很重要的观点，那就是：“事情的终局强如事情的起头，存心忍耐的胜过居心骄傲的。”不要以为你一开始就能用钱为孩子提供最好的一切，他就可以一帆风顺地出人头地。因为在这过程中，没有存心忍耐的特质，便无法胜过骄傲所带来的败坏作用，以致半途而废。

我们之所以会急躁恼怒，是因为看到别人仿佛占尽优势，自已趋居下风，心有不甘，才会恼怒不平。若是记得事情的终局强如事情的起头，便知道只要存心忍耐到最后，自己一定还有希望，这样思想，就可以转移恼怒到应该做的事上，专心努力走自己的路了。

情绪勒索

2022-12-20 in , /by

传道书7:7 勒索使智慧人变为愚妄，贿赂能败坏人的慧心。

阅读经文：传道书 7:7

7勒索使智慧人变为愚妄，贿赂能败坏人的慧心。

这是我最近学到的新名词：情绪勒索。因为勒索这件事一般发生在比较有利益冲突的事情上，例如我们看谍影片，好像007，就常有知名的科学家被勒索，被施压而不得不去做坏事。但是在我们的生活中比较常经历到的则是情绪上的勒索。所罗门王说：“勒索使智慧人变为愚妄”，让我们来看看，在自己的生活里，是否也有这样的情形出现。

在我的朋友里，有时会听到这样的抱怨：上班时同事都把难的事情交给她，不要做的也交给她做，因为她是个nice person（很好的人），因为好说话，所以工作都交给她。别人都提早下班了，只有她，永远要带着一大堆工作回家。当人家说：“你这个人好好…”你就不好意思拒绝了。什么都接下来了。尤其有的人觉得做基督徒就“必须”帮助别人，“爱”人如已，所以从来不敢说“不”，所以活得好累，苦不堪言。但是她们不晓得的自己正面对一种情绪上的勒索。

The Way Great Leaders Are Driven

2022-12-20 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 10:32-45.  Let’s go!

Mark 10:32 (NIV)
32  They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid…

On verse 32:  Why were the disciples astonished and those who followed afraid?
Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him.  It’s because of what Jesus was telling them on their way to Jerusalem, which Mark describes in verses 33-34.

Mark 10:33-34 (NIV)
33  “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles,
34  who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”

On verses 33-34:  Don’t take for granted the courage that Jesus demonstrated with every step he took toward Jerusalem, knowing what kind of fate awaited him there.  Jesus was not led by fear, but by God’s purpose, and thus he could lead the way (v32).  Great leaders are not driven by fear but by purpose.

责备强如歌唱

2022-12-19 in , /by

传道书7:5  听智慧人的责备，强如听愚昧人的歌唱。

阅读经文：传道书 7:5-6

5 听智慧人的责备，强如听愚昧人的歌唱。 6 愚昧人的笑声好像锅下烧荆棘的爆声。这也是虚空。

年纪越大，越难听到别人对自己真心的责备，甚至自己亦不喜欢接受责备。不知是因为自己胸襟越来越窄，自我保护能力越来越强，抑或是因为别人根本不敢责备自己。常常有一个体会，如果生命再听不到别人、特别是亲人和配偶的责备，这生命是可悲的。不是你没有错，乃是他们不敢指出你的错。承受不起责备的生命便再没有改善的可能，也就等于再没有成长的空间。试问，有甚么比一个停滞不前、自以为是的生命更可悲？

正常来说，一般人是喜欢听好话多于责备。好话就像歌唱的声音，悦耳动听，叫人喜乐欢笑；责备则往往使人心里不舒服，甚至引起怒气。但传道者却指出，听智慧人的责备，比听愚昧人的歌唱更好，因为愚昧人的歌唱就如他的笑声一样，只发出吵耳的声响，叫人感到难耐和厌烦，毫无意义。可是，为甚么责备胜过歌唱呢？