353 中翻英 (93)      

四月十一日

「耶穌說：不用叫他們離去，你們給他們吃罷！」（太  14:16）

屬靈的貧窮和屬靈的艱窘，是教會的最大問題中的兩個，許多基督徒是貧窮到一個自顧不暇的地步，而那些到他們面前去求幫助的人就倒霉透了！貧窮只是果，不是因，窘迫也是果，不是因。貧窮和窘迫的原因都是缺了圣靈的管治。那些在屬靈方面富足的人是認識這樣的管治的，也只有他們才有這個認識。他們在神面前有一段屬靈的歷史，因為他們曾經為基督的身體受過苦難。他們的疾病，他們的家庭難處，他們遭遇的逆境，所有這一切都是為著叫基督在神的子民身上增多。只有他們常常有東西可以供應別人。至于那些躲避圣靈管治的人，就是揀選了安逸和亨通生活的人--- 他們在屬靈方面是既貧窮又艱窘。貧窮和缺乏的人向他們求助是徒然的，因為在他們身上沒有屬靈丰富的流露。

April 11

"Jesus said, Don't let them go, but give them something to eat." (Matthew 14:16)

Spiritual poverty and distress are the two greatest problems of the church. There are many Christians so poor that they cannot take care for themselves, and woe to those who come to them for help! Poverty is an effect, not a cause, and distress is an effect too, not a cause. The reason of the poverty and distress is lack of the discipline of the Holy Spirit. The spiritually rich knew the Holy Spirit discipline, because they have this expierence. They have a spiritual history before God because they have suffered for the body of Christ. Their illnesses, family difficulties, and adversities encountered all the proplems for the purpose of multiplying Christian for God's people. Only they often have something offering to others.  As for those who escape the discipline of the Holy Spirit, those who have chosen a life of ease and prosperity—they are spiritually poor and distress. The poor and need helping person turn to them in vain, for there is no overflow of spiritual richness in them.