讀經: 羅馬書十二章3至8節 3我憑著所賜我的恩,對你們各人說:不要看自己過於所當看的,要照著神所分給各人信心的大小,看得合乎中道。 4正如我們一個身子上有好些肢體,肢體也不都是一樣的用處。 5我們這許多人,在基督裡成為一身,互相聯絡作肢體,也是如此。 6按我們所得的恩賜,各有不同:或說預言,就當照著信心的程度說預言; 7或作執事,就當專一執事;或作教導的,就當專一教導; 8或作勸化的,就當專一勸化;施捨的,就當誠實;治理的,就當殷勤;憐憫人的,就當甘心。 |
蘇格拉底曾經說過:「認識你自己。」你認為它有道理嗎?這是一位哲學家的見解,但保羅從基督徒的立場亦提出同一個原則。 信徒擁有的才幹,都是來自神的賜予。它就像禮物一樣,並非由我們賺取而來的;因此,我們不能因它而誇口。然而,神將某項才幹賜給我們,是為了讓我們服侍基督和教會,絕非為了讓人自炫。 保羅用了人的身體為喻,來講解恩賜的教義(4節)。正如我們身體的每一部份,都有一個明確的功用;同樣地,每個信徒在基督的身體裡也有明確的作用。人的身體有很多不同的器官;基督的身體也是一樣。人身體中的各個器官能巧妙地連合起來,一同發揮功用;教會也當一樣。 人的恩賜和才幹,若是出於神的心意和賜予,我們又怎能妒忌別人呢?每一位成員和每一種恩賜都有其重要價值。我們要為別人擁有的恩賜感謝神。神的心意是要聖靈將恩賜分給信徒,並賜能力給他們運用恩賜,好叫教會的工作得以延續。 我們如何得知自己有甚麼恩賜呢?你可以細想自己喜歡做甚麼來服侍主;也許透過這個方法,你可以很快發現自己的恩賜。 保羅還補充說:「要以謙虛的態度和火熱的心來運用你的恩賜。你若是一位教師,就當盡心去教。你若是勸勉人的,就當時常勸勉人。無論作甚麼,都要全心全意地為主而作。」這是一個值得時常緊記的原則。 |
Bible Reading: Romans 12: 3-8 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. |
Was Socrates right when he said, "Know thyself?" It was human philosophy speaking but here Paul gave us the same principle from a Christian standpoint. Any ability a believer may have came from God Himself. Like any gift, we did not earn it, therefore we cannot boast about it. However that ability is given to us to use for Christ's sake and the church. It is never intended for the glory of the person to whom it has been given. Paul used the analogy of the human body to set out the doctrine of gifts (v.4). Just as every part of our body has a definite function, every believer has a definite work in the body of Christ. In a human body, there is tremendous diversity. It is the same in the church. In the human body, there is a wonderful unity with each part working together. It should be the same in the church, too. If our gift or our ability is God-chosen and God-given, where does jealousy fit in? Every member and every gift is important. Be thankful for the gifts others have. Through the many gifts He has given to each believer, the work of the church is carried on by the Spirit of God. How do you discover your gift? Think through what you like to do for the Lord. You may discover your gift more quickly than you think. Paul added, "Always use your gift humbly and enthusiastically. If you are a teacher, put your heart into it. If you are an encourager, do it often. Do everything heartily as unto the Lord." That's a good principle to remember always. |
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