51 英翻中 Chap. 3 Be wise about the local church. 第三章對當地教會要警醒. 28/04/2025
CHAPTER
THREE BE WISE ABOUT THE
British Bible teacher Dr. G. Campbell Morgan had four sons; all became ministers. Someone asked one of the grandsons if he also would become a minister, and he replied, “No, I plan to work for a living.” What is a pastor supposed to do? 英國聖經教師 G. Campbell Morgan 博士有四個兒子；都成了部長。有人問其中一個孫子是否也想成為牧師，他回答：「不，我打算工作謀生。」牧師該做什麼？
What really is “the work of the ministry”? If we don’t know, we will never know how to evaluate the minister’s work. Perhaps no issue creates more problems in the local church than this one: how do we know when the pastor and church leaders are really doing their job? 「傳道工作」到底是什麼？如果我們不知道，我們就永遠不知道如何評價部長的工作。也許沒有什麼問題比這個問題給地方教會帶來更多麻煩：我們如何知道牧師和教會領袖是否真正履行了他們的職責？
Paul painted three pictures of the church in this chapter and, using these pictures, pointed out what the ministry is supposed to accomplish. The church is a family and the goal is maturity (1 Cor. 3:1–4). The church is a field and the goal is quantity (1 Cor. 3:5–9a). The church is a temple and the goal is quality (1 Cor. 3:9b–23). 保羅在本章中描繪了三幅教會的圖畫，並利用這些圖畫指出了教會事工應該完成的任務。教會是一個家庭，目標是成熟（哥林多前書 3：1-4）。教會是一片田地，目標就是數量（林前 3:5-9a）。教會是一座聖殿，目標在於品質（哥林多前書 3：9b-23）。
1. The Family—Maturity (3:1–4) 1. 家庭－成熟（3:1-4）
Paul already explained that there are two kinds of peo[1]ple in the world—natural (unsaved) and spiritual (saved). But now he explained that there are two kinds of saved people: mature and immature (carnal). A Christian matures by allowing the Spirit to teach him and direct him by feeding on the Word. The immature Christian lives for the things of the flesh (carnal means “flesh”) and has little interest in the things of the Spirit. Of course, some believers are immature because they have been saved only a short time, but that is not what Paul was discussing here. 保羅已經解釋過，世界上有兩種人[1]－屬血氣的人（未得救的人）和屬靈的人（已得救的人）。但現在他解釋說，得救的人有兩種：成熟的和不成熟的（肉慾的）。基督徒透過讓聖靈教導他、引導他，並吸收聖經的教訓，從而逐漸成熟。不成熟的基督徒為肉體而活（肉慾的意思是「肉體」），對屬靈的事不感興趣。當然，有些信徒因為得救的時間不長，所以還不成熟，但這不是保羅在這裡所討論的。
Paul was
the “spiritual father” who brought this family into being (1 Cor.
What are the marks of maturity? For one thing, you can tell the mature person by his diet. As I write this chapter, we are watching our grandson and our grand[1]daughter grow up. Becky is still being nursed by her mother, but Jonathan now sits at the table and uses his little cup and (with varying degrees of success) his table[1]ware. As children grow, they learn to eat different food. They graduate (to use Paul’s words) from milk to meat. 成熟的標誌是什麼？首先，你可以透過一個人的飲食來判斷他是否成熟。當我寫這一章的時候，我們正在看著我們的孫子和孫女長大。貝琪仍在由母親照顧，但喬納森現在已經坐在桌邊，使用他的小杯子和餐具（效果各不相同）。隨著孩子的成長，他們學會吃不同的食物。它們（用保羅的話來說）從牛奶逐漸過渡到肉類。
What is the difference? The usual answer is that “milk” represents the easy things in the Word, while “meat” represents the hard doctrines. But I disagree with that traditional explanation, and my proof is Hebrews 5:10–14. That passage seems to teach that “milk” represents what Jesus Christ did on earth, while “meat” concerns what He is doing now in heaven. The writer of Hebrews wanted to teach his readers about the present heavenly priesthood of Jesus Christ, but his readers were so immature, he could not do it (note Heb. 6:1–4). 有什麼區別？通常的答案是，「牛奶」代表聖經中簡單的事情，而「肉」代表困難的教義。但我不同意這種傳統的解釋，我的證據是希伯來書 5:10-14。這段經文似乎在教導我們，「奶」代表耶穌基督在世上所做的事情，而「肉」則代表祂現在在天堂所做的事情。希伯來書的作者想向他的讀者講解耶穌基督現在的天上祭司職位，但是他的讀者還不成熟，他無法做到這一點（注意希伯來書 6：1-4）。
The
Word of God is our spiritual food: milk (1 Peter 2:2), bread (Matt. 4:4), meat
(Heb.
The work of the pastor is to help the church grow spiritually and mature in the Lord. This is done by the steady, balanced ministry of the Word. Ephesians 4:1–16 explains how this is done: It is necessary for each member of the body to make his own contribution. God gives spiritual gifts to His people, and then He gives these gifted people to the various churches to build up the saints. As the believers grow, they build the church. 牧師的工作是幫助教會在靈性上成長並在主裡成熟。這是透過穩定、平衡的聖言傳道來實現的。以弗所書 4:1-16 解釋瞭如何做到這一點：身體的每個成員都必須做出自己的貢獻。神賜給祂的子民屬靈的恩賜，然後祂將這些有恩賜的人送到各個教會去建立聖徒。隨著信徒的成長，他們就建立教會。
Paul will have more to say about spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12—14, but this should be said now: A mature Christian uses his gifts as tools to build with, while an immature believer uses gifts as toys to play with or trophies to boast about. Many of the members of the Corinthian church enjoyed “showing off” their gifts, but they were not interested in serving one another and edifying the church. 保羅在哥林多前書 12-14 章中對屬靈的恩賜有更多論述，但現在應該這樣說：成熟的基督徒使用他的恩賜作為建造的工具，而不成熟的信徒則使用恩賜作為玩耍的玩具或炫耀的獎杯。哥林多教會的許多成員喜歡「炫耀」他們的天賦，但他們對彼此服務和教導教會並不感興趣。
What is the ministry all about? It involves loving, feeding, and disciplining God’s family so that His chil[1]dren mature in the faith and become more like Jesus Christ. 這個部門到底是做什麼的？它包括愛、餵養和管教上帝的家人，以便他的孩子[1]在信仰上成熟，變得更像耶穌基督。
2. The Field—Quantity
(3:5–9a) 2. 田地－數量（3:5-9節前段）
Paul was fond of agricultural images and often used them in his letters. “Ye are God’s husbandry” simply means, “You are God’s cultivated field, God’s garden.” In the parable of the sower, Jesus compared the human heart to soil and the Word of God to seed (Matt. 13:1–9, 18–23). Paul took this individual image and made it collective: the local church is a field that ought to bear fruit. The task of the ministry is the sowing of the seed, the cultivating of the soil, the watering of the plants, and the harvesting of the fruit. 保羅喜歡農業形象並經常在他的書信中使用它們。 「你們是上帝所耕種的田地」的意思很簡單，「你們是上帝耕種的田地，上帝的花園。」在撒種的比喻中，耶穌將人的心比作土壤，將上帝的話語比作種子（馬太福音 13：1-9、18-23）。保羅將這個個人形象變成了集體：地方教會是一塊應該結出果實的田地。牧師的任務是播種、耕耘土地、澆灌植物、收割果實。
How did this image of the church as a “field” apply to the special problems of the Corinthians? To begin with, the emphasis must be on God and not on the laborers. Paul and Apollos were only servants who did their assigned tasks. It was God who gave life to their efforts. Even the faith of the believers was a gift from God (1 Cor. 3:5). It is wrong to center attention on the servants. Look instead to the Lord of the harvest, the source of all blessing. 教會作為「田地」的形像如何適用於哥林多人的特殊問題？首先，重點必須放在上帝身上，而不是勞動者身上。保羅和亞波羅只是做他們被指派的任務的僕人。是上帝給了他們的努力生命。甚至連信徒的信仰也是上帝的恩賜（哥林多前書 3:5）。把注意力集中在僕人身上是錯誤的。相反，要仰望豐收之主，一切祝福的泉源。
Note the emphasis in this paragraph on increase or growth. Why compare preachers or statistics? God is the source of the growth; no man can take the credit. Furthermore, no one man can do all the necessary work. Paul planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but only God could make it grow (1 Cor. 3:6). 請注意本段強調增加或成長。為什麼要比較傳教士或統計數據？上帝是成長的泉源；沒有人可以居功。此外，沒有一個人能夠完成所有必要的工作。保羅種下了種子，亞波羅澆灌了種子，但只有上帝才能使它生長（哥林多前書 3:6）。
Three main lessons appear from this image. 這張圖為我們帶來了三個主要教訓。
First, diversity of ministry. One laborer plows the soil, another sows the seed, a third waters the seed. Atime passes, the plants grow, the fruit appears, and other laborers enjoy reaping the harvest. This emphasis on diversity will also show up when Paul compares the church to a body with many different parts. 首先，事工的多樣性。一個工人犁地，另一個工人播種，第三個工人澆水。隨著時間的流逝，植物生長，果實出現，其他勞動者享受著收穫的樂趣。當保羅將教會比喻為一個有許多不同部分的身體時，這種對多樣性的強調也顯現出來。
Second, unity of purpose. No matter what work a person is doing for the Lord, he is still a part of the har[1]vest. “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one” (1 Cor. 3:8). Paul, Apollos, and Peter were not competing with each other. Rather, each was doing his assigned task under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Even though there is diversity of ministry, there is unity of purpose; and there ought to be unity of spirit. 第二，目標統一。無論一個人為主做什麼工作，他仍然是收穫[1]的一部分。 「栽種的和澆灌的都是一樣」（哥林多前書 3:8）。保羅、亞波羅和彼得之間並沒有相互競爭。相反，每個人都在耶穌基督的統治下完成被賦予的任務。儘管事工多種多樣，但目標是統一的；並且應該有精神上的統一。
Third, humility of spirit. It is not the human laborers who produce the harvest, but the Lord of the harvest. “God gave the increase.… God that giveth the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6–7). Granted, God has ordained that human beings should be His ministers on earth; but their efforts apart from God’s blessing would be fail[1]ures. The Corinthians were proud of their church, and various groups in the assembly were proud of their lead[1]ers. But this attitude of being “puffed up” was dividing the church because God was not receiving the glory. 第三，謙卑的精神。生產農作物的不是人類的勞動者，而是農作物的主。 「上帝叫這生命生長…是那叫這生命生長的神」（哥林多前書 3：6-7）。誠然，上帝已註定人類應該成為祂在地球上的牧師；但如果沒有上帝的祝福，他們的努力將會失敗[1]。哥林多人為他們的教會感到自豪，教會中的各個團體也為他們的領袖[1]感到自豪。但這種「自高自大」的態度卻造成了教會的分裂，因為上帝沒有得到榮耀。
Jesus expressed the same idea as recorded in John 4:34–38. The sower and the reaper not only work together, but one day they shall rejoice together and receive their own rewards. There can be no such thing as isolated ministry, because each worker enters into the labors of others. I have had the privilege of leading people to Christ who were total strangers to me, but others had sown the seed and watered it with their love and prayers. 耶穌表達了同樣的想法，如約翰福音 4:34-38 所記載的。播種者和收割者不僅一起工作，而且有一天他們會一起歡欣並獲得自己的回報。孤立的事工是不存在的，因為每個工人都會參與其他人的勞動。我有幸帶領那些對我來說完全陌生的人信仰基督，但其他人已經播下了種子，並用他們的愛和祈禱澆灌了它。
“And every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Cor. 3:8). What men may think of our ministry is not important; what God may think is of supreme importance. Our reward must not be the praise of men, but the “Well done!” of the Lord of the harvest. 「但各人要照自己的工夫得自己的賞賜」（哥林多前書 3:8）。人們如何看待我們的事工並不重要；上帝的想法至關重要。我們的獎勵不應該是人們的讚揚，而應該是「做得好！」農作物的主。
God
wants to see increase in His field. He wants each local church to produce the
fruit of the Spirit (Gal.
Those who serve in ministry must constantly be caring for the “soil” of the church. It requires diligence and hard work to produce a harvest. The lazy preacher or Sunday school teacher is like the slothful farmer Solomon wrote about in Proverbs 24:30–34. Satan is busy sowing discord, lies, and sin; and we must be busy cultivating the soil and planting the good seed of the Word of God.從事牧師職務的人必須隨時照顧教會的「土壤」。要有收穫，需要勤奮和努力。懶惰的傳道者或主日學老師就像所羅門在箴言 24:30-34 中寫的懶惰農夫。撒旦忙於散播不和、謊言和罪惡；我們必須忙於耕種土地，播撒上帝聖言的良種。
3. The
The usual explanation of this passage is that it describes the building of the Christian life. We all build on Christ, but some people use good materials, while others use poor materials. The kind of material you use determines the kind of reward you will get. 這段經文的通常解釋是，它描述了基督徒生活的建立。我們都是在基督的基礎上建造的，但有些人使用好的材料，而其他人則使用劣質的材料。您使用的材料種類決定了您將獲得的回報種類。
While
this may be a valid application of this pas[1]sage, it is not
the basic interpretation. Paul was discussing the building of the local church,
the
God is concerned that we build with quality. The church does not belong to the preacher or to the congre[1]gation. It is God’s church. “Ye are God’s building” (1 Cor. 3:9). If we are going to build the local church the way God wants it built, we must meet certain conditions. 上帝關心我們所建造的品質。教會不屬於傳教士，也不屬於會眾[1]。這是上帝的教堂。 「你們是神所建造的房屋」（哥林多前書 3:9）。如果我們要按照上帝希望的方式建立地方教會，我們必須滿足某些條件。
First,
we must build on the right foundation (vv. 10–11). That foundation is Jesus
Christ. When Paul came to
The
foundation is the most important part of the building, because it determines
the size, shape, and strength of the superstructure. A ministry may seem to be
successful for a time, but if it is not founded on Christ, it will eventually
collapse and disappear.
I am
thinking now of a pastor who “discovered a great truth” in the Bible (actually,
he read it in some books) and decided to build his church on the promotion
of that “great truth.” He split his church and took a group with him who were
“devoted to the truth” he had discovered. But the new church never succeeded.
Now his group is scattered and he goes from church to church, trying to get
converts to his cause. He built on the wrong foundation.
Second, we must build with the right materials (vv. 12–17). Paul described two opposite kinds of materials, as the chart reveals. 其次，我們必須使用合適的材料來建造（12-17節）。如圖表所示，保羅描述了兩種相反的材料。
Gold, SilverPrecious Stones Wood, Hay, Stubble 金、銀、寶石、 木材、乾草、殘茬
Permanent Passing, temporary
Beautiful Ordinary, even ugly
Valuable Cheap 有價值的 便宜
Hard to obtain Easy to obtain
What did Paul want to symbolize by his choice of materials? He was not talking about people, because Christians are the “living stones” that make up God’s temple (1 Peter 2:5). I personally believe Paul wasreferring to the doctrines of the Word of God. In each section of this chapter, the Word is symbolized in a way that fits the image of the church Paul used. The Word is food for the family, seed for the field, and materials for the temple. 保羅選擇這些材料想要像徵什麼？他不是在談論人，因為基督徒是構成上帝聖殿的「活石」（彼得前書 2:5）。我個人認為保羅指的是上帝之言的教義。在本章的每一部分中，聖言都以符合保羅所使用的教會形象的方式進行象徵。聖言是家庭的食物、田地的種子、寺廟的材料。
The book of Proverbs presents the wisdom of the Word of God as treasure to be sought, protected, and invested in daily life. Consider these passages: 《箴言》一書將上帝聖言的智慧描述為需要在日常生活中尋求、保護和投資的寶藏。請思考以下段落：
Happy is the man
that findeth wisdom,
and the man that
getteth understanding.
For the merchandise of it is better than the 因為它的商品比
merchandise of
silver, and the gain thereof
than fine gold. She
is more precious than
rubies. (3:13–15a) 紅寶石更寶貴。 （3:13-15上）
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seek[1]est her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowl[1]edge of God. (2:1–5) 我兒，你若領受我的言語，存記我的誡命，側耳聽智慧，專心求聰明。是的，如果你呼求知識，揚聲求聰明；你尋找她如尋找銀子，搜求她如搜求隱藏的珍寶，你就能明白敬畏耶和華，得以認識神。 （2:1-5）
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and 接受我的教誨，而不是接受銀子；和
knowledge rather than choice gold. For 知識而不是精選黃金。為了
wisdom is better than rubies; and all the 智慧勝過紅寶石；以及所有
things that may be desired are not to be 想要的東西不一定能得到
compared to it. (8:10–11) 與之相比。 （8:10-11）
When you remember that Paul has been writing about wisdom in these first three chapters, you can easily see the connection. The Corinthians were trying to build their church by man’s wisdom, the wisdom of this world, when they should have been depending on the wisdom of God as found in the Word. 當你記得保羅在前三章中一直在寫有關智慧的內容時，你就可以很容易地看到其中的聯繫。哥林多人試圖用人的智慧、世界的智慧來建立他們的教堂，而他們本來應該依靠聖經中上帝的智慧。
This says to me that ministers of the Word must dig deep into the Scriptures and mine out the precious gold, silver, and jewels, and then build these truths into the lives of the people. D. L. Moody used to say that converts should be weighed as well as counted. God is interested in quality as well as quantity, and Paul made it clear that it is possible to have both. The faithful minister can work in the field and see increase, and he can build with the Word of God and see beauty and lasting blessings. 這告訴我，牧師必須深入研究聖經，挖掘出珍貴的金、銀和珠寶，然後將這些真理融入人們的生活中。 D. L. 穆迪 (D. L. Moody) 曾經說過，皈依者不僅要被計數，還要被稱重。上帝不僅關注數量，也關注質量，保羅明確表示，兩者是可以兼得的。忠實的牧師可以在田間工作並看到增長，他可以用上帝的話語進行建設並看到美麗和持久的祝福。
It is a
serious thing to be a part of the building of God’s temple. First Corinthians
3:16–17 warn us that if we destroy (“defile”) God’s temple by using cheap
materials, God will destroy us! This does not mean eternal condemnation, of
course, because 1 Corinthians
It is unwise to compare and contrast ministries. Paul warned in 1 Corinthians 4:5, “Therefore, judge nothing before the time.” 對各部門進行比較和對比是不明智的。保羅在哥林多前書 4:5 中警告說：“所以，時候未到，什麼都不要論斷。”
Young ministers often asked Dr. Campbell Morgan the secret of his pulpit success. Morgan replied, “I always say to them the same thing—work; hard work; and again, work!” Morgan was in his study at six o’clock each morning, digging treasures out of the Bible. You can find wood, hay, and stubble in your backyard, and it will not take too much effort to pick it up. But if you want gold, silver, and jewels, you have to dig for them. Lazy preachers and Sunday school teachers will have much to answer for at the judgment seat of Christ—and so will preachers and teachers who steal materials from others instead of studying and making it their own. 年輕的牧師經常向坎貝爾·摩根博士詢問他在佈道壇上取得成功的秘訣。摩根回答說：「我總是對他們說同一句話－工作；努力工作；再一次，工作！」摩根每天早上六點就在書房裡挖掘《聖經》中的寶藏。您可以在後院找到木材、乾草和殘茬，並且不需要花費太多精力就可以撿起它們。但如果你想要金、銀和珠寶，你必須去挖掘它們。懶惰的傳教士和主日學老師將在基督的審判台前承擔許多責任——從別人那裡竊取材料而不是研究並變成自己的材料的傳教士和老師也將承擔同樣的責任。
Third, we must build according to the right plan (vv. 18–20). It comes as a shock to some church members that you cannot manage a local church the same way you run a business. This does not mean we should not follow good business principles, but the operation is totally different. There is a wisdom of this world that works for the world, but it will not work for the church. 第三，我們必須按照正確的計劃建造（18-20節）。一些教友感到震驚的是，管理地方教會不能像管理企業一樣。這並不意味著我們不應該遵循良好的商業原則，而是操作方式完全不同。這個世界有一種智慧，它適用於世界，但不適合教會。
The
world depends on promotion, prestige, and the influence of money and important
people. The church depends on prayer, the power of the Spirit, humility,
sacrifice, and service. The church that imitates the world may seem to succeed
in time, but it will turn to ashes in eternity. The church in the book of Acts
had none of the “secrets of success” that seem to be important today. They
owned no property; they had no influence in government; they had no treasury
(“Silver and gold have I none,” said Peter); their leaders were ordinary men
without special education in the accepted schools; they held no attendance
contests; they brought in no celebrities; and yet they turned the world upside
down! God has a specific plan for each local church (Phil.
Finally, we must build with the right motive (vv. 21–23). That motive is the glory of God. The members of the Corinthian church were glorying in men, and this was wrong. They were comparing men (1 Cor. 4:6) and dividing the church by such carnal deeds. Had they been seeking to glorify God alone, there would have been harmony in the assembly. 最後，我們必須以正確的動機去建造（21-23節）。這個動機就是上帝的榮耀。哥林多教會的成員以人為榮，這是錯誤的。他們在比較人（哥林多前書 4:6）並透過這種肉體行為分裂教會。如果他們只想榮耀上帝，聚會中就會充滿和諧。
Paul closed this appeal by pointing out that eachbeliever possesses all things in Christ. Each one of God’s servants belongs to each believer. No member of the church should say, “I belong to Paul!” or “I like Peter!” because each servant belongs to each member equally. Perhaps we cannot help but have our personal preferences when it comes to the way different men minister the Word. But we must not permit our personal preferences to become divisive prejudices. In fact, the preacher I may enjoy the least may be the one I need the most. 保羅最後呼籲說，每個信徒在基督裡擁有一切。上帝的每一個僕人都屬於每一個信徒。教會的任何成員都不應該說：「我屬於保羅！」或「我喜歡彼得！」因為每個僕人都平等地屬於每個成員。當談到不同的人傳道的方式時，我們可能不禁會有個人偏好。但我們不能允許個人喜好成為分裂的偏見。事實上，我最不喜歡的傳道者可能是我最需要的傳道者！
“All are yours”—the world, life, death, things present, things to come! How rich we are in Christ! If all things belong to all believers, then why should there be competition and rivalry? “Get your eyes off of men!” Paul admonished. “Keep your eyes on Christ, and work with Him in building the church!” 「一切都是祢的」－世界、生命、死亡、現在的事物、未來的事物！我們在基督裡是何等的豐富！如果一切事物都屬於所有信徒，那麼為什麼還要有競爭和對抗呢？ 「把你的目光從男人身上拿開！」保羅告誡道。 “注視基督，與他一起建造教會！”
“Ye are Christ’s”—this balances things. I have all things in Jesus Christ, but I must not become careless or use my freedom unwisely. “All things are yours”— that is Christian liberty. “And ye are Christ’s”—that is Christian responsibility. We need both if we are to build a church that will not turn to ashes when the fire falls. 「你們是基督的」——這平衡了一切。我在耶穌基督裡擁有一切，但我不能變得粗心大意或不明智地使用我的自由。 「萬物都是你們的」－－這就是基督徒的自由。 「你們是屬基督的」－這是基督徒的責任。如果我們要建造一座在火災中不會化為灰燼的教堂，我們需要兩者。
How we
need to pray for ministers of the Word! They must feed the family and bring the
children to maturity. They must sow the seed in the field and pray for an
increase. They must mine the treasures of the Word and build these treasures
into the temple. No wonder Paul cried, “And who is sufficient for these
things?” But he also gave the answer: “Our sufficiency is of God” (2 Cor.
The world depends on promotion, prestige, and the influence of money and important people. The church depends on prayer, the power of the Spirit, humility, sacrifice, and service. The church that imitates the world may seem to succeed in time, but it will turn to ashes in eternity. The church in the book of Acts had none of the “secrets of success” that seem to be important today. They owned no property; they had no influence in government; they had no treasury (“Silver and gold have I none,” said Peter); their leaders were ordinary men without special education in the accepted schools; they held no attendance contests; they brought in no celebrities; and yet they turned the world upside down! God has a specific plan for each local church (Phil. 2:12–13). Each pastor and church leader must seek the mind of God for His wisdom. First Corinthians 3:19 warns that man’s wisdom will only trap him (a quota[1]tion from Job 5:13); and 1 Corinthians 3:20 warns that man’s wisdom only leads to vanity and futility (a quo[1]tation from Ps. 94:11). Though the church must be identified with the needs of the world, it must not imitate the wisdom of the world. 世界依賴晉升、聲望以及金錢和重要人物的影響力。教會依靠祈禱、聖靈的能力、謙卑、犧牲和服事。模仿世界的教會也許在時間上看似成功，但在永恆中卻會化為灰燼。使徒行傳中的教會並沒有任何在今天看來很重要的「成功秘訣」。他們沒有財產；他們在政府中沒有影響力；他們沒有金庫（「金銀我都沒有，」彼得說）；他們的領導人都是普通人，沒有在正規學校接受過特殊教育；他們沒有舉辦出勤競賽；他們沒有邀請任何名人；但他們卻顛覆了世界！上帝對每個地方教會都有一個特定的計劃（腓立比書 2:12-13）。每個牧師和教會領袖都必須尋求上帝的智慧。哥林多前書 3:19 警告說，人的智慧只能使自己陷入陷阱（引自約伯記 5:13）;哥林多前書 3:20 警告說，人的智慧只會導致虛空和徒勞（引自詩篇 94:11）。雖然教會必須認同世界的需要，但它絕不能模仿世界的智慧。
Finally, we must build with the right motive (vv. 21–23). That motive is the glory of God. The members of the Corinthian church were glorying in men, and this was wrong. They were comparing men (1 Cor. 4:6) and dividing the church by such carnal deeds. Had they been seeking to glorify God alone, there would have been harmony in the assembly. 最後，我們必須以正確的動機去建造（21-23節）。這個動機就是上帝的榮耀。哥林多教會的成員以人為榮，這是錯誤的。他們在比較人（哥林多前書 4:6）並透過這種肉體行為分裂教會。如果他們只想榮耀上帝，聚會中就會充滿和諧。
Paul closed this appeal by pointing out that eachbeliever possesses all things in Christ. Each one of God’s servants belongs to each believer. No member of the church should say, “I belong to Paul!” or “I like Peter!” because each servant belongs to each member equally. Perhaps we cannot help but have our personal preferences when it comes to the way different men minister the Word. But we must not permit our personal preferences to become divisive prejudices. In fact, the preacher I may enjoy the least may be the one I need the most! 保羅最後呼籲說，每個信徒在基督裡擁有一切。上帝的每一個僕人都屬於每一個信徒。教會的任何成員都不應該說：「我屬於保羅！」或「我喜歡彼得！」因為每個僕人都平等地屬於每個成員。當談到不同的人傳道的方式時，我們可能不禁會有個人偏好。但我們不能允許個人喜好成為分裂的偏見。事實上，我最不喜歡的傳道者可能是我最需要的傳道者！
“All are yours”—the world, life, death, things pres[1]ent, things to come! How rich we are in Christ! If all things belong to all believers, then why should there be competition and rivalry? “Get your eyes off of men!” Paul admonished. “Keep your eyes on Christ, and work with Him in building the church!” 「一切都是祢的」－世界、生命、死亡、現在的事物、未來的事物！我們在基督裡是何等的豐富！如果一切事物都屬於所有信徒，那麼為什麼還要有競爭和對抗呢？ 「把你的目光從男人身上拿開！」保羅告誡道。 “注視基督，與他一起建造教會！”
“Ye are Christ’s”—this balances things. I have all things in Jesus Christ, but I must not become careless or use my freedom unwisely. “All things are yours”— that is Christian liberty. “And ye are Christ’s”—that is Christian responsibility. We need both if we are to build a church that will not turn to ashes when the fire falls. 「你們是基督的」——這平衡了一切。我在耶穌基督裡擁有一切，但我不能變得粗心大意或不明智地使用我的自由。 「萬物都是你們的」－－這就是基督徒的自由。 「你們是屬基督的」－這是基督徒的責任。如果我們要建造一座在火災中不會化為灰燼的教堂，我們需要兩者。
How we need to pray for ministers of the Word! They must feed the family and bring the children to maturity. They must sow the seed in the field and pray for an increase. They must mine the treasures of the Word and build these treasures into the temple. No wonder Paul cried, “And who is sufficient for these things?” But he also gave the answer: “Our sufficiency is of God” (2 Cor. 2:16; 3:5). 我們多麼需要為傳道人禱告！他們必須養家糊口，撫養孩子長大成人。他們必須在田裡播下種子並祈求產量增加。他們必須挖掘聖言的寶藏，並將這些寶藏建造成聖殿。難怪保羅喊道：「誰能擔當這些事呢？」但他也給了答案：「我們所能承受的，乃是出於神」（哥林多後書 2:16；3:5）。
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