520 Chapter 7 The World’s Smallest but Largest Troublemaker 世上最小的却是最大麻煩者 07/03/2026

520第7課 The World’s Smallest but Largest Troublemaker世上最小的却是最大麻煩者      07/03/2026                 

Lesson    seven            The World’s Smallest but Largest Troublemaker          James 3:1-12           第七課              世上最小的却是最大的麻煩者                                        雅各書 3:1-12

James has explained to us two characteristics of the mature Christian: he is patient in trouble (James 1) and he practices the truth (James 2). In this section, he shared the third characteristic of the mature believer he has power over his tongue.
雅各向我們解釋了成熟基督徒的兩個特徵：在患難中忍耐（雅各書  1章）和實踐真理（雅各書  2章）。在這一段裡，他分享了成熟信徒的第三個特徵，對自己的舌頭有控制的能力。
 
A pastor friend told me about a member of his church who was a notorious gossip. She would “hang on the phone” most of the day, sharing tidbits with any and all who would listen.
牧師的朋友告訴我，他教會的有位教友，她是臭名昭著的多嘴婆。每日大部分時間她都會在“打電話”，與所有願意傾聽的人分享閒話。
 
She came to the pastor one day and said, “Pastor, the Lord has convicted me of my sin of gossip. My tongue is getting me and others into trouble.”
有一天，她來到牧師面前說，“牧師，主已經判定我說閒話的罪。我的舌頭讓我和其他人陷入困境。”
 
My friend knew she was not sincere because she had gone through that routine before. Guardedly he asked, “Well, what do you plan to do?”
牧師知道她並不是真心，因為她以前也這樣的說過。他小心翼翼地問道，“嗯，你打算怎麼做？”
 
“I want to put my tongue on the altar,” she replied with pious fervor.
她虔誠熱情回答，“我想把我的舌頭放在祭壇上。”
 
Calmly my friend replied, “There isn’t an altar big enough,” and he left her to think it over.
牧師平靜地回答說，“沒有足夠大的祭壇，”他讓她再考慮考慮。
 
The Christians that James wrote to were apparently having serious problems with their tongues. James had warned them to be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). The believer who does not bridle his tongue is not truly religious (James 1:26). We must speak and act as though we were already facing Christ in judgment (James 2:12). When you read passages like James 4:1, 11–12, you get the impression that this assembly must have had some interesting meetings!
雅各寫給基督徒的信，顯然注重舌頭的嚴重問題。雅各曾警告他們，“要快快地聽，慢慢地說，慢慢地動怒”（雅各書   1:19）。勒不住舌頭的信徒，並不是真正虔誠的信徒（雅各書  1:26）。我們必須言行舉止好像已經在面對基督的審判中（雅各書   2:12）。當你閱讀像雅各書 4 章 1 節和11 到 12兩 節這樣的經文時，你會覺得這個聚會肯定是很有趣味！
 
The power of speech is one of the greatest powers God has given us. With the tongue, man can praise God, pray, preach the Word, and lead the lost to Christ. What a privilege! But with that same tongue he can tell lies that could ruin a man’s reputation or break a person’s heart. The ability to speak words is the ability to influence others and accomplish tremendous tasks, and yet we take this ability for granted.
言語的力量是上帝賦予我們的最偉大的能力之一。用舌頭，人可以讚美上帝、禱告、傳道，帶領失喪的人歸向基督。何等的榮幸！但舌頭可以說出同樣的謊言，毀掉人的名譽或傷透人的心。說話是影響他人很大的能力，並使其完成巨大任務的能力，可是這種能力却是天賦的。
 
In order to impress on us the importance of controlled speech, and the great consequences of our words, James gave us six pictures of the tongue: the bit, the rudder, fire, a poisonous animal, a fountain, and a fig tree. You can put these six pictures into three meaningful classifications that reveal the three powers of the tongue.
雅各為了說明控制言語的重要性，以及我們言語會引起巨大後果，他給了我們六張描述舌頭的圖片：馬的嚼環、舵、火、有毒動物、噴泉和無花果樹。你可以把這六張圖組成三種有意義的類型，以揭示舌頭的三種能力。
 
1.  Power to Direct: The Bit and Rudder (3:1–4)
1.  指揮力量：         馬的嚼環和舵 (3:1–4)
 
Apparently, everybody in the assembly wanted to teach and be a spiritual leader, for James had to warn them: “Not many of you should act as teachers, my brothers” (James 3:1 niv). Perhaps they were impressed with the authority and prestige of the office and forgot about the tremendous responsibility and accountability! Those who teach the Word face the stricter judgment. Teachers must use their tongue to share God’s truth, and it is easy to commit sins of the tongue. Furthermore, teachers must practice what they teach; otherwise, their teaching is hypocrisy. Think of the damage that can be done by a teacher who is unprepared, or whose spiritual life is not up to par.
顯然，在聚會中，每人都想當教導，並成為屬靈領袖，因此雅各不得不警告他們，“弟兄們，你們中間不可都作教師”（雅各書  3:1 新國際版）。也許這些人受辦公室的牧師或教師，和他們的威望所影響，忘記了他們受呼召的巨大的責任和擔當！教導聖經的人面臨更嚴厲的審判。教師必須用舌頭來分享上帝的真理，舌頭很容易犯罪。此外，教師必須實踐他們所教的；否則，他們的教導就是虛偽。想一想毫無準備屬靈生活達不到標準的老師，可能造成信徒多大的傷害。
 
But teachers are not the only ones who are tempted and sin; every Christian must admit that “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2 niv). And sins of the tongue seem to head the list. The person who is able to discipline his tongue gives evidence that he can control his whole body. He proves that he is a mature (perfect) man.
但受試探和犯罪的不只是教師；基督徒都必須承認 :“我們都在許多方面跌倒”（雅各書 3:2新國際版）。口舌犯罪似乎位列榜首。能管教自己舌頭的人證明他可以控制自己的整個身體。這證明他是成熟（完美）的人。
 
Is James making a mistake by connecting sins of the tongue with sins committed by “the whole body”? No, because words usually lead to deeds. During World War II we were accustomed to seeing posters that read LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS! But loose lips also wreck lives. A person makes an unguarded statement and suddenly finds himself involved in a fight. His tongue has forced the rest of his body to defend itself.
雅各將舌頭犯罪與“全身”所犯的罪聯繫起來是否有錯誤？  不，因為言語通常導致行動。在二戰期間，我們已經習慣看到海報上寫著  “透露消息可以使船艦沉沒 (LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS)！ 但管不住的嘴唇，也會毀了自己的生命。人毫無防備地亂發表聲明，突然發現自己捲入了戰鬥。他的舌頭迫使他身體的其他部分來保護自己。
 
In selecting the bit and the rudder (“helm” in James 3:4 means “rudder”), James presented two items that are small of themselves, yet exercise great power, just like the tongue. A small bit enables the rider to control the great horse, and a small rudder enables the pilot to steer the huge ship. The tongue is a small member in the body, and yet it has the power to accomplish great things.
在選擇馬的嚼環和舵（雅各書   3:4 中“駕駛盤  ‘helm’ ”的意思是“舵”）時，雅各展示了兩個東西，它們本身很小，但功能卻很強大，就像舌頭一樣。嚼環可以讓騎手控制性烈的馬，而小小的駕駛盤，或舵可以讓飛行員駕馭巨大的飛機，或船隻。舌頭雖小，卻能成就大事。
 
Both the bit and the rudder must overcome contrary forces. The bit must overcome the wild nature of the horse, and the rudder must fight the winds and currents that would drive the ship off its course. The human tongue also must overcome contrary forces. We have an old nature that wants to control us and make us sin. There are circumstances around us that would make us say things we ought not to say. Sin on the inside and pressures on the outside are seeking to get control of the tongue.
制馬的嚼環和舵都必須克服負面的力。嚼環必須克服馬的狂野本性，舵必須與風和渦流鬥爭，以免使船偏離航向。人類的舌頭也必須克服相反的力量。 有舊的老我本性想要控制我們，並使我們犯罪。周圍的環境會讓我們說出不該說的話。內在的罪和外在的壓力正在設法利用舌頭。
 
This means that both the bit and the rudder must be under the control of a strong hand. The expert horseman keeps the mighty power of his steed under control, and the experienced pilot courageously steers the ship through the storm. When Jesus Christ controls the tongue, then we need not fear saying the wrong things—or even saying the right things in a wrong way! “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” warned Solomon (Prov. 18:21). No wonder David prayed, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; eep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing” (Ps. 141: 3,  4). David knew that the heart is the key to right speech. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34). When Jesus Christ is the Lord of the heart, then He is Lord of the lips too.
制馬的嚼環和用於駕駛的舵都必須在強有力的人來控制。熟練的騎手控制著烈馬的強大的暴力，經驗豐富的飛行員，或船長，勇敢地利用舵駕駛飛機或船隻渡過風暴。當耶穌基督來控制我們的舌頭時，我們就不必害怕說錯話，甚至用錯誤的方式說正確的話！所羅門警告說，“生死在舌頭的權勢下，”（箴言  18:21）。難怪大衛禱告說，“主啊，求祢禁止我的口； 把守我的嘴。求祢不叫我的心偏向邪惡”（詩篇   141:3, 4）。大衛知道心是說正確言語的關鍵。 “心裡所充滿的，口裡就說出來”（馬太福音  12:34）。當耶穌基督是我們心靈的主時，祂也是控制我們舌頭的主。
 
The bit and rudder have the power to direct, which means they affect the lives of others. A runaway horse or a shipwreck could mean injury or death to pedestrians or passengers. The words we speak affect the lives of others. A judge says, “Guilty!” or “Not Guilty!” and those words affect the destiny of the prisoner, his family, and his friends. The president of the United States speaks a few words and signs some papers, and the nation is at war. Even a simple yes or no from the lips of a parent can greatly affect the direction of a child’s life.
制馬嚼環和駕駛用的舵，有指揮的能力，這意味著它們會影響別人的生活。失控的馬，或因失去方向而撞毀的船，可能引起騎馬的人，或乘客的受傷或死亡。因此我們所說的話會影響他人的生活。法官說，“有罪！”或“無罪！”這些話影響著囚犯、他的家人和他的朋友的命運。美國總統說了幾句話，簽署了一些文件，國家就處於戰爭狀態。即使是父母嘴裡簡單的“是”或“否”，也會極大地影響孩子的一生的方向。
 
Never underestimate the guidance you give by the words you speak or do not speak. Jesus spoke to a woman at a well, and her life and the lives of her neighbors experienced a miraculous change (John 4). Peter preached at Pentecost and three thousand souls came to salvation through faith in Christ (Acts 2).
永遠不要低估你說或不說的話給別人的指導的影響。耶穌在井邊對婦女人所說的話，使她的生活和她鄰居的生活都發生了奇蹟般的變化（約翰福音  第4章）。彼得在五旬節傳道，三千人因信基督而得救（使徒行傳 第 2章）。
 
On April 21, 1855, Edward Kimball went into a Boston shoe store and led young Dwight L. Moody to Christ. The result: one of history’s greatest evangelists, a man whose ministry still continues. The tongue has the power to direct others to the right choices.
1855 年 4 月 21 日，愛德華 · 金博 (Edward Kimball) 走進波士頓一家鞋店，帶領年輕的慕廸 (Dwight L. Moody) 歸向基督。結果他帶領一位歷史上最偉大的傳道者之一的慕廸，他的事工仍在繼續。舌頭有能力帶領別人做出正確的選擇。
 
It would do us all good to read frequently the book of Proverbs, and to note especially the many references to speech. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Prov. 15:1). “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord” (Prov. 12:22). “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19). Yes, the tongue is like a bit and a rudder: it has the power to direct. How important it is that our tongues direct people in the right way!
經常閱讀箴言書，並特別注意許多對言語的引用，對我們都有好處。 “柔和的回答語氣，平息怒氣；嚴厲的言語，激起怒氣”（箴言  15:1）。 “說謊的舌頭為主所憎惡”（箴言   12:22）。 “多言多語，難免有過；禁止舌頭多言的，是有智慧”（箴言10:19）。是的，舌頭就像制馬嚼環和舵：它有指揮的能力。舌頭以正確的方式引導人，對我們來說是多麼重要！
 
2.  Power to Destroy: the Fire and Animal (3:5–8)
2.  毀滅的力量：火和兇猛的動物（3:5-8）
 
I was visiting the used bookstores along Charing Cross Road in London, and I remarked to a clerk that there were not as many stores as I expected. “There’s a reason for that,” he replied. “One night during World War II, the incendiary bombs hit and the fires destroyed at least a million books!”
我在倫敦查玲十字(Charing Cross)路，逛舊書店時，我對店員說，商店沒有我想像的那麼多。他回答道，“原因是在二戰期間的一個晚上，德國投下燃燒彈爆炸了，大火燒毀了至少一百萬本書！”
 
On another occasion, a friend was taking my wife and me on a tour of the beautiful forests in California, and we came to an ugly section that was burned out. Not only was the face of nature scarred, but millions of dollars of valuable timber had been wiped out. “Somebody’s lit cigarette,” my friend commented as we drove past the blackened earth.
還有一次，我們的朋友帶領我和妻子遊覽加州美麗的森林，來到了一區燒毀的醜陋區域。不僅大自然的面貌被燒得傷痕累累，價值數百萬美元的寶貴木材也被毀滅。當我們開車經過燒黑的地面時，他告訴我們說，“有人丟香煙頭點燃的。”
 
A fire can begin with just a small spark, but it can grow to destroy a city. A fire reportedly started in the O’Leary barn in Chicago at 8:30 p.m., October 8, 1871; and because that fire spread, over 100,000 people were left homeless, 17,500 buildings were destroyed, and 300 people died. It cost the city over $400 million.
一場大火可以從小火花點燃，並且可以擴大到摧毀一座城市。據報導，1871 年 10 月 8 日晚上 8 點 30 分，芝加哥的奧利瑞(O’Leary)穀倉起火；由於火災蔓延，超過 10 萬人無家可歸，17,500 座建築物被毀，300 人死亡。燒燬城市價值超過 4 億美元。
 
Our words can start fires. “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife” (Prov. 26:20–21). In some churches, there are members or officers who cannot control their tongues, and the result is destruction. Let them move out of town or be replaced in office, and a beautiful spirit of harmony and love takes over.
我們的話可能會引起火災。 “火缺了柴，就必熄滅；無人傳舌，爭競便止息。好爭競的人，煽惑爭端，就如把餘火加柴挑燃，火上加油一樣。”（箴言  26:20-21）。在一些教會中，有些會友或執事無法控制自己的舌頭，結果就造成教會的頹廢。讓這些人離開，或由別人取代他們在辦公室的工作，讓和諧與愛的美好的屬靈的人來接管。
 
Like a fire, the tongue can “heat things up.” David wrote, “I said, ‘I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue.’… My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned; then spake I with my tongue” (Ps. 39:1, 3). Have you ever had that experience? Of course you have! A hot head and a hot heart can lead to burning words that later we will regret David had a temper, and he had to have God’s help in controlling it. No wonder Solomon wrote, “He who restrains his word has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding” (Prov. 17:27 nasb). “He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly” (Prov. 14:29 nasb).
就像火的漫延一樣，舌頭可以“使爭議的熱度升高”。大衛寫道，“我曾說，‘我要謹守我的言行，免得我的舌頭犯罪。’……我的心在我裡面發熱，我默想的時候，火就燒起；我便用舌頭說話”（詩篇 39:1 - 3）。你有過這樣的經歷嗎？ 你當然有！ 火熱的頭腦和火熱的心會導致話燃燒，以後，我們會後悔如大衛的脾氣，他必須得到上帝的幫助來控制它。難怪所羅門寫道，“克制言語的，有知識；心懷冷靜的，有智慧”（箴言 17:27 新美國標準版）。 “不輕易發怒的，大有聰明；性氣暴躁的，大顯愚妄”（箴言 14:29）。
 
Fire not only starts small and grows, and creates heat; it also defiles. A friend of mine suffered a fire in the basement of his house, and the smoke and fire damage so soiled the upstairs of the house that the family had to move out while the house was redecorated. Fiery words can defile a home, a Sunday school class, a church. The only thing that can wash away that defilement is the blood of Jesus Christ.
火不僅從小到大，而且會產生熱量；它也會玷污。我的朋友在他家的地下室發生了火災，煙霧和火災損壞了房子的樓上，以至於在重新裝修房子時，全家人都得搬出去。火熱暴燥的言語可以玷污整個家庭、主日學課程、教堂。唯一能洗去污穢的是耶穌基督的寶血。
 
Fire burns and hurts, and our words can burn and hurt. One of the sorrows our Lord had to bear when He was here on earth was the way His enemies talked about Him. They called Him a “man gluttonous and a winebibber” (Matt. 11:19) because He graciously accepted invitations to dine with people the Pharisees did not like. When He performed miracles, they said He was in league with Satan. Even when He was dying on the cross, His enemies could not let Him alone but threw vicious taunts into His face.
火會燃燒和傷害，我們的話也會燃燒和傷害。當我們的主在世上時，祂必須忍受的悲傷是他的敵人談論祂的方式。他們稱祂為“貪吃酒的人”（馬太福音 11:19），因為祂慷慨地接受了邀請，與法利賽人不喜歡的人共進晚餐。當祂行神蹟時，他們說祂與撒旦結盟。即使在祂死在十字架上的時候，祂的敵人也不放過祂，而是向祂臉上發出惡毒的嘲諷。
 
Fire spreads, and the more fuel you give it, the faster and farther it will spread. The tongue “setteth on fire the course of nature” (James 3:6), or “sets the whole course of his life on fire” (niv). James suggested that all of life is connected like a wheel, and therefore we can[1]not keep things from spreading. A person’s entire life can be injured or destroyed by the tongue. Time does not correct the sins of the tongue. We may confess our sins of speech, but the fire keeps on spreading.
火勢蔓延，越加燃料，它就會蔓延得越快越遠。舌頭“點燃了大自然的進程”（雅各書 3:6），或“點燃他生命的輪子”（新國際版）。雅各認為，所有的生命都像輪子一樣相互聯繫，因此我們無法阻止事物蔓延。人的一生都可能被舌頭傷害或毀掉。時間並不能糾正舌頭的罪惡。我們可能會承認我們在言語上犯了罪，但火仍在繼續蔓延。
 
As it spreads, fire destroys, and the words we speak have the power to destroy. For every word in Hitler’s book Mein Kampf, 125 lives were lost in World War II. Our own words may not have caused wars or wrecked cities, but they can break hearts and ruin reputations. They can also destroy souls by sending them into eternity without Christ How important it is for us to let our speech “be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6 niv).
隨著火的蔓延，它會毀滅，而我們所說的話也有毀滅的力量。希特勒的 “我的奮鬥” 一書中每寫一個字，就有 125 人在二戰中喪生。我們自己的話可能不會引起戰爭或毀壞城市，但它們可能會傷人心，毀名聲。他們也可以通過在沒有基督的情況下，將他們送入永恆來摧毀靈魂，讓我們的言語“總是充滿恩典，用鹽調和”（歌羅西4：6），它對我們來說是多麼重要。
 
Not only is the tongue like a fire, but it is also like a dangerous animal. It is restless and cannot be ruled (unruly), and it seeks its prey and then pounces and kills. My wife and I once drove through a safari park, admiring the animals as they moved about in their natural habitat. But there were warning signs posted all over the park: DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR! DO NOT OPEN YOUR WINDOWS! Those “peaceful animals” were capable of doing great damage, and even killing.
舌頭不僅像火，而且像危險的動物。它躁動不安，無法被統治（不守規矩），它會尋找獵物，然後猛撲和殺死。我和我的妻子有一次開車穿過野生動物園，欣賞動物在自然棲息地中的移動。但是公園裡到處都張貼著警告標誌：不要離開你的車！不要打開你的窗戶！那些“和平動物”能夠造成巨大的破壞，甚至可以殺人。
 
Some animals are poisonous, and some tongues spread poison. The deceptive thing about poison is that it works secretly and slowly, and then kills. How many times has some malicious person injected a bit of poison into the conversation, hoping it would spread and finally get to the person he or she wanted to hurt? As a pastor, I have seen poisonous tongues do great damage to individuals, families, classes, and entire churches. Would you turn hungry lions or angry snakes loose in your Sunday morning service? Of course not! But unruly tongues accomplish the same results.
有毒的動物，牠的舌頭會傳播毒液。毒液的作用是暗暗緩慢的，然後它的毒性發作殺人。多少次有惡意的人在談話中註入人一點毒液，希望它會傳播，並最終到達他或她想傷害的人？ 作為牧師，我看到毒舌對個人、家庭、階級和整個教會造成巨大傷害。你會在周日早上的禮拜中放鬆如飢餓的獅子或憤怒的蛇樣的舌頭嗎？當然不會！但不守規矩的舌頭却不行。
 
James reminds us that animals can be tamed, and, for that matter, fire can be tamed. When you tame an animal, you get a worker instead of a destroyer. When you control fire, you generate power. The tongue cannot be tamed by man, but it can be tamed by God. Your tongue need not be “set on fire of hell” (James3:6). Like the apostles at Pentecost, it can be set on fire from heaven! If God lights the fire and controls it, then the tongue can be a mighty tool for the winning of the lost and the building up of the church. The important thing, of course, is the heart, for it is “out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34). If the heart is filled with hatred, Satan will light the fire. But if the heart is filled with love, God will light the fire.
雅各提醒我们，动物是可以驯服的，就此而言，火是可以驯服的。当你驯服动物时，你会得到幫手而不是破坏者。当你控制火时，它会為你产生能力。舌头不能被人驯服，但可以被上帝驯服。你的舌头不必如“着火了”（雅各书 3：6）。就像五旬节的使徒一样，它可以从天而降！如果上帝点燃并控制它，那么舌头就可以成为赢得失丧者和建立教会的强大有力的工具。重要的当然是心，因为它是“心里所充满的，口中就说出來”（马太福音 12:34）。如果心中充满仇恨，撒旦就会点燃牠。但如果心中充满爱，上帝就会点燃牠。
 
3.  Power to Delight: The Fountain and Tree (3:9–12)
3.  取悦的力量：喷泉和树（3:9-12）
 
The fountain, of course, provides the cool water that man needs to stay alive. In underdeveloped countries, the presence of a freshwater fountain is a great blessing to a village. Man needs water not only for drinking, but also for washing, cooking, farming, and a host of other activities so necessary to life.
当然，喷泉提供了人类生存所需的凉水。在不发达国家，淡水喷泉的存在是对村庄的极大祝福。人类不仅需要水来饮用，还需要水来洗涤、做饭、耕作和许多其他生活必需的活动。
 
“The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook” (Prov. 18:4). “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life” (Prov. 10:11). “The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death” (Prov. 13:14). These verses parallel what James has written and underscore the importance of our words.
“人口中的言语如洪水，智慧的泉源如溪水”（箴言18:4）。 “义人口是生命的水井”（箴言  10:11）。 “智慧人的律法是生命的泉源，可以脱离死亡的网罗”（箴言 13:14）。这些经文与雅各所写的内容相似，并强调了我们语言的重要性。
 
Water is life-giving, and our words can give life. However, if water is not controlled, it brings death and destruction. The famous Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood of 1889 took 2,200 lives and destroyed $10 million in property. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21).    Flood!!!
水赋予生命，我们的言语可以赋予生命。但是，如果不加以控制，水就会带来死亡和破坏。 1889 年著名的宾州(Pennsylvania)约翰斯敦洪水夺走了 2,200 条生命，并摧毁了 1,000 万美元價值的财产。 “生死在舌头的权勢下”（箴言   18:21）。 就如洪水 !!!
 
However, when we bend over a fountain for a drink of cool water, we rarely think of floods. We think only of the precious gift of refreshment that comes with a drink of water. We could not be healthy without water. “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health” (Prov. 12:18). Paul’s prayer was that he might “refresh” the saints in Rome when he came to them (Rom. 15:32). He often named Christians who had refreshed him (1 Cor. 16:18; Philem. 7, 20).
然而，弯腰去喝喷泉的凉水时，我们很少会想到洪水。只想到一杯凉水带来的提神醒脑的珍贵礼物。没有水，我们就不可能有健康的生活。 “话語好像鋒利刀刺一样；但是智慧人的舌头却是賜給健康的凉水”（箴言  12:18）。保罗的祷告是，当他来到罗马的圣徒那里时，他可以“更新”他们（罗马书   15:32）。他经常提到让他靈性焕发的基督徒（哥林多前書  16:18；腓利 門  7 ，20兩節）。
 
Water also cleanses. There was a laver in the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, provided for the cleansing of the priests’ hands and feet. God’s Word is the spiritual water that cleanses us (John 15:3; Eph. 5:26–27). But our words to others can also help to cleanse and sanctify them. Our words ought to be like that river described in Ezekiel 47 that brought life to everything it touched.
水也能净化。旧约的帐幕和圣殿里有洗濯碗，用来清洗祭司的手脚。上帝的话语是洁净人灵命的水（约翰福音  15:3；以弗所書  5:26-27）。但是，我们对他人说的话也有助于净化和圣化他们。我们的话应该像以西结书 47章 中所描述的那条河，凡接触這河的都带来生命。
 
The tongue is also delightful because it is like a tree. In Bible lands, trees are vitally important to the economy: they help to hold down the soil; they provide beauty and shade; and they bear fruit. Our words can help to shelter and encourage a weary traveler, and can help to feed a hungry soul. “The lips of the righteous feed many” (Prov. 10:21). Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63b). As we share His Word with others, we feed them and encourage them along the way.
因为舌头也像树，也使人愉快。在圣经土地上，树木对经济至关重要：它们有助于保持土壤；它们提供美丽和阴影；他们结出果实。我们的话可以帮助庇护和鼓励疲惫的旅行者，并可以帮助养活饥饿的灵魂。 “义人的嘴唇喂养多人”（箴言 10:21）。耶稣说，“我对你们所说的话，就是灵，就是生命”（约翰福音 6:63節下半段）。当我们与他人分享祂的话语时，就一路喂养并鼓励他们。
 
The most important thing about a tree is the root system. If the roots do not go down deep, the tree will not grow in a healthy manner. If we are rooted in the things of the Lord, then our words will be the fruit of our fellowship with Him. We will be like that “blessed man” in Psalm 1 and produce fruit in due season. One reason our Lord was able to say the right words at the right times was because He communed with His Father and heard from heaven each day. Listen to His testimony:
树最重要的是它根的系統。如果根不深入，树就不会健康生长。如果我们在主的事上扎根很深，那麼我们的话就会成为与主相交的果子。我们会像诗篇第 1篇中的“有福的人”，按时结果子。我们的主能够在确當的时间，说出正确的话的原因，是因为祂每天都与天父禱告，并从天上听到上帝的話。請聆听耶穌的见证：
 
 “The Lord hath given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned” (Isa. 50:4). “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35).
“主赐给我受教者的舌头，使我知道如何用合宜的话扶助疲乏的人。主每早晨提醒，提醒我的耳朵，使我能聽，像受教者一样。”（以赛亚书50： 4）“次日早晨，天未亮的時候，耶穌起來，到曠野地方去，在那里祷告”（马可福音 1:35）。
 
If you and I are going to have tongues that delight, then we must meet with the Lord each day and learn from Him. We must get our “spiritual roots” deep into His Word. We must pray and meditate and permit the Spirit of God to fill our hearts with God’s love and truth.
如果你我要拥有令人愉悦的言語，那么我们必须每天与主见面，并向祂学习。必须将我们的“靈命的根源”深深進入到祂的话语中。我们必须祈祷和默想，让上帝的灵以祂的爱和真理充满我们的心。
 
But James issued a warning: a fountain cannot give forth two kinds of water, and a tree cannot bear two different kinds of fruit. We expect the fountain to flow with sweet water at all times, and we expect the fig tree to bear figs and the olive tree to bear olives. Nature reproduces after its kind.
但雅各警告我們：一處泉水不能流出不同的水，一棵树不能结两种不同的果子。我们期待這泉水刻流出甘甜的水，期待那无花果树结出无花果，橄榄树结橄榄。天然地類同的繁衍后代。
 
If the tongue is inconsistent, there is something radically wrong with the heart. I heard about a professing Christian who got angry on the job and let loose with some oaths. Embarrassed, he turned to his partner and said, “I don’t know why I said that. It really isn’t in me.” His partner wisely replied, “It had to be in you or it couldn’t have come out of you.” When Peter was out of fellowship with Christ, he uttered some oaths, but he went out and wept bitterly and confessed his sins.
如果舌头與心不一致，表明內心有问题。我听说自称是基督徒的人在服事時生气，并且发誓。他尴尬地對他的同工说，“我不知道我为什么會这么说。真的不是出自我的口。”他的同工明智地回答说，“這話必定出於你的心，否则不可能从你口中出来。”当彼得与基督失去團契时，他在人前发誓不認識耶穌，但他出去痛哭并认罪。
 
The tongue that blesses the Father, and then turns around and curses men made in God’s image, is in desperate need of spiritual medicine! How easy it is to sing the hymns during the worship service, then after the service, get into the family car and argue and fight all the way home! “My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
人用舌头先赞美天父，然后转身咒诅按上帝形象所造的人，是急需屬灵的药醫治！敬拜时唱詩人赞美诗，當敬拜结束后，进入家庭汽车，一路上却争论和战斗回到家中！ “我的兄弟们，这些事情不应该是如此。”
 
The problem, of course, is not the tongue; it is the heart. It is easy to have “bitter envying and strife” in our hearts (James 3:14). “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man” (Matt. 15:18). “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). As we fill our hearts with God’s Word and yield to the Holy Spirit, He can use us to bring delight to others, and we will be refreshing fountains and trees.
当然，這问题不在舌头；而是從心內發出來的。我们心里很容易有“嫉妒和纷争”（雅各书 3:14）。 “惟獨从口里出来的，是从心里发出；這才使人污衊”（马太福音 15:18）。 “要保守你的心，勝過保守一切，因为一生的果效是由心發出”（箴言 4:23）。当用上帝的话语充满我们的心，并顺服圣灵，這樣祂就可以使用我们给他人带来喜乐，使我们成为令人耳目一新的泉水和树木。
 
As I close this chapter, let me suggest that you start using the “Twelve Words That Can Transform Your Life.” If you use these words and sincerely mean what you say from your heart, you will find that God will use you to be a blessing and encouragement to others. There are only twelve of them, but they work. 
在结束本章时，让我建议你开始使用“可以改变你生活的十二个字母”。如果你用这些话，真心实意地说出你的心声，你会发现上帝会使用你成为别人的祝福和鼓励的管道。它们只有十二个字母，但它们很有了。
 
“Please” and “Thank you.” When you use these three words, you are treating others like people and not things. You are showing appreciation.
“谢谢，麻烦你了。”当你使用这短語时，你就是把别人当人看，而不是物件。你在表示赞赏他。
 
“I’m sorry.” These two words have a way of breaking down walls and building bridges.
“抱歉。”这短語有拆圍墙，而建桥的意思。
 
“I love you.” Too many people read “romance” into these words, but they go much deeper than that. As Christians, we should love the brethren and even love our enemies. “I love you” is a statement that can carry tremendous power.
太多人将“我爱你” 認为 “浪漫”，但其含义远不止于此。作为基督徒，我们应该爱弟兄，甚至爱我们的敌人。 “我爱你”是有巨大能力的言語。
 
“I’m praying for you.” And be sure that you are. When you talk to God about people, then you can talk to people about God. Our private praying for people helps us in our public meeting with people. Of course, we never say “I’m praying for you” in a boastful way, as though we are more spiritual than others. We say it in an encouraging way, to let others know that we care enough for them to meet them at the throne of grace.
“我为你祈祷。”你真心是這樣做。当你和上帝谈论人时，就可以和人谈论上帝。私下为人祷告有助于我们与人的公开聚会。当然，我们从不吹嘘说，“我为你祈祷”，好像我们比别人更属灵。我们以鼓励的方式说这句话，让別人知道我们非常关心他们，將在施恩宝座前一同与他们見主面。
 
Yes, the smallest but largest troublemaker in all the world is the tongue. But it does not have to be a troublemaker! God can use our tongues to direct others into the way of life, and to delight them in the trials of life. The tongue is a little member, but it has great power.
誠然，世界上最小的舌头，却是最大麻烦制造者。可是，不一定是麻烦制造者！上帝可以使用我们的舌头引导別人走上正確的人生道路，并在他們人生的试炼中，使他们歡悦。舌头是小東西，但它却有很大的能力。
 
Give God your tongue and your heart each day and ask Him to use you to be a blessing to others.
每天将你的舌头和心交给上帝，并祈求祂使用你成为他人的祝福。
 
Thanks to God.  謝謝上帝。
 
CHAPTER EIGHT                       WHERE TO GET WISDOM                   James 3:13–18
第八課                                            从何处获得智慧                                       雅各书 3:13-18
 
Wisdom was an important thing to Jewish people. They realized that it was not enough to have knowledge; you had to have wisdom to be able to use that knowledge correctly. All of us know people who are very intelligent, perhaps almost geniuses, and yet who seemingly are unable to carry out the simplest tasks of life. They can program computers but they can[1]not manage their own lives! “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom” (Prov. 4:7).
智慧是犹太人從来就很看重的。他们意识到仅有知识是不够的；你必须有智慧才能正确使用知识。我们都认识一些非常聪明的人，也许几乎是天才，但他们似乎无法完成生活中最简单的任务。他们可以寫计算机的程式，但却无法管理自己的生活！ “智慧為首；所以要得智慧”（箴言 4:7）。
 
 James continued to exhort the people in the assembly who wanted to be teachers of the Word (James 3:1). It is not enough simply to stand before the people and say words; you must have something to say. This is where spiritual wisdom comes in. Knowledge enables us to take things apart, but wisdom enables us to put things together and relate God’s truth to daily life. All of us have heard preachers and teachers who say many good things, but who somehow miss the heart of God’s message and fail to relate truth to everyday life. It is this kind of “knowledge without wisdom” that James was writing about. He was contrasting true wisdom and false wisdom in three different aspects.
雅各继续劝勉凡想要成为圣经教师的人（雅各书 3：1）。仅仅站在人民面前说话是不够的；你一定有话要说。这就是属灵智慧的用武之地。知识使我们能够分解事物，而智慧使我们能够将事物组合在一起，并将上帝的真理与日常生活联系起来。我们都听过传教士和教师说很多好话，但不知何故却错过了上帝信息的核心，未能将真理与日常生活联系起来。雅各所写的正是这种“没有智慧的知识”。他从三个不同的方面对比較真智慧和假智慧。
 
1.  Contrast in Origins (3:15, 17a)
1.  智慧起源对比 (3:15, 17節上半段)
 
The true wisdom comes from above, but the false wisdom comes from below. In other words, there is a “heavenly wisdom” that comes from God, and there is a “man-made wisdom” that does not come from God. Whatever does not come from God is destined to fail, no matter how successful it may seem at the time.
真智慧来自天上，假智慧来自地上。也就是说，“天上的智慧”是从上帝來的，也有“人为的智慧”不是从上帝来的。任何不是来自上帝的东西都注定要失败，无论它在当时看起来多么成功。
 
The Bible contains many examples of the folly of man’s wisdom. The building of the Tower of Babel seemed like a wise enterprise, but it ended in failure and confusion (Gen. 11:1–9). It seemed wise for Abraham to go to Egypt when famine came to Canaan, but the results proved otherwise (Gen. 12:10–20). King Saul thought it was wise to put his own armor on young David for the lad’s battle with Goliath, but God’s plan was otherwise (1 Sam. 17:38ff.). The disciples thought it was wise to dismiss the great crowd and let them find their own food; but Jesus took a few loaves and fishes and fed the multitude. The Roman “experts” in Acts 27 thought it was wise to leave port and set sail for Rome, even though Paul disagreed, and the storm that followed proved that Paul’s wisdom was better than their expert counsel. They lived to regret it, but they lived!
圣经中有许多关于人的智慧愚蠢的例子。建造巴别塔似乎是一项明智的事业，但以失败和混乱告终（创世记 11:1-9）。当饥荒来到迦南时，亚伯拉罕前往埃及似乎是明智之举，但结果证明并非如此（创世记 12:10-20）。扫罗王认为在年轻的大卫与歌利亚的战斗中为年轻的大卫穿上自己的盔甲是明智的，但上帝的计划并非如此（撒母耳記上 17:38  比照研讀）。门徒们认为使聽道的群眾散开，让他们自己去找食物是明智的。但耶稣却拿了兩个饼和五小条鱼，喂饱了众人。使徒行传 27 章中的罗马“专家”认为离开港口启航前往罗马是明智的，尽管保罗不同意，随后的风暴证明保罗的智慧胜过他们专家的建议。他们后悔的活，但他们却是活下来了！
 
What is the origin of man’s wisdom? “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish” (James 3:15). The believer has three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil (Eph. 2:1–3). These enemies are suggested by the terms “earthly, sensual, devilish.”
到底人的智慧是如何來的？ “这智慧若不是从上头来的，而是属地的、属情慾的、属鬼魔的”（雅各书 3:15）。信徒有三个敌人：世界、肉体和魔鬼（以弗所書 2:1-3）。这些敌人由“世俗的、肉慾的、鬼魔的”等词來暗示。
 
There is a “wisdom of this world” (1 Cor. 1:20–21). Do not confuse the world’s knowledge and the world’s wisdom. Certainly, there is a great deal of knowledge in this world, and we all benefit from it, but there is not much wisdom. Man unlocks the secrets of the universe, but he does not know what to do with them. Almost everything he discovers or devises turns against him. Over a century ago, Henry David Thoreau warned that we had “improved means to unimproved ends.”
有一种“这世界的智慧”（哥林多前書 1：20-21）。不要混淆世界的知识和世界的智慧。当然，这个世界上有很多知识，我们都从中受益，但智慧并不多。人类解开了宇宙的秘密，但他不知道如何处理它们。几乎所有他发现或设计的东西都反对他。一个多世纪前，亨利 · 大卫 · 梭罗 (Henry David Thoreau) 警告说，我们已经“用改善的手段來达到未改善的目的”。
 
Whenever I ride a bus or elevated train in the city, I often think of the man in Boston who was entertaining a famous Chinese scholar. He met his Asian friend at the train station and rushed him to the subway. As they ran through the subway station, the host panted to his guest, “If we run and catch this next train, we will save three minutes!” To which the patient Chinese philosopher replied, “And what significant thing shall we do with the three minutes we are saving?”
每当我在城市里乘坐公共汽车或高架火车时，常常会想起波士顿那个正在招待一位著名中国学者的人。他在火车站遇到了他的亚裔朋友，而他們去赶地铁。跑过地铁站时，主人气喘吁吁地对客人说：“如果我们跑去赶下一班火车，我们就可以节省三分钟！”这位耐心的中国哲学家回答说：“我们节省的三分钟能做些什么有意义的事情呢？”
 
The world by its wisdom knew not God, and in its wisdom rejects the very gospel of God. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolish[1]ness” (1 Cor. 1:18). Any person enamored with the wisdom of this world ought to read the first two chapters of 1 Corinthians and notice how much Paul had to say about God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom. Man’s wisdom is foolishness to God (1 Cor. 1:20), and God’s wisdom is foolishness to man (1 Cor. 2:14). Man’s wisdom comes from reason, while God’s wisdom comes from revelation. Man’s worldly wisdom will come to nothing (1 Cor. 1:19), while God’s wisdom will endure forever.
世界以其智慧不认识上帝，并以它的智慧拒绝上帝的福音。 “因为十字架的道理，在那灭亡的人認为愚拙”（哥林多前書 1:18）。任何迷恋这个世界智慧的人都应该阅读哥林多前书的前两章，并注意保罗对神的智慧和人的智慧说了多少。人的智慧在上帝看来是愚蠢的（哥林多前書1:20），而上帝的智慧在人看来是愚蠢的（哥林多前書2:14）。人的智慧来自理性，而上帝的智慧来自启示。人的世俗智慧将化为乌有（哥林多前書1:19），而上帝的智慧将永远长存。
 
Because the world has turned from God, it has lost its wisdom. Every increase in man’s knowledge only magnifies the problems. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Prov. 9:10). “There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:18).
因为世界已经远离上帝，失去了智慧。人类知识的每一次增长只会擴大问题。 “敬畏主是智慧的开端；至圣者的知识就是聪明”（箴言 9:10）。 “在他们眼中不怕上帝”
（罗马书   3:18）。
 
But this false wisdom has another source: it is “sensual,” that is, it is “natural.” The Greek word is psukikos, which comes from the Greek word psuke meaning “life,” or “soul.” Our English word psychology is derived from it. In 1 Corinthians 2:14; 15:44, 46, psukikos is translated “natural,” referring to the opposite of “spiritual.” In Jude 19 it is translated “sensual.” The main idea seems to be that of man’s fallen nature as opposed to the new nature given by God. There is a wisdom that gets its origin in man’s nature totally apart from the Spirit of God. But this “wisdom that is from beneath” is also “devilish.” Perhaps the best translation is “demonic.” Beginning with Genesis 3, where Satan successfully deceived Eve, and continuing through the entire Bible, there is a “wisdom of Satan” at work, fighting against the wisdom of God. Satan convinced Eve that she would be like God. He told her that the tree would make her wise. Ever since that event, people have continued to believe Satan’s lies and have tried to become their own gods (Rom. 1:18–25). Satan is cunning; he is the old serpent! He has wisdom that will confound and confuse you if you do not know the wisdom of God.
但这种虚假的智慧还有另一个来源，是 “感覺的”，也就是出自身體“自然的”。希腊词是 psukikos，它来自希腊词 psuke，意思是“生命”或“灵魂”。英语psychology(心理) 就是从它衍生而来的。在哥林多前书 2章14節; 15章44, 46兩節，psukikos 翻成“自然”，是“靈性”的反义词。在犹大书 19節中，翻作“感覺的”。主要的意義似乎是人堕落的本性与上帝赋予的新本性相对。有一种智慧淵源于人的本性，完全脱离了上帝的灵。但这种“来自下面來的智慧”也就是“魔鬼的”。也许最好的翻译是“恶魔的”。从创世记三章开始，撒旦成功地欺骗了夏娃，并贯穿整本圣经，都有一个“撒旦的智慧”在工作，与上帝的智慧作斗争。撒旦说服夏娃她会像上帝一样。牠告诉她吃了这棵树上的果子，会让她变得聪明。从那以后，人類继续相信撒但的谎言，并试图成为自己的神（罗马书 1:18-25）。撒旦很狡猾；他是古老的蛇！如果你不知道上帝的智慧，牠的智慧会让你感到惶惑和困惑。
 
In contrast to the wisdom that is earthly, sensual, and devilish, James described a “wisdom that is from above” (James 3:17). “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). The Christian looks up to heaven for all that he needs. His citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), just as his Father is in heaven (Matt. 6:9). His treasures are in heaven, not on earth (Matt. 6:19ff.). He was born from above (John 3:1–7) when he trusted Jesus Christ. The believer’s home is in heaven (John 14:1–6) and his hope is in heaven. He sets his affection and attention on things above, not on earthly things (Col. 3:1–4).
与属世、肉欲和恶魔的智慧相反，雅各描述了“从上头来的智慧”（雅各书 3:17）。 “一切美好的和完美的礼物都是从上头来的”（雅各书 1:17）。基督徒为他所需要的一切都仰望天堂。他是天上的公民（腓立比书 3:20），就像他的天父在天上一样（马太福音 6:9）。他的财宝在天上，不在地上（马太福音 6:19 比照研讀）。当他相信耶稣基督时，他从上面生的（约翰福音 3：1-7）。信徒的家在天上（约翰福音 14:1-6），他的希望在天上。他将他的感情和注意力放在上面的事上，而不是地上的事（西3:1-4）。
 
What is the Christian’s wisdom? Does he look to the philosophies of this world? No! To begin with, Jesus Christ is our wisdom (1 Cor. 1:24, 30). In Jesus Christ “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). The first step toward true wisdom is the receiving of Jesus Christ as Savior.
基督徒的智慧是什么？他是否关注这世上的哲学？  不！首先，耶稣基督是我们的智慧（哥林多前書 1:24, 30）。 “一切智慧和知识的宝藏都藏在耶稣基督里”（哥羅西書2:3）。迈向真智慧的第一步是接受耶稣基督为救主。
 
The Word of God is also our wisdom. “Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments.… Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations” (Deut. 4:5–6). The Scriptures are able to make us “wise unto salvation” (2 Tim. 3:15).
上帝的话也是我们的智慧。 “看哪，我已将律例和典章教导你们。……你们要谨守遵行；因为这就是你在列国眼中的智慧和聪明”（申命记 4:5-6）。圣经能够使我们“有得救的智慧”（提摩太后书 3:15）。
 
James 1:5 indicates that we find wisdom through believing prayer. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God.” The Holy Spirit of God is “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Eph. 1:17), and He directs us in the wisest paths as we trust the Word and pray.
雅各书 1 章 5 节指出，我们通过信心的祷告能找到智慧。 “你们若缺乏智慧，就该求问上帝。”上帝的圣灵是“智慧和启示的灵”（以弗所书 1:17），当我们相信上帝的话语和祈祷时，祂会指引我们走最明智的道路。
 
The origin of true spiritual wisdom is God. To get your wisdom from any other source is to ask for trouble. There is no need to get the counterfeit wisdom of the world, the wisdom that caters to the flesh and accomplishes the work of the devil. Get your wisdom from God!
真正属灵智慧的起源是上帝。从任何由其来源获取的智慧都會引來麻烦。不需要得到迎合肉体的世间假冒的智慧，和完成魔鬼工作的智慧。从上帝那里得到你的智慧！
 
2.  Contrast in Operations (3:13–14, 17)
2.  運作的对比（3:13-14, 17）
 
The wisdom from above, God’s wisdom, operates in a different way from the wisdom that is “earthly, sensual, devilish.” Since they originate from radically different sources, they must operate in opposite ways.
来自上头的智慧，即上帝的智慧，其运作方式与“属世的、感覺的、魔鬼的”智慧不同。由于它们来自完全不同的来源，因此它们必须以相反的方式运作。
 
What are the evidences of false wisdom?
什么是虚假智慧的证据？
 
Envy (v. 14a). This word carries the meaning of selfish ambition and zeal. It ties in with James 3:1, where James warned them not to be ambitious for spiritual offices. The wisdom of the world says, “Promote yourself. You’re as good as the other candidates, maybe better! The wheel that squeaks the loudest gets the grease.” Sad to say, there is a great deal of selfish, carnal promotion among God’s people. Even the apostles argued over who was the greatest in the kingdom.
嫉妒（第 14节）。它带有自私的野心和热情的意思。它与雅各书 3 章 1 节有关，在那里雅各警告他们不要对属灵的职位抱有雄心。世间的智慧说，“提升自己。你和其他候选人一样好，也许更好！吱吱声最大的運作轮子需要上滑油。”可悲的是，上帝的子民中有很多自私和肉体的提升。甚至使徒们也为谁是天国中最大的而争论不休。
 
It is easy to go on an ego trip under the guise of spiritual zeal. The Pharisees used their religious activities to promote the praise of men (Matt. 6:1–18). We ought to be zealous in the things of the Lord, but we must be sure that our motives are right. The wisdom of this world exalts man and robs God of glory. In 1 Corinthians 1:17ff., Paul discussed the wisdom of God and the wisdom of this world, and he explained why God works as He does: “That no flesh should glory in his presence” (1 Cor. 1:29). He concluded the section with the admonition, “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Cor. 1:31). 3/1/22   11；00
打着屬靈热心的幌子进行自我的行事為人是很容易的。法利赛人利用他们的宗教活动来討人的赞美（马太福音 6:1-18）。我们应该在主的事上热心，但必须确定我们的动机是正确的。世上的智慧高举人，抢夺上帝的荣耀。在哥林多前书 1章17節(比照研讀) 中，保罗讨论了上帝的智慧和世人的智慧，并解释了为什么上帝会这样行事：“凡有血气的都不应该在祂面前夸口”（哥林多前書  1:29）。他以告诫结束这一段，“誇口的当以主誇口”（哥林多前书 1:31）。
 
Is our zeal for the Lord spiritual or carnal? Do we rejoice when others succeed, or do we have secret envy and criticism? Do we feel burdened when others fail, or are we glad? When the wisdom of the world gets into the church, there is a great deal of fleshly promotion and human glorification. Beware!
我们对主的热心是属灵的还是属肉体的？  当别人成功时，我们会感到高兴，还是会暗自嫉妒和批评？  当别人失败时，我们会感到難過，还是感到高兴？当世人的智慧进入教会时，就会有大量属肉体的提升和人的荣耀。要谨防！
 
Strife (v. 14). This word means “party spirit.” It was used by the Greeks to describe a politician out canvassing for votes. The world’s wisdom says, “Get all the support you can! Ask the people in the church if they are for you or against you!” Of course, this spirit of selfseeking only creates rivalry and division in the church. “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than [more important than] themselves” (Phil. 2:3).
冲突（第14节）。它的意思是“党派精神”。希腊人用它来描述政治家拉票。世人的智慧说，“尽你所能！问问教会里的人是支持你还是反对你！”当然，这种自私自利的心態只会在教会中造成对抗和分裂。 “不要因争吵或自负而做任何事；倒要存心谦卑，各人看别人比看自己強  [重要]”（腓立比书2:3）。
 
Boasting (v. 14). Pride loves to boast, and nothing is prouder than the wisdom of men. There is a way to report blessings so that God gets the glory, but there is also an approach that gives men the praise. It is tragic to see mutual admiration societies among God’s people. In 2 Corinthians 10, when Paul was forced to boast about his ministry, he was careful to give God the glory. “Of course, we shouldn’t dare include ourselves in the same class as those who write their own testimonials, or even to compare ourselves with them! All they are doing, of course, is to measure themselves by their own standards or by comparisons within their own circle, and that doesn’t make for accurate estimation, you may be sure” (2 Cor. 10:12 ph).
自夸（第 14 节）。骄傲的人爱自夸，没有什么比人的智慧更容易引起骄傲。有使上帝得到荣耀的方法來宣祂的祝福，，但也有使人得到赞美的手法。看到上帝子民之间相互吹噓的社会，是可悲的。在哥林多前书 10 章，当保罗被迫夸耀他的事工时，他小心翼翼地将荣耀归给上帝。 “誠然，我们不敢和那些自己写见证的人放在一起，甚至不敢和他们對比！ 他们所做的只是根据自己的标准或在自己的圈子内进行比较来衡量自己，这并不能做出准确的標準，你可以肯定”（哥林多後書  10:12  J.P. Philips腓立比版）。
 
When God’s wisdom is at work, there is a sense of humility and submission, and you want God to get all the glory. You have no desire to compare yourself with any other Christian, because you see only Christ—and compared with Him, all of us still have a long way to go!
当上帝的智慧作工时，有谦卑和顺服的感觉，你希望上帝得着所有的荣耀。你不想和任何其他基督徒比较，因为你只看到基督 — 与祂相比，我们所有人还有很长的路要走！
 
Deceit (v. 14). “Lie not against the truth.” The sequence is not difficult to understand. First, there is selfish ambition that leads to party spirit and rivalry. In order to “win the election” we must resort to boasting; and boasting usually involves lies! A man’s life is not read in his press releases; it is read by the Lord in his heart. “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God” (1 Cor. 4:5).
欺骗（第 14 节）。 “不要与真理相悖。”顺序不难理解。首先，自私的野心导致党派和竞争。 為了 “選舉得勝”我們必須使用吹噓的方法 ; 吹嘘通常涉及谎言！人的生命不能在他的新闻稿中得知；而是主在他心里顯示。 “因此，在时间未到之前，什么都不要判断，直到主再来時，祂将揭开黑暗的隐藏事物，并将其内心的打算显明：然后每个人都将赞美上帝”（哥林多前書  4 :5)。
 
What a relief it is to turn to the evidences of true spiritual wisdom.
转向真正属灵智慧的证据是何等的宽慰。
 
Meekness (v. 13).  Meekness is not weakness; it is power under control. The meek person does not selfishly assert himself. The Greek word was used for a horse that had been broken so that his power was under control. The meek person seeks only the glory of God and does not cater to the praises of men. Meekness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23); it cannot be manufactured by man. There is a false humility that some people mistake for meekness, but it is only counterfeit.
温柔（第 13 节）。温柔不是软弱；它是权力受控制的人性。温柔的人不会自私地主张自己。溫柔在希腊語中表示受制的马，牠的力量受到管制。温柔的人只求荣耀上帝，不迎合人的赞美。温柔是圣灵的果子（加拉太书   5:23）；它不能由人制造。有一种虚假的谦卑被一些人误认为是温柔，但这只是假的。
 
The phrase “meekness of wisdom” is an interesting one (James 3:3). Meekness is the right use of power, and wisdom is the right use of knowledge. They go together. The truly wise person will show in his daily life (conversation means “behavior”) that he is a child of God. Attitude and action go together.
“智慧的温柔”这句话很有趣（雅各书   3:3）。温柔是正确使用权力，智慧是正确使用知识。他们屬於一起。真正有智慧的人会在日常生活中（谈话的意思是“行为”）表明他是上帝的孩子。态度和行為相辅相成。
 
Purity (v. 17). “First pure” indicates the importance of holiness. God is holy; therefore the wisdom from above is pure. The idea behind this word is “chaste, free from defilement.” James used it again in James 4:8—“purify your hearts,” or, “make chaste your hearts.” God’s wisdom leads to purity of life. Man’s wisdom may lead to sin. There is a spiritual purity that results in a chaste relationship with the Lord (2 Cor. 11:3), and there is a worldliness that makes the person a spiritual adulterer (James 4:4).
纯洁（第 17 节）。 “至上”表明圣洁的重要性。上帝是圣洁的；所以从上头来的智慧是纯洁的。它真實的意思是“贞洁，无染污”。在雅各书 4章8節中再次使用 —“洁净你们的心”，或“使你们的心纯洁”。上帝的智慧导致生命的纯洁。人的智慧可能导致犯罪。有一种屬靈纯洁导致与主的純洁的心的关系（哥林多後書  11:3），有一种世俗使人成为屬靈上的姦夫（雅各书  4:4）。
 
Peace (v. 17). Man’s wisdom leads to competition, rivalry, and war (James 4:1–2); but God’s wisdom leads to peace. It is a peace based on holiness, not on compromise. God never has “peace at any price.” The peace of the church is not more important than the purity of the church. If the church is pure, devoted to God, then there will be peace. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever” (Isa. 32:17). The church can never have peace by sweeping sins under the rug and pretending they are not there. Man’s wisdom says, “Cover up sin! Keep things together!” God’s wisdom says, “Confess sin and My peace will keep things together!”
和平（第 17 节）。人的智慧导致竞争、对抗和战争（雅各书 4：1-2）；但上帝的智慧会带来和平。这是基于圣洁而非妥协的和平。上帝从来没有“不惜任何代价的和平”。教会的平安并不比教会的纯洁更重要。如果教会是纯洁的，忠于上帝，就会有平安。 “公义的事必是平安，公义的果效必永远平静可靠”（以赛亚书  32:17）。把罪恶扫到地毯下，假装它们不存在，教会永远无法获得平安。人的智慧说，“掩盖罪恶！把一切东西放在一起！”上帝的智慧说，“认罪，我的平安会使一切在一起！”
 
Gentleness (v. 17). Matthew Arnold liked to call this “sweet reasonableness.” It carries the meaning of moderation without compromise, gentleness without weakness. The gentle person does not deliberately cause fights, but neither does he compromise the truth in order to keep peace. Carl Sandburg described Abraham Lincoln as a man of “velvet steel.” That is a good description of gentleness.
温順（第 17 节）。马太 · 阿诺(Matthew Arnold)喜欢称之为“甜蜜的合理性”。寓意柔和不妥协，温和不软弱。温順的人不会刻意挑衅，也不会为了和平而妥协真理。卡尔 · 桑德伯(Carl Sandburg)将林肯總統形容为“天鹅绒柔軟般的钢铁”。这是对温順的很好的描述。
 
Compliance (v. 17). God’s wisdom makes the believer agreeable and easy to live with and work with. Man’s wisdom makes a person hard and stubborn. The compliant person is willing to hear all sides of a question, but he does not compromise his own convictions. He can disagree without being disagreeable. He is “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). Many people think that stubbornness is conviction, and they must have their own way. When God’s wisdom is at work, there is a willingness to listen, think, pray, and obey whatever God reveals. “Yielding to persuasion” is another translation of this word.
順從（第 17 节）。神的智慧使信徒讨人喜欢，容易與人相处和工作。人的智慧使人不討人歡喜，且刚硬。顺从的人愿意听取问题的所有方面，但他不会妥协自己的信念。他可以不同意而不会令人不快。他“听得快，说得慢，慢慢动怒”（雅各书  1：19）。很多人认为，固执就是信念，一定有自己的办法。当上帝的智慧发挥作用时，人们愿意聆听、思考、祈祷和顺服上帝所启示的一切。 “屈服于说服”是这順從的另一种翻译。
 
Mercy (v. 17). To be “full” of something means to be “controlled by.” The person who follows God’s wisdom is controlled by mercy. “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36). God in His grace gives us what we do not deserve, and in His mercy He does not give us what we do deserve. Our Lord’s parable of the good Samaritan illustrates the meaning of mercy (Luke 10:25–37). For a Samaritan to care for a Jewish stranger was an act of mercy. He could gain nothing from it, except the blessing that comes from doing the will of God, and the victim could not pay him back. That is mercy.
怜悯（第 17 节）。 “充满”某物意味着被某物“控制”。跟随上帝智慧的人是承受祂怜悯的人。 “所以你们要慈悲，像你们的天父慈悲一样”（路加福音  6:36）。上帝在祂的恩典中，赐给我们不配得的东西，而在祂的怜悯中，祂却不賜给我们配得的东西。我们的主在 “好撒玛利亚人” 的比喻中，说明了怜悯的意义（路加福音  10：25-37）。对于一个撒玛利亚人来说，照顾一个犹太陌生人是一种仁慈的行为。除了遵行上帝的旨意所带来的祝福之外，他什么也得不到，受害者也无法回报他。那是怜悯。
 
Good fruits (v. 17). People who are faithful are fruitful. God’s wisdom does not make a life empty; it makes it full. The Spirit produces fruit to the glory of God (see John 15:1–16). The lawyer in Luke 10:25–37 was willing to discuss the subject of neighborliness, but he was unwilling to be a neighbor and help someone else. God’s wisdom is practical; it changes the life and produces good works to the glory of God.
好果子（第 17 节）。忠心的人是有果效的。上帝的智慧不会使生命空虚；它使它充满。圣灵结出果子来荣耀神（见约翰福音 15：1-16）。路加福音 10 章 25-37 节的律师愿意讨论睦邻的话题，但他不愿意做邻居帮助别人。上帝的智慧是現实的；它以改变生命，并产生善行来荣耀上帝。
 
Decisiveness (v. 17). The word suggests singleness of mind and is the opposite of “wavering” (James 1:6). When you lean on the world’s wisdom, you are pressured from one side and then another to change your mind or take a new viewpoint. When you have God’s wisdom, you need not waver; you can be decisive and not be afraid. Wisdom from above brings strength from above.
果断（第 17 节）。这个词暗示思想单一，与“摇摆不定”相反（雅各书  1:6）。当依靠世界的智慧时，你会受到来自一侧和另一侧的压力，要求你改变主意或采取新的观点。有了上帝的智慧，就不用动摇；你可以果断，不要害怕。來自上头的智慧带来上头的大能。
 
Sincerity (v. 17). The Greek word translated “hypocrite” in our New Testament means “one who wears a mask, an actor.” When man’s wisdom is at work, there may be insincerity and pretense. When God’s wisdom is at work, there is openness and honesty, “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). Wherever you find God’s people pretending and hiding, you can be sure the wisdom of this world is governing their ministry. “Religious politics” is an abomination to God. “Faith is living without scheming.”    
真诚（第 17 节）。在新约聖經中，“伪君子”的希腊词的意思是“戴面具的演员”。当人的智慧发挥作用时，可能会有虚伪和假冒。而上帝的智慧发挥作用时，就会有放開和诚实，“用爱心说诚实话”（以弗所書  4:15）。不管在哪里发现上帝的子民在伪装和躲藏，都可以肯定他們被世界的智慧正在管理他们的事工。 “宗教政治”是上帝所憎恶的。 “信心就是沒有腹稿的愛的生活。”
 
There is quite a contrast between the operation of God’s wisdom and the operation of the wisdom of this world. It would be profitable for church officers and leaders to evaluate their own lives and their ministries in the light of what James has written. While the local church is an organization, it cannot depend on the “Madison Avenue” methods that make secular businesses succeed. God’s ways and God’s thoughts are far above us! “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (1 Cor. 2:12).
上帝智慧的运作与世人智慧的运行是有很大的對比。教会執事和牧師根据雅各所写的内容来评估自己的生活和事工是有益的。虽然地方教会是组织，但他們不能依赖于使世俗的企业成功的“麦迪逊大道(Madison Avenue)”方法。上帝的道路和祂的旨意远在世人之上！ “现在我们所领受的，不是世上的灵，而是出于上帝的灵；叫我们知道祂開恩白白赐给我们的事”（哥林多前  2:12）
 
3.  Contrast in Outcomes (3:16, 18)
3.  结果对比 (3:16, 18)
 
Origin determines outcome. Worldly wisdom will produce worldly results; spiritual wisdom will give spiritual results.
起源决定结果。世俗的智慧会产生世俗的结果；属灵的智慧会带来属灵的结果。
 
Worldly wisdom produces trouble (v. 16). Envy, strife, confusion, evil works. It does not appear that God was at work in that assembly. In James 4, James would deal with the “wars and fightings” among the believers. Wrong thinking produces wrong living. One reason the world is in such a mess is because men have refused to accept the wisdom of God.
世俗的智慧会带来麻烦（第 16 节）。嫉妒、纷争、困惑、恶行。上帝似乎没有在那个大会中工作。在雅各书 4 章，雅各会处理信徒之间的“争战”。错误的思想产生错误的生活。世界如此混乱的一个原因是因为人们拒绝接受上帝的智慧。
 
The word translated “confusion” means “disorder that comes from instability.” It is related to “unstable” in James 1:8 and “unruly” in James 3:8. Read 2 Corinthians 12:20 and you will get a description of a church that is confused. Jesus used this word to describe the convulsions of the world in the last days (Luke 21:9).
 “混乱”的翻译是“不稳定导致的混乱”。它与雅各书 1章8節中的“不稳定”和雅各书 3章8節中的“不守规矩”有关。阅读哥林多後书 12 章20節，你会得到关于混乱的教会的描述。耶稣用混亂来描述末世的混亂动荡（路加福音  21:9）。
 
Jealousy, competition, party spirit—all of these contribute to confusion. The Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 is a good illustration of this fact. From man’s point of view, the building of the tower was a wise thing, but from God’s viewpoint, the project was stupid and sinful. The result? Confusion. Even today, we use the word “babel” to mean “confusion.”
嫉妒、竞争、党派性 — 所有这些都会导致混乱。创世记 11 章中的巴别塔很好地说明了这一事实。从人的角度来看，建塔是明智之举，但从上帝的角度来看，这个工程是愚蠢和罪恶的。结果？ 是困惑。即使在今天，我们仍使用“巴別(babel)”这个词来表示“混乱”。
 
Confusion sets the stage for “every evil work” (James 3:16). Evil here means “worthless, of no account.” It reminds us of the “wood, hay, stubble” of 1 Corinthians 3:12. A ministry operating in the wisdom of this world may appear to be great and successful, but in the day of judgment it may burn up. “Therefore judge nothing before the time” (1 Cor. 4:5). The church at Smyrna thought it was poor, but the Lord said it was rich; while the “rich church” at Laodicea was declared to be poor (Rev. 2:9; 3:14–22).
混乱为“各样的恶行”埋下伏笔（雅各书  3:16）。邪恶在这里的意思是“毫无价值，毫无意义”。它让我们想起哥林多前书 3章12節中的“木、草、禾稭”。在这个世界的智慧中运作的事工可能看起来伟大而成功，但在审判的日子里，它可能会燃烧殆尽。 “因此，在时间之前，什么都不要判断”（哥林多前书  4:5）。士每拿教会自以为贫穷，但主说它富有；而老底嘉的“富有的教会”却被宣告为贫穷的（启示錄   2:9；3:14-22）。
 
The most important thing we can do in our local churches is measure our ministries by the Word of God, not by the wisdom of men. The many battles among Christians, the church splits, the absence of purity and peace, all suggest that something is wrong. Perhaps that “something” is the absence of the wisdom of God.
在地方教会能做的最重要的事情就是用上帝的话语来衡量牧師和執事們的事工，而不是用人的智慧。基督徒之间的许多争斗，教会分裂，缺乏纯洁与和平，都表明有些事情是错误的。也许那所謂“有些事情”是缺乏上帝的智慧。
 
God’s wisdom produces blessing (v. 18). James returned to that word, fruit. There is a vast difference between man-made results and God-given fruit. Fruit is the product of life, and fruit has in it the seeds for more fruit. Usually it is the seed that is sown, but here it is the fruit that is sown. As we share the fruit of God with others, they are fed and satisfied, and they in turn bear fruit.
上帝的智慧产生祝福（第 18 节）。雅各回到那个词，結果子。人为的结果子与上帝赐予的果实之间存在巨大差异。果子是生命的产物，果子里有结出更多果实的种子。通常是播下种子，但在这里播下的是果实。当我们与他人分享上帝的果子时，他们得到了喂养和满足，然后它们就会结出果实。
 
The Christian life is a life of sowing and reaping. For that matter, every life is a life of sowing and reaping, and we reap just what we sow.  The Christian who obeys God’s wisdom sows righteousness, not sin; he sows peace, not war. The life we live enables the Lord to bring righteousness and peace into the lives of others.
基督徒的生活是撒种和收割的生活。就此而言，每个生命都是播种和收获的生命，我们播什么種子就会收获什么。顺从上帝智慧的基督徒播种的是公义，而不是罪恶；他播种和平，而不是战争。我们的生活使主能够将公义与和平带入世人的生活中。
 
What we are is what we live, and what we live is what we sow. What we sow determines what we reap. If we live in God’s wisdom, we sow righteousness and peace, and we reap God’s blessing. If we live in man’s worldly wisdom, we sow sin and war, and we reap “confusion and every evil work.”
我们的所是，就是我们的生活，那就是我们所要播种的生活。我们所播种的，决定我们收获的。如果我们活在上帝的智慧里，就会播种公义与和平的種子，也就会收获上帝的祝福。如果我们活在世俗的智慧中，就会播下罪恶和战争的种子，收获的是“混乱和一切恶行”。
 
It is a serious thing to be a troublemaker in God’s family. One of the sins that God hates is that of sowing “discord among brethren” (read Prov. 6:16–19). Lot followed the world’s wisdom and brought trouble to the camp of Abraham; but Abraham followed God’s wisdom and brought peace. Lot’s decision led to “good[1]for-nothing works,” and everything he lived for went up in smoke at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham’s decision, in the wisdom of God, led to blessings for his own household and ultimately for the whole world (read Gen. 13).
在神的家里惹麻烦是很严重的事。上帝憎恨的罪之一是“在弟兄中散播不和諧”（请阅读  箴   6:16-19）。罗得随从世人的智慧，给亚伯拉罕的羊群带来麻烦；但亚伯拉罕听从了上帝的智慧，带来了和平。罗得的决定导致“徒劳无功”，他赖以生存的一切都在所多玛和蛾摩拉的毁灭中化为乌有。亚伯拉罕凭着上帝的智慧做出的决定，为他自己的家人，并最终为整个世界带来了祝福（阅读  创世记   13）。
 
 “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding” (Prov. 3:13).
“得智慧，得聪明的，这人便为有福”（箴   3:13）。
 
謝謝上帝。
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

 

CHAPTER TEN                                PLAN AHEAD                                                                                  James 4:13–17

第十課                                                计划在先                                           雅各书 4:13-17

 

James began chapter 4 talking about war with God, and he ended it talking about the will of God. But the two themes are related: when a believer is out of the will of God, he becomes a troublemaker and not a peacemaker.

雅各在第 4 章开始谈论与上帝的战争，他在结束时谈论上帝的旨意。但这两个主题是相关的：当信徒脱离上帝的旨意时，他会成为制造麻烦的人，而不是制造和平的人。

 

Lot moved into Sodom and brought trouble to his family. David committed adultery and brought trouble to his family and his kingdom. Jonah disobeyed God and almost sent a shipload of heathen sailors into a watery grave. In each case, there was a wrong attitude toward the will of God.

罗得搬到了所多玛，给家人带来了麻烦。大卫犯了通奸罪，给他的家人和他的王国带来了麻烦。约拿不服从上帝，差点把一船异教水手送进水坑里。在上面所說的任何情况下，对上帝旨意的态度都是错误的。

 

That God would have a plan for each of our lives is an obvious truth. He is a God of wisdom and knows what ought to happen and when it should occur. And, as a God of love, He must desire the very best for His children. Too many Christians look on the will of God as bitter medicine they must take, instead of seeing it as the gracious evidence of the love of God.

上帝对我们每个人的生活都有计划，这是显而易见的事实。祂是智慧的上帝，知道什么事应该发生在什么时候必須发生。而且，作为慈爱的上帝，祂必须为祂的孩子们提供最好的。太多的基督徒将上帝的旨意视为他们必须服用的苦药，而不是将其视为上帝之爱的恩典证据。

 

“I would give my life to the Lord, but I’m afraid,” a perplexed teenager told me at a church youth conference.

一位困惑的少年在教会青年大会上告诉我，“我愿意将我的生命献给主，但我很害怕。”

 

“What are you afraid of?” I asked.

我问，“有什么好怕的？”

 

“I’m afraid God will ask me to do something dangerous!”

他回答，“我怕老天爷要我做危险的事！”

 

“The dangerous life is not in the will of God,” I replied, “but out of the will of God. The safest place in the world is right where God wants you.”

我回答说，“危险的生活不在上帝的旨意中，而是在上帝的旨意之外。世界上最安全的地方就是上帝要你去的地方。”

 

I was going through a difficult time in my own ministry some years ago, questioning the will of God. While on vacation, I was reading the book of Psalms, asking God to give me some assurance and encouragement. Psalm 33:11 was the answer to that prayer: “The counsel of the Lord standeth forever; the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

几年前，我在自己的事工中经历了一段艰难的时期，质疑上帝的旨意。放假的时候，我正在读诗篇，求上帝给我一些保证和鼓励。诗篇 33篇11節 是对那个祷告的回答，“主的筹算永远堅定；将祂心中的想法传给万代。”

 

 “The will of God comes from the heart of God,” I said to myself. “His will is the expression of His love, so I don’t have to be afraid!” It was a turning point in my life to discover the blessing of loving and living the will of God.

我对自己说，“上帝的旨意来自祂的心，祂的意志是爱的表现，所以我不必害怕！”发现爱上帝的旨意和遵行祂的旨意是我生命中的转折点。

 

In this section of his letter, James pointed out three attitudes toward the will of God. Of course, only one of them is the correct one, the one that every Christian ought to cultivate.

在这封信的这部分，雅各指出了对上帝旨意的三种心态。当然，只有一种是正确的，是每个基督徒都应该培养的。

 

1.  Ignoring God’s Will (4:13–14, 16)

1.  忽视上帝的旨意（4:13-14, 16）

 

Perhaps James was addressing the wealthy merchants in the assembly. They might have discussed their business deals and boasted about their plans. There is no evidence that they sought the will of God or prayed about their decisions. They measured success in life by how many times they got their own way and accomplished what they had planned.

也许雅各是在向聚会中的富商讲话。他们可能已经讨论过他们的商业交易，并吹嘘他们的计划。他們没有证据表明在寻求上帝的旨意或为他们的决志祈祷。他们通过走自己的路，并完成他们计划的次数，来衡量他們生活的成功。

 

But James presented four arguments that revealed the foolishness of ignoring the will of God.

但是雅各提出了四个论据，揭示忽略上帝旨意的愚蠢。

 

The complexity of life (4 : 13). Think of all that is involved in life: today, tomorrow, buying, selling, getting  gain, losing, going here, going there. Life is made up of people and places, activities and goals, days and years, and each of us must make many crucial decisions day after day.

生活的复杂性（4：13）。想想生活中涉及的一切：今天、明天、买、卖、得、失、去这里、去那里。生活由人和地点、活动和目标、日子和岁月组成，我们每个人都必须日复一日地做出许多重要的决定。

 

Apart from the will of God, life is a mystery. When you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, and seek to do His will, then life starts to make sense. Even the physical world around you takes on new meaning. There is a simplicity and unity to your life that makes for poise and confidence. You are no longer living in a mysterious, threatening universe. You can sing, “This is my Father’s world!”

离开上帝的旨意，生命是奥秘。当你知道耶稣基督是你的救主，并努力遵行祂的旨意时，生活才开始变得有意义。甚至你周围的物理世界也有了新的意义。你的生活简单和一致，可以使你保持镇定和自信。你不再生活在神秘裡、在充满威胁的宇宙中。你可以唱：“这是天父世界！”

 

The uncertainty of life (v. 14a). This statement is based on Proverbs 27:1—“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” These businessmen were making plans for a whole year when they could not even see ahead into one day! See how confident they were: “We will go. We will stay a year. We will buy and sell and make a profit.”

生命的不确定性（第 14 节）。这句话是基于箴言 27篇1節 —“不要为明天自夸；因为一日要生什么，你不晓得。”这些商人谋划了整整一年，甚至一天能發生什麼都看不到！看看他们有多自信：“我们要去。在那裡将停留一年。我们将买卖并获利。”

 

Their attitude reminds us of the farmer in the parable of Jesus in Luke 12:16–21. The man had a bumper crop; his barns were too small; so he decided to build bigger barns and have greater security for the future. “And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry’” (Luke 12:19).

他们的态度让我们想起路加福音 12章1至21等節 中，耶稣所比喻中的农夫。这人有大丰收；他的谷仓太小；所以他决定建造更大的谷仓，并为未来提供更大的安全保障。 “要对我的灵魂说，‘灵魂哪，你有许多财物积存，可作多年的費用；只管安安逸逸的吃喝快乐吧’”（路加福音 12:19）。

 

What was God’s reply to this man’s boasting? “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Luke 12:20). Life is not uncertain to God, but it is uncertain to us. Only when we are in His will can we be confident of tomorrow, for we know that He is leading us.

上帝对这人的夸口如何回应？ “你这傻瓜，今夜我要你的灵魂”（路加福音 12:20）。生命由上帝掌管，但对我们来说是不知數。只有在祂的旨意中，我们才能对明天充满信心，因为我们知道祂在带领。

 

The brevity of life (v. 14b). This is one of the repeated themes of Scripture. To us, life seems long and we measure it in years, but in comparison to eternity, life is but a vapor. James borrowed that figure from the book of Job where you find many pictures of the brevity of life.

生命的短暂（14 下半节）。这是圣经反复出现的主题之一。对我们来说，生命似乎很长，我们以年为单位来衡量，但与永恒相比，生命不过是一团雲雾。雅各从约伯记中借用了这个数字，在那卷書中你可以找到许多关于生命短暂的畫面。

 

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle” (Job 7:6). “The cloud is consumed and vanisheth away” (Job 7:9). “Our days upon earth are a shadow” (Job 8:9). “Now my days are swifter than a post” (Job 9:25), referring to the royal couriers that hastened in their missions. “They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey” (Job 9:26). “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not” (Job 14:1–2).

“我的日子快过织布机的梭子”（约伯记  7：6）。 “有如云彩般消散而去”（約伯記 7:9）。 “我们在地上的日子是影儿”（约伯记  8：9）。 “现在我的日子比送信息的还快”（約伯記   9:25），指的是為國王送信的特使。 “他们消逝如快船，如飞翔的鹰”（约伯记  9:26）。 “人為婦人所生，日子短少，多有患難。出来如花，又被割下；飞去如影，不能存留”（约伯记 14：1-2）。

 

We count our years at each birthday, but God tells us to number our days (Ps. 90:12). After all, we live a day at a time, and those days rush by more quickly the older we grow.

在每个生日我们数自己的年数，但上帝告诉我们要数算自己的日子（诗篇 90:12）。毕竟，我们一天过一天，随着年龄的增长，日子过得越快。

 

Since life is so brief, we cannot afford merely to “spend our lives,” and we certainly do not want to “waste our lives.” We must invest our lives in those things that are eternal.

生命如此短暂，我们不能仅仅“只渡过生命”，当然不想“浪费我们的生命”。必须将我们的生命投入到那些永恒的事物上。

 

God reveals His will in His Word, and yet most people ignore the Bible. In the Bible, God gives precepts, principles, and promises that can guide us in every area of life. Knowing and obeying the Word of God is the surest way to success (Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:3).

上帝在祂的话语中揭示了祂的旨意，但大多数人忽视了圣经。在圣经中，上帝给出了可以在生活的各个方面指导我们的戒律、原则和应许。了解并遵守上帝的话语是成功的最可靠途径（约书亚记 1:8；诗篇 1:3）。

 

The frailty of man (v. 16). “As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil” (niv). Man’s boasting only covers up man’s weakness. “Man proposes but God disposes,” wrote Thomas à Kempis. Solomon said it first: “The lot is cast into the lap: but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord” (Prov. 16:33). Man cannot control future events. He has neither the wisdom to see the future nor the power to control the future. For him to boast is sin; it is making himself God.

人的软弱（第 16 节）。 “事实上，你誇口和吹嘘。所有这样的誇口都是邪恶的”（新國際版）。人的吹嘘只能掩盖人的软弱。多馬 · 坎皮斯(Thomas à Kempis)写道，“人提出建议，但上帝來处理。”所罗门早就先说過，“簽放在怀里，定事是出於主”（箴言  16:33）。人无法控制未来的事件。他既没有预见未来的智慧，也没有掌控未来的力量。他夸口是罪；它使自己成为上帝。

 

How foolish it is for people to ignore the will of God. It is like going through the dark jungles without a map, or over the stormy seas without a compass. When we visited Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, I was impressed with the maze of tunnels and the dense darkness when the lights were turned off. When we got to the “Pulpit Rock,” the man in charge of the tour gave a five-word sermon from it: “Stay close to your guide.” Good counsel indeed!

人们忽视上帝的旨意是多么愚蠢。这就像没有地图穿越黑暗的森林，或者没有指南针穿越波涛汹涌的大海。当我们参观肯塔基州的馬猛(Mammoth)岩洞时，迷宫般的隧道和关灯後的浓密黑暗给我留下了深刻的印象。当我们到达“講道岩石(Pulpit Rock)”时，導游的人用它做了五个字的講道，“靠近你的響导。”确实是好忠告！

 

2.  Disobeying God’s Will (4:17)

2.  违背上帝的旨意（4:17）

 

These people know the will of God but choose to disobey it. This attitude expresses even more pride than does the first; for the person says to God, “I know what You want me to do, but I prefer not to do it. I really know more about this than You do!” “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them” (2 Peter 2:21).

这些人知道上帝的旨意，但他們选择不順服。这种心态比第一种表现出更多的自傲；因为这人对上帝说，“我知道祢要我做什么，但我宁愿不去做。我真的比祢更了解这件事！” “他们曉得义路，竟背棄傳給他們的神圣诫命，倒不如不曉得為妙”（彼得后书 2:21）。

 

Why do people who know the will of God deliberately disobey it? I have already suggested one reason: pride. Man likes to boast that he is the “master of his fate, the captain of his soul.” Man has accomplished so many marvelous things that he thinks he can do anything.

为什么知道上帝旨意的人会故意违抗祂呢？ 我已经提出了一个原因：就是因為骄傲。人喜欢吹嘘自己是“命运的主人，灵魂的船长”。人已经完成了许多奇妙的事情，以至于他认为他可以做任何事情。

 

Another reason is man’s ignorance of the nature of God’s will. He acts as though the will of God is something he can accept or reject. In reality, the will of God is not an option; it is an obligation. We cannot “take it or leave it.” Because He is the Creator and we are the creatures, we must obey Him. Because He is the Savior and Lord, and we are His children and servants, we must obey Him. To treat the will of God lightly is to invite the chastening of God in our lives.

另一个原因是人对上帝旨意的本质一无所知。他表现得好像上帝的旨意是他可以接受或拒绝的。事实上，上帝的旨意不能选择；这是一项义务。我们不能選擇“接受或离开它”。因为祂是创造者，我们是受造物，所以我们必须服从祂。因为祂是救主和主，我们是祂的孩子和仆人，我们必须服从上帝。轻视祂旨意就是邀请上帝來管教我们的生活。

 

Many people have the mistaken idea that the will of God is a formula for misery. Just the opposite is true! It is disobeying the Lord’s will that leads to misery. The Bible and human experience are both witnesses to this truth. And even if a disobedient Christian seems to escape difficulty in this life, what will he say when he faces the Lord? “And that servant which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes” (Luke 12:47–48).

许多人错误地认为上帝的旨意是痛苦的樣式。恰恰相反！不顺从主旨意导會導致痛苦。圣经和人的经历都為這真理作见证。即使是不顺服的基督徒在今生似乎逃脱了困难，当他到天堂面对主时，祂会说什么？ “那仆人知道他主人的意思，没有准备好，也没有按照他的意愿行事，将受鞭打。惟有不知道而行了，该受鞭刑的，必鞭打得少些”（路加福音 12：47-48）。

 

What happens to Christians who deliberately disobey the known will of God? They are chastened by their loving Father until they submit (Heb. 12:5–11). If a professed believer is not chastened, it is evidence that he has never truly been born again but is a counterfeit. God’s chastening is an evidence of His love, not His hatred. Just as we earthly fathers spank our children to help them respect our will and obey, so our heavenly Father chastens His own. Though chastening is hard to take, it has a comforting truth of sonship with it.

已知上帝旨意而故意违背的基督徒会怎样？ 他们將要受慈爱的天父管教，直到他们顺服祂为止（希伯來   12：5-11）。如果自称为信徒的人没有受到管教，那就证明他从未真正重生过，而是冒牌货。上帝的管教是祂爱的证据，而不是祂的仇恨。正如我们地上的父亲打他們的孩子，帮助孩子尊重我們的意愿和順服，我们的天父也会管教祂自己的孩子。虽然管教當時很难接受，但它有令人欣慰的儿子身份的真理在裡面。

 

But there is also the danger of losing heavenly rewards. In 1 Corinthians 9:24–27, Paul compared the believer to a runner in the Greek races. In order to qualify for a crown, he had to obey the rules of the game. If any contestant was found to have disobeyed the rules, he was disqualified and humiliated. The word castaway in 1 Corinthians 9:27 does not refer to the loss of salvation, but the loss of reward. “Disqualified” would be a good translation.

但也有失去天上奖赏的危险。在哥林多前书 9章24至27等節 中，保罗将信徒比作希腊運動會競赛中的赛跑者。为了获得冠军，他必须遵守游戏规则。如果发现任何参赛者违反规则，他将被取消资格并受到羞辱。哥林多前书 9 章 27 节中的弃绝一词不是指失去救恩，而是指失去奖赏。 “取消资格”将是很好的翻译。

 

Disobeying God’s will today may not seem a serious thing, but it will appear very serious when the Lord returns and examines our works (Col. 3:22–25).

违背上帝旨意在今天看来并不严重，但当主再来察看我们的行事为人时，就显得很严重了（歌羅西書   3:22-25）。

 

3.  Obeying God’s Will (4:15)

3.  顺服上帝的旨意（4:15）

 

“If the Lord will” is not just a statement on a believer’s lips: it is the constant attitude of his heart. “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34). Often in his letters, Paul referred to the will of God as he shared his plans with his friends (Rom. 1:10; 15:32; 1 Cor. 4:19; 16:7). Paul did not consider the will of God a chain that shackled him; rather, it was a key that opened doors and set him free. 暫停

“如果主愿意”不只是信徒嘴上的陈述：而是他内心始终如一的态度。 “我的食物，”耶稣说，“就是遵行差我来者的旨意，完成他的工作”（约翰福音 4:34）。保罗经常在他的书信中，在与朋友分享他的计划时提到上帝的旨意（罗马书 1:10；15:32；林前书 4:19；16:7）。保罗不认为上帝的旨意是束缚他的锁链；相反，这是一把打开门并让他自由的钥匙。

 

Everything in this universe operates according to laws. If we cooperate with these laws and obey them, then the universe works with us. But if we fight these laws and disobey them, the universe will work against us. For example, certain laws govern flight. The engineer who obeys those laws in designing and building the plane and the pilot who obeys those laws in flying the plane will both have the joy of seeing the great machine operate perfectly. But if they disobey the basic laws that govern flight, the result will be a crash and the loss of life and money.

这个宇宙中的一切都是有规律的。如果我们与这些定律合作并遵守它们，那么宇宙就会与我们合作。但是，如果我们与这些定律作斗争并违反它们，宇宙就会与我们作对。例如，某些法律管辖飞行。在设计和制造飞机时遵守这些定律的工程师和在驾驶飞机时遵守这些定律的飞行员都会看到伟大的机器完美运行。但是，如果他们不遵守管理飞行的基本法则，结果将是坠机以及生命和金钱的损失。

 

God’s will for our lives is comparable to the laws He has built within the universe, with this exception: those laws are general, but the will He has planned for our lives is specifically designed for us. No two lives are planned according to the same pattern.

上帝对我们生命的旨意可与他在宇宙中建立的法则相媲美，但有一个例外：这些法则是普遍的，但他为我们的生命计划的旨意是专门为我们设计的。没有两种生活是按照相同的模式规划的。

 

To be sure, there are some things that must be true of all Christians. It is God’s will that we yield ourselves to Him (2 Cor. 8:5). It is God’s will that we avoid sexual immorality (1 Thess. 4:3). All Christians should rejoice, pray, and thank God (1 Thess. 5:16–18). Every commandment in the Bible addressed to believers is part of the will of God and must be obeyed. But God does not call each of us to the same work in life, or to exercise the same gifts and ministry. The will of God is “tailor-made” for each of us!

诚然，有些事情必须适用于所有基督徒。我们将自己顺服于他是上帝的旨意（2 Cor. 8:5）。我们要避免淫乱，这是上帝的旨意（帖前 4:3）。所有基督徒都应该喜乐、祈祷并感谢上帝（帖前 5：16-18）。圣经中给信徒的每一条诫命都是上帝旨意的一部分，必须遵守。但上帝并没有呼召我们每个人在生活中从事同样的工作，或运用同样的恩赐和事工。上帝的旨意是为我们每个人“量身定做”的！

 

It is important that we have the right attitude toward the will of God. Some people think God’s will is a cold, impersonal machine. God starts it going and it is up to us to keep it functioning smoothly. If we disobey Him in some way, the machine grinds to a halt, and we are out of God’s will for the rest of our lives.

重要的是我们对上帝的旨意有正确的态度。有些人认为上帝的旨意是一个冷酷的、没有人情味的机器。上帝开始了它，我们有责任让它顺利运行。如果我们以某种方式不服从他，机器就会停止运转，我们将在余生中脱离上帝的旨意。

 

God’s will is not a cold, impersonal machine. You do not determine God’s will in some mechanical way, like getting a soft drink out of a vending machine. The will of God is a living relationship between God and the believer. This relationship is not destroyed when the believer disobeys, for the Father still deals with His child, even if He must chasten.

上帝的旨意不是冷酷的、没有人情味的机器。你不会以某种机械的方式决定上帝的旨意，就像从自动售货机里拿出软饮料一样。神的旨意是神与信徒之间活泼的关系。当信徒不顺服时，这种关系不会被破坏，因为父仍然对待他的孩子，即使他必须管教。

 

Rather than looking at the will of God as a cold, impersonal machine, I prefer to see it as a warm, growing, living body. If something goes wrong with my body, I don’t die: the other parts of the body compensate for it until I get that organ working properly again. There is pain; there is also weakness; but there is not necessarily death.

与其把上帝的旨意看成一个冷酷的、没有人情味的机器，我更愿意把它看成一个温暖的、不断成长的、有生命力的身体。如果我的身体出了问题，我不会死：身体的其他部分会补偿它，直到我让那个器官再次正常工作。有疼痛；也有弱点；但不一定有死亡。

 

When you and I get out of God’s will, it is not the end of everything. We suffer, to be sure, but when God cannot rule, He overrules. Just as the body compensates for the malfunctioning of one part, so God adjusts things to bring us back into His will. You see this illustrated clearly in the lives of Abraham and Jonah.

当你我脱离神的旨意时，并不是一切的结束。诚然，我们受苦，但当上帝不能统治时，他会否决。正如身体可以弥补某一部分的故障一样，上帝也会调整事物，使我们重新回到他的旨意中。你可以在亚伯拉罕和约拿的生活中清楚地看到这一点。

 

The believer’s relationship to the will of God is a growing experience. First, we should know His will (Acts 22:14). The will of God is not difficult to discover. If we are willing to obey, He is willing to reveal (John 7:17). It has been said that “obedience is the organ of spiritual knowledge.” This is true. God does not reveal His will to the curious or the careless, but to those who are ready and willing to obey Him.

信徒与神旨意的关系是一种成长的经历。首先，我们应该知道他的旨意（使徒行传 22:14）。神的旨意并不难发现。如果我们愿意顺服，他愿意启示（约翰福音 7:17）。有人说“服从是属灵知识的器官”。这是真的。上帝不会向好奇的人或粗心的人启示他的旨意，而是向那些准备好并愿意顺服他的人启示他的旨意。

 

But we must not stop with merely knowing some of God’s will. God wants us to be “filled with the knowledge of his will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9). It is wrong to want to know God’s will about some matters and ignore His will in other matters. Everything in our lives is important to God, and He has a plan for each detail.

但我们不能仅仅停留在知道神的一些旨意上。上帝希望我们“满心知道他的旨意，并一切智慧和属灵的悟性”（西1:9）。在某些事情上想知道神的旨意而在其他事情上忽略神的旨意是错误的。我们生活中的每一件事对上帝来说都很重要，他对每一个细节都有一个计划。

 

God wants us to understand His will (Eph. 5:17). This is where spiritual wisdom comes in. A child can know the will of his father, but he may not understand his will. The child knows the “what” but not the “why.” As the “friends” of Jesus Christ, we have the privilege of knowing why God does what He does (John 15:15). “He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel” (Ps. 103:7). The Israelites knew what God was doing, but Moses understood why He was doing it.

上帝希望我们明白他的旨意（弗 5:17）。这就是灵性智慧的用武之地。孩子可以知道父亲的意愿，但他可能不了解他的意愿。孩子知道“是什么”，但不知道“为什么”。作为耶稣基督的“朋友”，我们有幸知道上帝为什么这样做（约翰福音 15:15）。 “他将他的道路告诉摩西，将他的作为告诉以色列人”（诗篇 103:7）。以色列人知道上帝在做什么，但摩西明白他为什么这样做。

 

We must also prove God’s will (Rom. 12:2). The Greek verb means “to prove by experience.” We learn to determine the will of God by working at it. The more we obey, the easier it is to discover what God wants us to do. It is something like learning to swim or play a musical instrument. You eventually “get the feel” of what you are doing, and it becomes second nature to you.

我们还必须证明上帝的旨意（罗马书 12:2）。希腊语动词的意思是“凭经验证明”。我们学习通过努力来确定上帝的旨意。我们越顺服，就越容易发现神要我们做什么。这有点像学习游泳或演奏乐器。你最终会“感觉到”你在做什么，这成为你的第二天性。

 

People who keep asking, “How do I determine God’s will for my life?” may be announcing to every[1]body that they have never really tried to do God’s will. You start with the thing you know you ought to do, and you do that. Then God opens the way for the next step. You prove by experience what the will of God is. We learn both from successes and failures. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me” (Matt. 11:29). The yoke suggests doing things together, putting into practice what God has taught you.

人们不断问：“我如何确定上帝对我生命的旨意？”可能是在向每个人宣布他们从未真正尝试过遵行上帝的旨意。你从你知道你应该做的事情开始，然后你就去做了。然后上帝为下一步开路。你用经验证明上帝的旨意是什么。我们从成功和失败中学习。 “当负我的轭，向我学习”（马太福音 11:29）。轭建议一起做事，把上帝教给你的东西付诸实践。

 

Finally, we must do God’s will from the heart (Eph. 6:6). Jonah knew the will of God, and (after a spanking) did the will of God, but he did not do it from his heart. Jonah 4 indicates that the angry prophet did not love the Lord, nor did he love the people of Nineveh. He merely did God’s will to keep from getting another spanking!

最后，我们必须从心里遵行上帝的旨意（弗 6:6）。约拿知道神的旨意，并且（在被打了一顿之后）遵行了神的旨意，但他并没有发自内心地这样做。约拿书 4 表明愤怒的先知不爱耶和华，也不爱尼尼微人。他只是遵照上帝的旨意，免得再挨一巴掌！

 

What Paul said about giving can also be applied to living: “not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). Grudgingly means “reluctantly, painfully.” They get absolutely no joy out of doing God’s will. Of necessity means “under compulsion.” These people obey because they have to, not because they want to. Their heart is not in it.

保罗关于给予的说法也适用于生活：“不是勉强，也不是必须的，因为上帝喜欢乐于奉献的人”（林后 9:7）。勉强的意思是“不情愿地，痛苦地”。他们绝对不会从遵行上帝的旨意中得到快乐。必然的意思是“被迫”。这些人服从是因为他们必须这样做，而不是因为他们想这样做。他们的心不在里面。

 

The secret of a happy life is to delight in duty. When duty becomes delight, then burdens become blessings. “Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage” (Ps. 119:54). When we love God, then His statutes become songs, and we enjoy serving Him. When we serve God grudgingly, or because we have to, we may accomplish His work but we ourselves will miss the blessing. It will be toil, not ministry. But when we do God’s will from the heart, we are enriched, no matter how difficult the task might have been.

幸福生活的秘诀在于乐于履行职责。当责任变成快乐，负担变成祝福。 “你的律例一直是我朝圣之家的诗歌”（诗篇 119:54）。当我们爱神时，他的律例就会变成歌曲，我们就喜欢事奉他。当我们不情愿地事奉神时，或者因为我们不得不这样做，我们可能会完成他的工作，但我们自己会错过祝福。这将是辛劳，而不是事工。但是，当我们发自内心地遵行上帝的旨意时，无论任务多么艰巨，我们都会变得充实。

 

We must never think that a failure in knowing or doing God’s will permanently affects our relationship with the Lord. We can confess our sins and receive His forgiveness (1 John 1:9). We can learn from the mistakes. The important thing is a heart that loves God and wants sincerely to do His will and glorify His name.

我们绝不能认为不知道或不遵行神的旨意会永久影响我们与主的关系。我们可以承认我们的罪并接受他的宽恕（约翰一书 1：9）。我们可以从错误中吸取教训。重要的是一颗爱神的心，真诚地愿意遵行他的旨意，荣耀他的名。

 

What are the benefits of doing the will of God? For one thing, you enjoy a deeper fellowship with Jesus Christ (Mark 3:35). You have the privilege of knowing God’s truth (John 7:17) and seeing your prayers answered (1 John 5:14–15). There is an eternal quality to the life and works of the one who does the will of God (1 John 2:15–17). Certainly, there is the expectation of reward at the return of Jesus Christ (Matt. 25:34).

遵行神的旨意有什么好处？一方面，你享受与耶稣基督更深的团契（马可福音 3:35）。你有幸知道上帝的真理（约翰福音 7:17）并看到你的祷告得到回应（约翰一书 5:14-15）。遵行上帝旨意的人的生活和行为具有永恒的品质（约翰一书 2：15-17）。当然，人们期待耶稣基督再来时得到奖赏（马太福音 25:34）。

 

Which of these three attitudes do you have toward the will of God? Do you totally ignore God’s will as you make your daily plans and decisions? Or, do you know God’s will and yet refuse to obey it? Each attitude is wrong and can only bring sorrow and ruin to the life of the person who holds it.

对于神的旨意，你有这三种态度中的哪一种？您在制定日常计划和决定时是否完全无视上帝的旨意？或者，你知道神的旨意却拒绝顺服吗？每一种态度都是错误的，只能给持有它的人的生活带来悲伤和毁灭。

 

But the Christian who knows, loves, and obeys the will of God will enjoy God’s blessing. His life may not be easier, but it will be holier and happier. His very food will be the will of God (John 4:34);  it will be the joy and delight of his heart (Ps. 40:8).

但知道、热爱并顺从神旨意的基督徒，就会享受神的祝福。他的生活可能不会更轻松，但会更圣洁、更快乐。他的食物就是神的旨意（约翰福音 4:34）；这将是他心中的喜乐（诗篇 40:8）。

 

 

感謝上帝。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER TWELVE           HE POWER OF PATIENCE             James 5:7–12

第十二章                               忍耐的力量                                          雅各書 5:7-12

 

James was still addressing the suffering saints when he wrote, “Be patient.” This was his counsel at the beginning of his letter (James 1:1–5), and his counsel as his letter came to a close. God is not going to right all the wrongs in this world until Jesus Christ returns, and we believers must patiently endure—and expect.

雅各寫道：“要有耐心”時，他仍在對受苦的聖徒講話。這是他在書信開頭的忠告（雅各書 1：1-5），也是他在書信結束時的忠告。在耶穌基督回來之前，上帝不會糾正這個世界上所有的錯誤，我們信徒必須耐心地忍受——並期待。

 

Three times James reminded us of the coming of the Lord (James 5:7–9). This is the “blessed hope” of the Christian (Titus 2:13). We do not expect to have everything easy and comfortable in this present life. “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul reminded his converts that “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). We must patiently endure hardships and heartaches until Jesus returns.

雅各三次提醒我們主的來臨（雅各書 5：7-9）。這是基督徒“有福的盼望”（提多書 2:13）。在今生，我們不期望一切都變得輕鬆舒適。 “你們在世上有苦難”（約翰福音 16:33）。保羅提醒他的信徒，“我們必須經過許多患難才能進神的國”（使徒行傳 14:22）。我們必須耐心忍受苦難和心痛，直到耶穌再來。

 

James used two different words for patience. In James 5:7–8, 10 it was the word long-tempered. The words endure and patience in James 5:11 literally mean “to remain under” and speak of endurance under great stress. Patience means “to stay put and stand fast when you’d like to run away.” Many Greek scholars think that “longsuffering” refers to patience with respect to persons, while “endurance” refers to patience with respect to conditions or situations.

詹姆斯用了兩個不同的詞來形容耐心。在雅各書 5：7-8、10 中，這個詞是脾氣暴躁的。雅各書 5 章 11 節中的忍耐和忍耐的字面意思是“留在下面”，是指在巨大壓力下的忍耐。耐心的意思是“當你想逃跑時保持原地不動。”許多希臘學者認為，“longsuffering”是指對人的忍耐，而“忍耐”是指對條件或情況的忍耐。

 

But the question we must answer is How can we as Christians experience this kind of patient endurance as we wait for the Lord to return? To answer that question (and need), James gave three encouraging examples of patient endurance.

但我們必須回答的問題是，我們作為基督徒，在等候主再來的過程中，如何經歷這種忍耐呢？為了回答這個問題（和需要），詹姆斯舉了三個令人鼓舞的耐心忍耐的例子。

 

1.  The Farmer (5:7–9)

1. 農夫（5:7-9）

 

If a man is impatient, then he had better not become a farmer. No crop appears overnight (except perhaps a crop of weeds), and no farmer has control over the weather. Too much rain can cause the crop to rot, and too much sun can burn it up. An early frost can kill the crop. How longsuffering the farmer must be with the weather!

如果一個人沒有耐心，那麼他最好不要成為一個農民。沒有作物在一夜之間出現（可能除了雜草作物），而且沒有農民可以控制天氣。過多的雨水會導致作物腐爛，而過多的陽光則會將其燒毀。早霜會殺死莊稼。農夫必須忍受天氣的折磨！

 

He must also have patience with the seed and the crop, for it takes time for plants to grow. Jewish farmers would plow and sow in what to us are the autumn months. The “early rain” would soften the soil. The “latter rain” would come in the early spring (our February-March) and help to mature the harvest. The farmer had to wait many weeks for his seed to produce fruit.

他還必須對種子和莊稼有耐心，因為植物生長需要時間。猶太農民會在對我們來說是秋天的月份裡耕種和播種。 “早雨”會軟化土壤。 “晚雨”將在早春（我們的 2 月至 3 月）到來，有助於收成成熟。農民不得不等待數週的時間，他的種子才能結出果實。

 

Why did he willingly wait so long? Because the fruit is “precious” (James 5:7). The harvest is worth waiting for. “to due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9). “For the earth produces crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come” (Mark 4:28–29 nasb).

為什麼他願意等這麼久？因為果實是“寶貴的”（雅各書 5：7）。收穫值得等待。 “我們若不灰心，到了時候就要收成”（加拉太書 6:9）。 “因為地自產莊稼；首先是刀片，然後是頭部，然後是頭部成熟的穀物。但等莊稼長好，他就立刻收割鐮刀，因為莊稼已經到了”（馬可福音 4:28-29 nasb）。

 

James pictured the Christian as a “spiritual farmer” looking for a spiritual harvest. “Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts” (James 5:8). Our hearts are the soil, and the “seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). There are seasons to the spiritual life just as there are seasons to the soil. Sometimes, our hearts become cold and “wintry,” and the Lord has to “plow them up” before He can plant the seed (Jer. 4:3). He sends the sunshine and the rains of His goodness to water and nurture the seeds planted, but we must be patient to wait for the harvest.

雅各把基督徒描繪成一個尋找屬靈收穫的“屬靈農夫”。 “你們也要忍耐，堅固你們的心”（雅各書 5：8）。我們的心就是土壤，“種子就是神的道”（路加福音 8:11）。精神生活也有季節，正如土壤也有季節。有時，我們的心會變得冰冷和“寒冷”，主必須先“耕種”，然後才能種下種子（耶 4:3）。祂用祂良善的陽光和雨水來澆灌和培育種下的種子，但我們必須耐心等待收穫。

 

Here, then, is a secret of endurance when the going is tough: God is producing a harvest in our lives. He wants the “fruit of the Spirit” to grow (Gal. 5:22–23), and the only way He can do it is through trials and troubles. Instead of growing impatient with God and with ourselves, we must yield to the Lord and permit the fruit to grow. We are “spiritual farmers” looking for a harvest.

那麼，這就是艱難時忍耐的秘訣：上帝正在我們的生活中收穫。他希望“聖靈的果子”成長（加拉太書 5:22-23），而他唯一能做到的方法就是通過試煉和困難。與其對神和對自己不耐煩，我們必須順服主，讓果實生長。我們是尋找收穫的“精神農民”。

 

You can enjoy this kind of a harvest only if your heart is established (James 5:8). One of the purposes of the spiritual ministry of the local church is to establish the heart (Rom. 1:11). Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica to establish the young Christians in their faith (1 Thess. 3:1–3), and Paul also prayed for them that they might be established (1 Thess. 3:10–13). The ministry of the Word of God and prayer are important if the heart is going to be established. A heart that is not established cannot bear fruit.

只有你的心堅定，你才能享受這種收穫（雅各書 5:8）。地方教會屬靈事工的目的之一是建立人心（羅馬書 1:11）。保羅派提摩太去帖撒羅尼迦建立年輕基督徒的信仰（帖前 3:1-3），保羅也為他們祈禱，使他們得以建立（帖前 3:10-13）。如果要建立心，神的話語和禱告的事工就很重要。一顆沒有立定的心，就不能結果子。

 

Keep in mind that the farmer does not stand around doing nothing: he is constantly at work as he looks toward the harvest. James did not tell these suffering believers to put on white robes, climb a hill, and wait for Jesus to return. “Keep working and waiting” was his admonition. “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (Luke 12:43).

請記住，農民不會無所事事：他一直在工作，看著收穫。雅各並沒有告訴這些受苦的信徒穿上白袍，爬山，等耶穌再來。 “繼續工作和等待”是他的告誡。 “那僕人有福了，他的主人來，見他這樣行”（路加福音 12:43）。

 

Nor does the farmer get into fights with his neighbors. One of the usual marks of farmers is their willingness to help one another. Nobody on the farm has time or energy for disputes with the neighbors. James must have had this in mind when he added, “Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged” (James 5:9 niv). Impatience with God often leads to impatience with God’s people, and this is a sin we must avoid. If we start using the sickles on each other, we will miss the harvest!

農夫也不與鄰居打架。農民的常見標誌之一是他們願意互相幫助。農場裡沒有人有時間或精力與鄰居發生爭執。詹姆斯補充說：“弟兄們，不要互相發怨言，否則你們會被審判”（雅各書 5:9 niv）時，他一定想到了這一點。對神不耐煩往往會導致對神的子民不耐煩，這是我們必須避免的罪。如果我們開始互相使用鐮刀，我們將錯過收穫！

 

2.  The Prophets (5:10)

2. 先知 (5:10)

 

A Jewish congregation would understand this simple reference that James made to the Old Testament prophets. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also used the prophets as an example of victory over persecution (Matt. 5:10–12). What encouragements do we receive from their example?

猶太會眾會理解雅各對舊約先知的簡單提及。在登山寶訓中，耶穌還使用先知作為戰勝迫害的例子（馬太福音 5：10-12）。我們從他們的榜樣中得到什麼鼓勵？

 

For one thing, they were in the will of God, yet they suffered. They were preaching “in the name of the Lord,” yet they were persecuted. Satan tells the faithful Christian that his suffering is the result of sin or unfaithfulness, and yet his suffering might well be because of faithfulness! “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12). We must never think that obedience automatically produces ease and pleasure. Our Lord was obedient, and it led to a cross!

一方面，他們在上帝的旨意中，但他們受苦。他們“奉主的名”傳道，卻遭到逼迫。撒旦告訴忠心的基督徒，他的痛苦是罪或不忠的結果，但他的痛苦很可能是因為忠心！ “是的，凡在基督耶穌裡敬虔度日的人都將遭受迫害”（提後書 3:12）。我們絕不能認為順服會自動產生輕鬆和快樂。我們的主順服了，它導致了十字架！

 

The prophets encourage us by reminding us that God cares for us when we go through sufferings for His sake. Elijah announced to wicked King Ahab that there would be a drought in the land for three and one-half years, and Elijah himself had to suffer in that drought. But God cared for him, and God gave him victory over the evil priests of Baal. It has been said, “The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.”

先知通過提醒我們，當我們為祂的緣故經歷苦難時，祂會關心我們，以此來鼓勵我們。以利亞向邪惡的亞哈王宣布，這地將有三年半的旱災，以利亞本人也必須在旱災中受苦。但是上帝關心他，上帝使他戰勝了邪惡的巴力祭司。有人說：“上帝的旨意永遠不會把你帶到上帝的恩典不能保守你的地方。”

 

Many of the prophets had to endure great trials and sufferings, not only at the hands of unbelievers, but at the hands of professed believers. Jeremiah was arrested as a traitor and even thrown into an abandoned well to die. God fed Jeremiah and protected him throughout that terrible siege of Jerusalem, even though at times it looked as though the prophet was going to be killed. Both Ezekiel and Daniel had their share of hardships, but the Lord delivered them. And even those who were not delivered, who died for the faith, received that special reward for those who are true to Him.

許多先知不得不忍受巨大的試煉和苦難，不僅在不信者的手中，也在自稱是信徒的手中。耶利米作為叛徒被捕，甚至被扔進廢棄的井裡等死。上帝在耶路撒冷被可怕的圍困期間餵養耶利米並保護他，儘管有時看起來先知好像要被殺了。以西結和但以理都有他們的苦難，但主拯救了他們。甚至那些沒有被釋放，為信仰而死的人，也為那些忠於祂的人獲得了特別的獎賞。

 

Why is it that those who “speak in the name of the Lord” often must endure difficult trials? It is so that 883 James 5 their lives might back up their messages. The impact of a faithful, godly life carries much power. We need to remind ourselves that our patience in times of suffering is a testimony to others around us.

But have not many faithful Christians suffered and died without any notice or recognition? Yes, but when Jesus returns, these “obscure heroes” will receive their rewards. The prophets were killed and buried, but today their names are honored. When our Lord comes again, He will bring His reward with Him (Rev. 22:12).

為什麼那些“奉主名說話”的人常常要經受艱難的試煉？ 883 James 5 他們的生活可能會支持他們的信息。忠心敬虔的生活所產生的影響力很大。我們需要提醒自己，我們在苦難中的耐心是對周圍其他人的見證。

但是，不是有許多忠心的基督徒在沒有任何通知或承認的情況下受苦和死亡嗎？是的，但是當耶穌回來時，這些“無名英雄”會得到他們的獎賞。先知被殺和埋葬，但今天他們的名字受到尊重。當我們的主再來時，他會帶來他的獎賞（啟示錄 22:12）。

 

This example that James used from the Old Testament prophets ought to encourage us to spend more time in the Bible, getting acquainted with these heroes of faith. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4 niv). The better we know the Bible, the more God can encourage us in the difficult experiences of life. The important thing is that, like the farmer, we keep working, and, like the prophets, we keep witnessing, no matter how trying the circum[1]stances may be.

雅各從舊約先知中使用的這個例子應該鼓勵我們花更多的時間在聖經上，熟悉這些信仰英雄。 “因為從前所寫的一切都是為了教訓我們，叫我們藉著忍耐和聖經的鼓勵，可以有盼望”（羅馬書 15:4 niv）。我們越了解聖經，上帝就越能在艱難的生活經歷中鼓勵我們。重要的是，無論環境多麼艱難，我們都像農民一樣繼續工作，並且像先知一樣，我們繼續見證。

 

2.  Job (5:11–12)

2. 約伯（5:11-12）

 

“As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered” (James 5:11 niv). But you cannot persevere unless there is a trial in your life. There can be no victories without battles; there can be no peaks without valleys. If you want the blessing, you must be prepared to carry the burden and fight the battle.

“如你所知，我們認為堅持的人有福了”（雅各書 5:11 niv）。但除非你的生活有試煉，否則你無法堅持下去。沒有戰鬥就沒有勝利；沒有谷就沒有高峰。如果你想要祝福，你必須準備好背負重擔，去戰鬥。

 

I once heard a young Christian pray, “O Lord, please teach me the deep truths of Thy Word! I want to be lifted up to the heavens to hear and see the wonderful things that are there!” It was a sincere prayer, but the young man did not realize what he was praying. Paul went to the third heaven and learned things too marvelous for words, and as a result, God had to give Paul a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble (2 Cor. 12:1–10). God has to balance privileges with responsibilities, blessings with burdens, or else you and I will become spoiled, pampered children.

我曾經聽到一個年輕的基督徒禱告：“主啊，求你教導我你話語的深奧真理！我想被提升到天堂，聽到和看到那裡的美妙事物！”這是一個真誠的祈禱，但年輕人沒有意識到他在祈禱什麼。保羅去了第三層天，學到了難以言喻的奇妙事物，因此，上帝不得不給保羅肉體上的一根刺，使他保持謙卑（林後 12:1-10）。上帝必須平衡特權與責任，祝福與負擔，否則你我都會成為被寵壞、被寵壞的孩子。

 

When do “blessings” come? In the midst of trials we may experience God’s blessings, as did the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace (Dan. 3), but James taught that there is a blessing after we have endured. His example was Job.

“福”什麼時候來？在試煉中，我們可能會經歷上帝的祝福，就像火爐中的三個希伯來孩子一樣（但 3），但雅各教導說，我們忍受之後會有祝福。他的榜樣是約伯。

 

The book of Job is a long book, and the chapters are filled with speeches that, to the Western mind, seem long and tedious. In the first three chapters you have Job’s distress: he loses his wealth, his family (except for his wife, and she told him to commit suicide), and his health. In Job 4–31 we read Job’s defense, as he debates with his three friends and answers their false accusations. Job 38–42 presents Job’s deliverance: first God humbles Job, and then He honors Job and gives him twice as much as he had before.

約伯記是一本很長的書，其中的章節充滿了在西方人看來顯得冗長乏味的演講。在前三章中，你看到了約伯的痛苦：他失去了財富、家庭（除了他的妻子，她讓他自殺）和他的健康。在約伯記 4-31 章，我們讀到約伯的辯護，他與三個朋友辯論並回答他們的誣告。約伯記 38-42 章描述了約伯的拯救：首先神使約伯謙卑，然後他尊重約伯，並給他兩倍於以前的。

 

In studying the experience of Job, it is important to remember that Job did not know what was going on “behind the scenes” between God and Satan. Job’s friends accused him of being a sinner and a hypocrite. “There must be some terrible sin in your life,” they argued, “or God would never have permitted this suffering.” Job disagreed with them and maintained his innocence (but not perfection) during the entire conversation. The friends were wrong: God had no cause against Job (Job 2:3), and in the end, God rebuked the friends for telling lies about Job (Job 42:7).

在研究約伯的經歷時，重要的是要記住約伯不知道上帝與撒旦之間“幕後”發生的事情。約伯的朋友指責他是罪人和偽君子。他們爭辯說：“你的生活中一定有一些可怕的罪過，否則上帝永遠不會允許這種痛苦。”約伯不同意他們的意見，並在整個談話中保持他的清白（但不是完美）。朋友們錯了：上帝沒有理由反對約伯（約伯記 2:3），最後，上帝責備朋友們對約伯說謊（約伯記 42:7）。

 

It is difficult to find a greater example of suffering than Job. Circumstances were against him, for he lost his wealth and his health. He also lost his beloved children. His wife was against him, for she said, “Curse God and die” (Job 2:9). His friends were against him, for they accused him of being a hypocrite, deserving of the judgment of God. And it seemed like God was against him! When Job cried out for answers to his questions, there was no reply from heaven.

很難找到比約伯更能說明受苦的例子。環境對他不利，因為他失去了財富和健康。他也失去了他心愛的孩子。他的妻子反對他，因為她說：“你咒詛上帝，死吧”（伯 2:9）。他的朋友們反對他，因為他們指責他是個偽君子，應該受到上帝的審判。而且好像老天爺在反對他！當約伯呼求他的問題的答案時，天上沒有回應。

 

Yet, Job endured. Satan predicted that Job would get impatient with God and abandon his faith, but that did not happen. It is true that Job questioned God’s will, but Job did not forsake his faith in the Lord. “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless, I will argue my ways before Him” (Job 13:15 nasb). Job was so sure of God’s perfections that he persisted in arguing with Him, even though he did not understand all that God was doing. That is endurance.

然而，約伯忍受了。撒但預言約伯會對上帝失去耐心並放棄他的信仰，但這並沒有發生。誠然，約伯質疑神的旨意，但約伯並沒有放棄對主的信心。 “雖然他殺了我，我仍要仰望他。然而，我要在他面前辯論我的道路”（伯 13:15 nasb）。約伯非常相信神的完美，他堅持與他爭論，儘管他不明白神所做的一切。那就是耐力。

 

God made a covenant with Israel that He would bless them if they would obey His laws (see Deut. 11). This led to the idea that, if you were wealthy and comfortable, you were blessed of God, but if you were suffering and poor, you were cursed of God. Sad to say, many people have that same erroneous idea today. When Jesus said it was difficult for a rich man to enter heaven, the disciples were shocked. “Who then can be saved?” they asked (Matt. 19:23–26). “The rich are especially blessed of God,” they were saying. “If they can’t make it, nobody can!”

上帝與以色列立約，如果他們遵守祂的律法，祂就會祝福他們（見申命記 11）。這導致了這樣的想法，如果你富有和舒適，你會得到上帝的祝福，但如果你受苦和貧窮，你會受到上帝的詛咒。可悲的是，今天很多人都有同樣的錯誤想法。耶穌說財主進天國難，門徒都驚呆了。 “那誰能得救？”他們問（馬太福音 19:23-26）。 “富人特別蒙上帝祝福，”他們說。 “如果他們做不到，誰也做不到！”

 

The book of Job refutes that idea, for Job was a righteous man, and yet he suffered. God found no evil in him, and even Satan could not find any. Job’s friends could not prove their accusations. Job teaches us that God has higher purposes in suffering than the punishing of sin. Job’s experience paved the way for Jesus, the perfect Son of God who suffered, not for His own sins, but for the sins of the world.

约伯记驳斥了这个想法，因为约伯是一个义人，但他还是受了苦。上帝在他身上没有发现任何邪恶，甚至撒旦也找不到任何邪恶。约伯的朋友无法证明他们的指控。约伯教导我们，与惩罚罪相比，上帝在受苦中有更高的目的。约伯的经历为耶稣铺平了道路，耶稣是完美的上帝之子，他不是为自己的罪，而是为世人的罪而受苦。

 

In Job’s case, what was “the end [purpose] of the Lord”? To reveal Himself as full of pity and tender mercy. Certainly, there were other results from Job’s experience, for God never wastes the sufferings of His saints. Job met God in a new and deeper way (Job 42:1–6), and after that, Job received greater blessings from the Lord.

就约伯而言，“耶和华的目的[目的]”是什么？显示自己充满怜悯和温柔的怜悯。当然，约伯的经历还有其他的结果，因为神从不浪费圣徒的苦难。约伯以一种新的、更深入的方式与神相遇（约伯记 42：1-6），之后，约伯从神那里得到了更大的祝福。

 

“But if God is so merciful,” someone may argue,  “why didn’t He protect Job from all that suffering to begin with?” To be sure, there are mysteries to God’s working that our finite minds cannot fathom, but this we know: God was glorified and Job was purified through this difficult experience. If there is nothing to endure, you cannot learn endurance.

“但如果上帝如此仁慈，”有人可能会争辩说，“他为什么不从一开始就保护约伯免受所有苦难？”诚然，神的作工有许多奥秘，我们有限的心思无法测透，但我们知道：神在这艰难的经历中得了荣耀，约伯也得洁净。如果没有什么可以忍受，你就无法学会忍耐。

 

What did Job’s story mean to the believers James wrote to, and what does it mean to us today? It means that some of the trials of life are caused directly by satanic opposition. God permits Satan to try His children, but He always limits the extent of the enemy’s power (Job 1:12; 2:6). When you find yourself in the fire, remember that God keeps His gracious hand on the thermostat! “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

约伯的故事对雅各所写信的信徒有什么意义，对我们今天有什么意义？这意味着生活中的一些考验是由撒旦的反对直接引起的。上帝允许撒旦试探他的儿女，但他总是限制仇敌势力的范围（伯 1:12；2:6）。当你发现自己在火中时，请记住，上帝将祂慈爱的手放在恒温器上！ “但他知道我所走的路；他既试炼了我，我就如金子出来”（约伯记 23:10）。

 

Satan wants us to get impatient with God, for an impatient Christian is a powerful weapon in the devil’s hands. You will recall from our study of James 1 that Moses’ impatience robbed him of a trip to the Holy Land; Abraham’s impatience led to the birth of Ishmael, the enemy of the Jews; and Peter’s impatience almost made him a murderer. When Satan attacks us, it is easy for us to get impatient and run ahead of God and lose God’s blessing as a result.

撒旦希望我们对上帝不耐烦，因为不耐烦的基督徒是魔鬼手中的有力武器。你会从我们对雅各书第 1 章的研究中记得，摩西的不耐烦剥夺了他去圣地旅行的机会；亚伯拉罕的急躁导致了犹太人的敌人以实玛利的诞生；而彼得的不耐烦几乎让他成为了凶手。当撒但攻击我们时，我们很容易不耐烦，跑在神的前面，从而失去神的祝福。

 

What is the answer? “My grace is sufficient for thee” (2 Cor. 12:7–9)! Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a “messenger of Satan.” Paul could have fought it, given up under it, or tried to deny that the thorn existed; but he did not. Instead, he trusted God for the grace he needed, and he turned Satan’s weapon into a tool for the building up of his own spiritual life.

答案是什么？ “我的恩典够你用的”（2 Cor. 12:7-9）！保罗肉体上的刺是“撒但的使者”。保罗本可以与它抗争，在它之下放弃，或者试图否认刺的存在；但他没有。相反，他相信上帝会得到他所需要的恩典，他把撒旦的武器变成了建立自己属灵生命的工具。

 

When you find yourself in the furnace, go to the throne of grace and receive from the Lord all the grace you need to endure (Heb. 4:14–16). Remind yourself that the Lord has a gracious purpose in all of this suffering, and that He will work out His purposes in His time and for His glory. You are not a robot caught in the jaws of fate. You are a loving child of God, privileged to be a part of a wonderful plan. There is a difference!

当你发现自己在熔炉中时，就到施恩宝座前，从主那里接受你需要忍受的所有恩典（希伯来书 4:14-16）。提醒自己，主在所有这些苦难中都有仁慈的旨意，他会在他的时间和荣耀中实现他的旨意。你不是一个被命运夹住的机器人。你是上帝慈爱的孩子，有幸成为美好计划的一部分。它们是有区别的！

 

The exhortation in James 5:12 seems out of place, for what does “speaking oaths” have to do with the problem of suffering? If you have ever suffered, you know the answer: it is easy to say things you do not mean, and even make bargains with God, when you are going through difficulties. Go back to Job for an example. The patriarch said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” (Job 1:21–22). Job did curse the day he was born (Job 3:1ff.), but he never cursed God or spoke with a foolish oath. Neither did he try to bargain with God.

雅各书 5 章 12 节的劝勉似乎不合时宜，因为“发誓”与受苦的问题有什么关系？如果你曾经受过苦，你就会知道答案：当你遇到困难时，很容易说出你的意思，甚至与上帝讨价还价。回到乔布斯举个例子。先祖说：“我赤身出母胎，也必赤身归回。赏赐的是耶和华，收取的也是耶和华；耶和华的名是应当称颂的。在这一切上，约伯没有犯罪，也没有以愚拙的方式责备神”（约伯记 1：21-22）。约伯确实诅咒他出生的那一天（约伯记 3:1ff。），但他从未诅咒上帝或用愚蠢的誓言说话。他也没有试图与上帝讨价还价。

 

Surely James was reminding us of our Lord’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:34–37). The Jews were great ones for using various oaths to back up their statements. They were careful, however, not to use the name of God in their oaths, lest they blaspheme God. So, they would swear by heaven, or earth, or Jerusalem, or even by their own heads! But Jesus taught that it is impossible to avoid God in such oaths. Heaven is His throne, earth is His footstool, and Jerusalem is the “city of the great King.” As for swearing by your head, what good is it? “Thou canst not make one hair black or white” (Matt. 5:36)—or even keep one hair on your head.

毫无疑问，雅各是在提醒我们主在登山宝训中的教导（马太福音 5:34-37）。犹太人是伟大的人，他们使用各种誓言来支持他们的陈述。然而，他们很小心，不要在他们的誓言中使用上帝的名字，以免他们亵渎上帝。所以，他们会以天、地、耶路撒冷，甚至自己的头起誓！但是耶稣教导说，在这样的誓言中是不可能避开上帝的。天是祂的宝座，地是祂的脚凳，耶路撒冷是“大君王的城”。至于用头骂人，有什么好处？ “你不能让一根头发变黑或变白”（马太福音 5:36）——甚至一根头发都不能留在你的头上。

 

It is a basic principle that true Christian character requires few words. The person who must use many words (including oaths) to convince us has some[1]thing wrong with his character and must bolster this weakness by using words. If you are a true Christian, with integrity, then all you have to say is yes or no and people will believe you. Jesus warned us that anything more than this is from the evil one.

真正的基督徒品格需要很少的言语，这是一个基本原则。必须用很多词（包括誓言）来说服我们的人，他的性格有问题，必须用词来加强这种弱点。如果你是一个真正的基督徒，正直，那么你只需要说是或否，人们就会相信你。耶稣警告我们，除此之外的任何事情都来自邪恶的人。

 

One of the purposes of suffering is the building of character. Certainly Job was a better man for having gone through the furnace. (James explained this process to us, James 1:2–12.) If words are a test of character, then oaths would indicate that there is yet work to be done. When Peter poured out those oaths in the courtyard (Matt. 26:71), he was giving evidence that his character was still in need of a transformation.

受苦的目的之一是塑造品格。当然，约伯经历过火炉是一个更好的人。 （雅各向我们解释了这个过程，雅各书 1:2-12。）如果言语是对品格的考验，那么誓言将表明还有工作要做。当彼得在院子里宣誓时（马太福音 26:71），他是在证明他的 c

 

As you review this section, you can see the practicality of it. James wanted to encourage us to be patient in times of suffering. Like the farmer, we are waiting for a spiritual harvest, for fruit that will glorify God. Like the prophets, we look for opportunities for witness, to share the truth of God. And, like Job, we wait for the Lord to fulfill His loving purpose, knowing that He will never cause His children to suffer needlessly. And, like Job, we shall have a clearer vision of the Lord and come to know Him better for having been in the furnace of affliction.

当您查看本节时，您可以看到它的实用性。 雅各想鼓励我们在受苦时要有耐心。 像农夫一样，我们正在等待属灵的收获，等待荣耀上帝的果实。 像先知一样，我们寻找机会见证，分享上帝的真理。 并且，像约伯一样，我们等待主完成祂慈爱的旨意，知道祂永远不会让祂的孩子不必要地受苦。 并且，像约伯一样，我们将对主有更清晰的异象，并因曾在苦难的熔炉中而更好地认识祂。

 

 “Be patient, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh!”

“要忍耐，因为主的来临近了！”

 

感謝上帝。

 

 520 英翻中 雅各書 第七章

Chapter 7   The World’s Smallest but Largest Troublemaker   James 3:1–12
第七章        世界上最小但却是最大的麻煩製造者                       雅各書 3:1-12
 
James has explained to us two characteristics of the mature Christian: he is patient in trouble (James 1) and he practices the truth (James 2). In this section, he shared the third characteristic of the mature believer he has power over his tongue.
雅各向我們解釋了成熟基督徒的兩個特徵：在患難中忍耐（雅各書 1章）和實踐真理（雅各書 2章）。在這一段裡，他分享了成熟信徒的第三個特徵，對自己的舌頭有控制能力。
 
A pastor friend told me about a member of his church who was a notorious gossip. She would “hang on the phone” most of the day, sharing tidbits with any and all who would listen.
牧師的朋友告訴我，他教會的有位成員，她是臭名昭著的多嘴婆。一日大部分時間她都會“掛電話”，與所有願意傾聽的人分享殘言。
 
She came to the pastor one day and said, “Pastor, the Lord has convicted me of my sin of gossip. My tongue is getting me and others into trouble.”
有一天，她來到牧師面前說，“牧師，主已經判定我說閒話的罪。我的舌頭讓我和其他人陷入困境。”
 
My friend knew she was not sincere because she had gone through that routine before. Guardedly he asked, “Well, what do you plan to do?”
我的朋友知道她並不是真心，因為她以前也這樣的說過。他小心翼翼地問道，“嗯，你打算怎麼做？”
 
“I want to put my tongue on the altar,” she replied with pious fervor.
她虔誠的熱情回答，“我想把我的舌頭放在祭壇上。”
 
Calmly my friend replied, “There isn’t an altar big enough,” and he left her to think it over.
我的朋友平靜地回答說，“沒有足夠大的祭壇，”他讓她再考慮考慮。
 
The Christians that James wrote to were apparently having serious problems with their tongues. James had warned them to be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19). The believer who does not bridle his tongue is not truly religious (James 1:26). We must speak and act as though we were already facing Christ in judgment (James 2:12). When you read pas[1]sages like James 4:1, 11–12, you get the impression that this assembly must have had some interesting meetings!
雅各寫信給的基督徒顯然在舌頭上有嚴重的問題。雅各曾警告他們，“要快快地聽，慢慢地說，慢慢地動怒”（雅各書 1:19）。舌頭不勒住的信徒，並不是真正虔誠的（雅各書 1:26）。我們必須言行舉止好像已經在面對基督的審判中（雅各書 2:12）。當你閱讀像雅各書 4 章 1 節、11 到 12兩 節這樣的經文時，你會覺得這個大會肯定是有趣味的聚會！
 
The power of speech is one of the greatest powers God has given us. With the tongue, man can praise God, pray, preach the Word, and lead the lost to Christ. What a privilege! But with that same tongue he can tell lies that could ruin a man’s reputation or break a person’s heart. The ability to speak words is the ability to influence others and accomplish tremendous tasks, and yet we take this ability for granted.
言語的力量是上帝賦予我們的最偉大的能力之一。用舌頭，人可以讚美上帝、禱告、傳道，帶領失喪的人歸向基督。何等的榮幸！但舌頭可以用同樣的謊言，毀掉人的名譽或傷透人的心。說話的能力是影響他人，並使其完成巨大任務的能力，但這種能力是天然就有。
 
In order to impress on us the importance of controlled speech, and the great consequences of our words, James gave us six pictures of the tongue: the bit, the rudder, fire, a poisonous animal, a fountain, and a fig tree. You can put these six pictures into three meaningful classifications that reveal the three powers of the tongue.
為了讓我們明白控制言語的重要性，以及我們言語會引起巨大後果，雅各給了我們六張舌頭的圖片：嚼環、舵、火、有毒動物、噴泉和無花果樹。你可以把這六張圖組成三種有意義的類型，以揭示舌頭的三種能力。
 
1.  Power to Direct: The Bit and Rudder (3:1–4)
1.  指揮力量：         鑽頭和舵 (3:1–4)
 
Apparently, everybody in the assembly wanted to teach and be a spiritual leader, for James had to warn them: “Not many of you should act as teachers, my brothers” (James 3:1 niv). Perhaps they were impressed with the authority and prestige of the office and forgot about the tremendous responsibility and accountability! Those who teach the Word face the stricter judgment. Teachers must use their tongue to share God’s truth, and it is easy to commit sins of the tongue. Furthermore, teachers must practice what they teach; otherwise, their teaching is hypocrisy. Think of the damage that can be done by a teacher who is unprepared, or whose spiritual life is not up to par.
顯然，在聚會中，每人都想教導，並成為屬靈領袖，因此雅各不得不警告他們，“弟兄們，你們中間不可作教師”（雅各書 3:1 新國際版）。也許他們被辦公室的權威和威望所影響，忘記了它的巨大的責任和擔當！教導聖經的人面臨更嚴厲的審判。教師必須用舌頭來分享上帝的真理，舌頭很容易犯罪。此外，教師必須實踐他們所教的；否則，他們的教導就是虛偽。想一想毫無準備屬靈生活達不到標準的老師，可能造成信徒的傷害。
 
But teachers are not the only ones who are tempted and sin; every Christian must admit that “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2 niv). And sins of the tongue seem to head the list. The person who is able to discipline his tongue gives evidence that he can control his whole body. He proves that he is a mature (perfect) man.
但受試探和犯罪的不只是教師；基督徒都必須承認 :“我們都在許多方面跌倒”（雅各書 3:2新國際版）。口舌之罪似乎位列榜首。能管教自己舌頭的人證明他可以控制自己的整個身體。這證明他是成熟（完美）的人。
 
Is James making a mistake by connecting sins of the tongue with sins committed by “the whole body”? No, because words usually lead to deeds. During World War II we were accustomed to seeing posters that read LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS! But loose lips also wreck lives. A person makes an unguarded statement and suddenly finds himself involved in a fight. His tongue has forced the rest of his body to defend itself.
雅各將舌頭的罪與“全身”所犯的罪聯繫起來是否犯了錯誤？不，因為言語通常導致行動。在二戰期間，我們已經習慣看到海報上寫著  “透露消息可以使船艦沉沒(LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS)！ 但管不住的嘴唇，也會毀了自己的生命。人毫無防備地亂發表聲明，突然發現自己捲入了戰鬥。他的舌頭迫使他身體的其他部分來保護自己。
 
In selecting the bit and the rudder (“helm” in James 3:4 means “rudder”), James presented two items that are small of themselves, yet exercise great power, just like the tongue. A small bit enables the rider to control the great horse, and a small rudder enables the pilot to steer the huge ship. The tongue is a small member in the body, and yet it has the power to accomplish great things.
在選擇嚼環和舵（雅各書 3:4 中“舵”的意思是“舵”）時，雅各展示了兩個東西，它們本身很小，但功能卻很強大，就像舌頭一樣。嚼環可以讓騎手控制雄馬，而一個小舵可以讓飛行員駕馭巨大的飛機。舌頭雖小，卻能成就大事。
 
Both the bit and the rudder must overcome contrary forces. The bit must overcome the wild nature of the horse, and the rudder must fight the winds and currents that would drive the ship off its course. The human tongue also must overcome contrary forces. We have an old nature that wants to control us and make us sin. There are circumstances around us that would make us say things we ought not to say. Sin on the inside and pressures on the outside are seeking to get control of the tongue.
嚼環和舵都必須克服相反的力。嚼環必須克服馬的狂野本性，舵必須與風和渦流鬥爭，以免使船偏離航向。人類的舌頭也必須克服相反的力量。 有舊的老我本性想要控制我們，並使我們犯罪。周圍的環境會讓我們說出不該說的話。內在的罪和外在的壓力正在設法控制舌頭。
 
This means that both the bit and the rudder must be under the control of a strong hand. The expert horseman keeps the mighty power of his steed under control, and the experienced pilot courageously steers the ship through the storm. When Jesus Christ controls the tongue, then we need not fear saying the wrong things—or even saying the right things in a wrong way! “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” warned Solomon (Prov. 18:21). No wonder David prayed, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; eep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing” (Ps. 141: 3,  4). David knew that the heart is the key to right speech. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34). When Jesus Christ is the Lord of the heart, then He is Lord of the lips too.
這意味著嚼環和舵都必須在強有力的手來控制。熟練的騎手控制著駿馬的強大的暴力，經驗豐富的飛行員勇敢地利用舵駕駛飛機過風暴。當耶穌基督控制舌頭時，我們就不必害怕說錯話，甚至用錯誤的方式說正確的話！所羅門警告說，“生死在舌頭的權勢下，”（箴言 18:21）。難怪大衛禱告說，“主啊，求祢禁止我的口； 把守我的嘴。求祢不叫我的心偏向邪惡”（詩篇 141:3, 4）。大衛知道心是說正確言語的關鍵。 “心裡所充滿的，口裡就說出來”（馬太福音 12:34）。當耶穌基督是心靈的主時，祂也是嘴唇的主。
 
The bit and rudder have the power to direct, which means they affect the lives of others. A runaway horse or a shipwreck could mean injury or death to pedestrians or passengers. The words we speak affect the lives of others. A judge says, “Guilty!” or “Not Guilty!” and those words affect the destiny of the prisoner, his family, and his friends. The president of the United States speaks a few words and signs some papers, and the nation is at war. Even a simple yes or no from the lips of a parent can greatly affect the direction of a child’s life.
嚼環和舵有指揮的能力，這意味著它們會影響他人的生活。失控的馬匹或破裂的船，可能意味著行人或乘客受傷或死亡。我們所說的話會影響他人的生活。法官說，“有罪！”或“無罪！”這些話影響著囚犯、他的家人和他的朋友的命運。美國總統說了幾句話，簽署了一些文件，國家就處於戰爭狀態。即使是父母嘴裡簡單的“是”或“否”，也會極大地影響孩子的一生的方向。
 
Never underestimate the guidance you give by the words you speak or do not speak. Jesus spoke to a woman at a well, and her life and the lives of her neighbors experienced a miraculous change (John 4). Peter preached at Pentecost and three thousand souls came to salvation through faith in Christ (Acts 2).
永遠不要低估你說或不說的話給你的指導。耶穌在井邊對婦女人說話，她的生活和鄰居的生活發生了奇蹟般的變化（約翰福音 4章）。彼得在五旬節傳道，三千人因信基督而得救（使徒行傳 2章）。
 
On April 21, 1855, Edward Kimball went into a Boston shoe store and led young Dwight L. Moody to Christ. The result: one of history’s greatest evangelists, a man whose ministry still continues. The tongue has the power to direct others to the right choices.
1855 年 4 月 21 日，愛德華·金博爾 (Edward Kimball) 走進波士頓一家鞋店，帶領年輕的慕迪 (Dwight L. Moody) 歸向基督。結果：歷史上最偉大的傳道者之一，他的事工仍在繼續。舌頭有能力引導他人做出正確的選擇。
 
It would do us all good to read frequently the book of Proverbs, and to note especially the many references to speech. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Prov. 15:1). “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord” (Prov. 12:22). “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19). Yes, the tongue is like a bit and a rudder: it has the power to direct. How important it is that our tongues direct people in the right way!
經常閱讀箴言書，並特別注意許多對言語的引用，對我們都有好處。 “回答柔和，平息怒氣；嚴厲的言語，激起怒氣”（箴言 15:1）。 “說謊的嘴唇為主所憎惡”（箴言 12:22）。 “多言多言，難免有過；禁止嘴唇的，是有智慧”（箴言10:19）。是的，舌頭就像嚼環和舵：它有指揮的能力。我們的舌頭以正確的方式引導人，是多麼重要！
 
2.  Power to Destroy: the Fire and Animal (3:5–8)
2. 毀滅的力量：火和動物（3:5-8）
 
I was visiting the used bookstores along Charing Cross Road in London, and I remarked to a clerk that there were not as many stores as I expected. “There’s a reason for that,” he replied. “One night during World War II, the incendiary bombs hit and the fires destroyed at least a million books!”
我在倫敦查玲十字路口逛舊書店時，我對店員說，商店沒有我想像的那麼多。他回答道，“這是有原因的，二戰期間的一個晚上，燃燒彈爆炸了，大火燒毀了至少一百萬本書！”
 
On another occasion, a friend was taking my wife and me on a tour of the beautiful forests in California, and we came to an ugly section that was burned out. Not only was the face of nature scarred, but millions of dollars of valuable timber had been wiped out. “Somebody’s lit cigarette,” my friend commented as we drove past the blackened earth.
還有一次，一位朋友帶我和妻子遊覽加利福尼亞州美麗的森林，我們來到了一區燒毀的醜陋區域。不僅大自然的面貌被燒得傷痕累累，價值數百萬美元的寶貴木材也被毀滅。當我們開車經過燒黑的地面時，我的朋友說，“有人丟香煙頭點燃的。”
 
A fire can begin with just a small spark, but it can grow to destroy a city. A fire reportedly started in the O’Leary barn in Chicago at 8:30 p.m., October 8, 1871; and because that fire spread, over 100,000 people were left homeless, 17,500 buildings were destroyed, and 300 people died. It cost the city over $400 million.
一場大火可以從小火花點燃，並且可以擴大到摧毀一座城市。據報導，1871 年 10 月 8 日晚上 8 點 30 分，芝加哥的奧利瑞穀倉起火；由於火災蔓延，超過 10 萬人無家可歸，17,500 座建築物被毀，300 人死亡。燒燬城市價值超過 4 億美元。
 
Our words can start fires. “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife” (Prov. 26:20–21). In some churches, there are members or officers who cannot control their tongues, and the result is destruction. Let them move out of town or be replaced in office, and a beautiful spirit of harmony and love takes over.
我們的話可能會引起火災。 “火缺了柴，就必熄滅；無人傳舌，爭竟便止息。好爭竟的人，煽惑爭端，就如餘火加炭，火上加柴一樣。”（箴言 26:20-21）。在一些教會中，有些會友或官員無法控制自己的舌頭，結果就造成毀滅。讓他們搬出城鎮，或在辦公室被取代，讓和諧與愛的美好的屬靈來接管。
 
Like a fire, the tongue can “heat things up.” David wrote, “I said, ‘I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue.’… My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned; then spake I with my tongue” (Ps. 39:1, 3). Have you ever had that experience? Of course you have! A hot head and a hot heart can lead to burning words that later we will regret David had a temper, and he had to have God’s help in controlling it. No wonder Solomon wrote, “He who restrains his word has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding” (Prov. 17:27 nasb). “He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly” (Prov. 14:29 nasb).
就像火一樣，舌頭可以“使爭議加熱”。大衛寫道，“我曾說，‘我要謹守我的言行，免得我的舌頭犯罪。’……我的心在我裡面發熱，我默想的時候，火就燒起；我便用舌頭說話”（詩篇 39:1 - 3）。你有過這樣的經歷嗎？ 你當然有！ 火熱的頭腦和火熱的心會導致話燃燒，以後，我們會後悔如大衛的脾氣，他必須得到上帝的幫助來控制它。難怪所羅門寫道，“克制言語的，有知識；心懷冷靜的，有智慧”（箴言 17:27 新美國標準版）。 “不輕易發怒的，大有聰明；性氣暴躁的，大顯愚妄”（箴言 14:29）。
 
Fire not only starts small and grows, and creates heat; it also defiles. A friend of mine suffered a fire in the basement of his house, and the smoke and fire damage so soiled the upstairs of the house that the family had to move out while the house was redecorated. Fiery words can defile a home, a Sunday school class, a church. The only thing that can wash away that defilement is the blood of Jesus Christ.
火不僅從小到大，而且會產生熱量；它也會玷污。我的朋友在他家的地下室發生了火災，煙霧和火災損壞了房子的樓上，以至於在重新裝修房子時，全家人都得搬出去。火熱暴燥的言語可以玷污整個家庭、主日學課程、教堂。唯一能洗去污穢的是耶穌基督的寶血。
 
Fire burns and hurts, and our words can burn and hurt. One of the sorrows our Lord had to bear when He was here on earth was the way His enemies talked about Him. They called Him a “man gluttonous and a winebibber” (Matt. 11:19) because He graciously accepted invitations to dine with people the Pharisees did not like. When He performed miracles, they said He was in league with Satan. Even when He was dying on the cross, His enemies could not let Him alone but threw vicious taunts into His face.
火會燃燒和傷害，我們的話也會燃燒和傷害。當我們的主在世上時，祂必須忍受的悲傷是他的敵人談論祂的方式。他們稱祂為“貪吃酒的人”（馬太福音 11:19），因為祂慷慨地接受了邀請，與法利賽人不喜歡的人共進晚餐。當祂行神蹟時，他們說祂與撒旦結盟。即使在祂死在十字架上的時候，祂的敵人也不放過祂，而是向祂臉上發出惡毒的嘲諷。
 
Fire spreads, and the more fuel you give it, the faster and farther it will spread. The tongue “setteth on fire the course of nature” (James 3:6), or “sets the whole course of his life on fire” (niv). James suggested that all of life is connected like a wheel, and therefore we can[1]not keep things from spreading. A person’s entire life can be injured or destroyed by the tongue. Time does not correct the sins of the tongue. We may confess our sins of speech, but the fire keeps on spreading.
火勢蔓延，越加燃料，它就會蔓延得越快越遠。舌頭“點燃了大自然的進程”（雅各書 3:6），或“點燃他生命的輪子”（新國際版）。雅各認為，所有的生命都像輪子一樣相互聯繫，因此我們無法阻止事物蔓延。人的一生都可能被舌頭傷害或毀掉。時間並不能糾正舌頭的罪惡。我們可能會承認我們在言語上犯了罪，但火仍在繼續蔓延。
 
As it spreads, fire destroys, and the words we speak have the power to destroy. For every word in Hitler’s book Mein Kampf, 125 lives were lost in World War II. Our own words may not have caused wars or wrecked cities, but they can break hearts and ruin reputations. They can also destroy souls by sending them into eternity without Christ How important it is for us to let our speech “be always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6 niv).
隨著火的蔓延，它會毀滅，而我們所說的話也有毀滅的力量。希特勒的 “我的奮鬥” 一書中每寫一個字，就有 125 人在二戰中喪生。我們自己的話可能不會引起戰爭或毀壞城市，但它們可能會傷人心，毀名聲。他們也可以通過在沒有基督的情況下，將他們送入永恆來摧毀靈魂，讓我們的言語“總是充滿恩典，用鹽調和”（歌羅西4：6），它對我們來說是多麼重要。
 
Not only is the tongue like a fire, but it is also like a dangerous animal. It is restless and cannot be ruled (unruly), and it seeks its prey and then pounces and kills. My wife and I once drove through a safari park, admiring the animals as they moved about in their natural habitat. But there were warning signs posted all over the park: DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR! DO NOT OPEN YOUR WINDOWS! Those “peaceful animals” were capable of doing great damage, and even killing.
舌頭不僅像火，而且像危險的動物。它躁動不安，無法被統治（不守規矩），它會尋找獵物，然後猛撲和殺死。我和我的妻子有一次開車穿過野生動物園，欣賞動物在自然棲息地中的移動。但是公園裡到處都張貼著警告標誌：不要離開你的車！不要打開你的窗戶！那些“和平動物”能夠造成巨大的破壞，甚至可以殺人。
 
Some animals are poisonous, and some tongues spread poison. The deceptive thing about poison is that it works secretly and slowly, and then kills. How many times has some malicious person injected a bit of poison into the conversation, hoping it would spread and finally get to the person he or she wanted to hurt? As a pastor, I have seen poisonous tongues do great damage to individuals, families, classes, and entire churches. Would you turn hungry lions or angry snakes loose in your Sunday morning service? Of course not! But unruly tongues accomplish the same results.
有毒的動物，牠的舌頭會傳播毒液。毒液的作用是暗暗緩慢的，然後它的毒性發作殺人。多少次有惡意的人在談話中註入人一點毒液，希望它會傳播，並最終到達他或她想傷害的人？ 作為牧師，我看到毒舌對個人、家庭、階級和整個教會造成巨大傷害。你會在周日早上的禮拜中放鬆如飢餓的獅子或憤怒的蛇樣的舌頭嗎？當然不會！但不守規矩的舌頭却不行。
 
James reminds us that animals can be tamed, and, for that matter, fire can be tamed. When you tame an animal, you get a worker instead of a destroyer. When you control fire, you generate power. The tongue cannot be tamed by man, but it can be tamed by God. Your tongue need not be “set on fire of hell” (James3:6). Like the apostles at Pentecost, it can be set on fire from heaven! If God lights the fire and controls it, then the tongue can be a mighty tool for the winning of the lost and the building up of the church. The important thing, of course, is the heart, for it is “out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34). If the heart is filled with hatred, Satan will light the fire. But if the heart is filled with love, God will light the fire.
雅各提醒我们，动物是可以驯服的，就此而言，火是可以驯服的。当你驯服动物时，你会得到幫手而不是破坏者。当你控制火时，它会為你产生能力。舌头不能被人驯服，但可以被上帝驯服。你的舌头不必如“着火了”（雅各书 3：6）。就像五旬节的使徒一样，它可以从天而降！如果上帝点燃并控制它，那么舌头就可以成为赢得失丧者和建立教会的强大有力的工具。重要的当然是心，因为它是“心里所充满的，口中就说出來”（马太福音 12:34）。如果心中充满仇恨，撒旦就会点燃牠。但如果心中充满爱，上帝就会点燃牠。
 
3.  Power to Delight: The Fountain and Tree (3:9–12)
3.  取悦的力量：喷泉和树（3:9-12）
 
The fountain, of course, provides the cool water that man needs to stay alive. In underdeveloped countries, the presence of a freshwater fountain is a great blessing to a village. Man needs water not only for drinking, but also for washing, cooking, farming, and a host of other activities so necessary to life.
当然，喷泉提供了人类生存所需的凉水。在不发达国家，淡水喷泉的存在是对村庄的极大祝福。人类不仅需要水来饮用，还需要水来洗涤、做饭、耕作和许多其他生活必需的活动。
 
“The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook” (Prov. 18:4). “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life” (Prov. 10:11). “The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death” (Prov. 13:14). These verses parallel what James has written and underscore the importance of our words.
“人口中的言语如深水，智慧的泉源如溪水”（箴言18:4）。 “义人的口是生命的泉源”（箴言 10:11）。 “智慧人的律法是生命的泉源，可以脱离死亡的网罗”（箴言 13:14）。这些经文与雅各所写的内容相似，并强调了我们话语的重要性。
 
Water is life-giving, and our words can give life. However, if water is not controlled, it brings death and destruction. The famous Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood of 1889 took 2,200 lives and destroyed $10 million in property. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Prov. 18:21).    Flood!!!
水赋予生命，我们的言语可以赋予生命。但是，如果不加以控制，水就会带来死亡和破坏。 1889 年著名的宾州(Pennsylvania)约翰斯敦洪水夺走了 2,200 条生命，并摧毁了 1,000 万美元價值的财产。 “生死在舌头的权下”（箴言18:21）。洪水 !!!
 
However, when we bend over a fountain for a drink of cool water, we rarely think of floods. We think only of the precious gift of refreshment that comes with a drink of water. We could not be healthy without water. “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health” (Prov. 12:18). Paul’s prayer was that he might “refresh” the saints in Rome when he came to them (Rom. 15:32). He often named Christians who had refreshed him (1 Cor. 16:18; Philem. 7, 20).
然而，当我们弯腰去喷泉喝凉水时，我们很少会想到洪水。我们只想到一杯水带来的提神醒脑的珍贵礼物。没有水，我们就不可能健康。 “说话好像刀刺一样；智慧人的舌头却是健康”（箴言 12:18）。保罗的祷告是，当他来到罗马的圣徒那里时，他可以“更新”他们（罗马书 15:32）。他经常提到让他靈性焕发的基督徒（哥林多前書 16:18；腓利 門7 ，20兩節）。
暫停
Water also cleanses. There was a laver in the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, provided for the cleansing of the priests’ hands and feet. God’s Word is the spiritual water that cleanses us (John 15:3; Eph. 5:26–27). But our words to others can also help to cleanse and sanctify them. Our words ought to be like that river described in Ezekiel 47 that brought life to everything it touched.
水也能净化。旧约的帐幕和圣殿里有一个洗碗池，用来清洗祭司的手脚。上帝的话语是洁净我们的灵水（约翰福音 15:3；弗 5:26-27）。但是，我们对他人说的话也有助于净化和圣化他们。我们的话应该像以西结书 47 中所描述的那条河，它给它所接触的一切带来生命。
 
The tongue is also delightful because it is like a tree. In Bible lands, trees are vitally important to the economy: they help to hold down the soil; they provide beauty and shade; and they bear fruit. Our words can help to shelter and encourage a weary traveler, and can help to feed a hungry soul. “The lips of the righteous feed many” (Prov. 10:21). Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63b). As we share His Word with others, we feed them and encourage them along the way.
舌头也令人愉快，因为它就像一棵树。在圣经土地上，树木对经济至关重要：它们有助于保持土壤；它们提供美丽和阴影；他们结出果实。我们的话可以帮助庇护和鼓励疲惫的旅行者，并可以帮助养活饥饿的灵魂。 “义人的嘴唇喂养多人”（箴言 10:21）。耶稣说：“我对你们所说的话，就是灵，就是生命”（约翰福音 6:63b）。当我们与他人分享他的话语时，我们一路喂养他们并鼓励他们。
 
The most important thing about a tree is the root system. If the roots do not go down deep, the tree will not grow in a healthy manner. If we are rooted in the things of the Lord, then our words will be the fruit of our fellowship with Him. We will be like that “blessed man” in Psalm 1 and produce fruit in due season. One reason our Lord was able to say the right words at the right times was because He communed with His Father and heard from heaven each day. Listen to His testimony:
一棵树最重要的是根系。如果根不深入，树就不会健康生长。如果我们在主的事上扎根，我们的话就会成为与主相交的果子。我们会像诗篇 1 中的“有福的人”一样，按时结果子。我们的主能够在正确的时间说正确的话的一个原因是因为他每天都与他的父亲交流并从天上听到。聆听他的见证：
 
“The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned” (Isa. 50:4). “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35).
“耶和华赐给我有学问的人的舌头，使我知道如何对疲倦的人说合时宜的话：他每天早晨醒来，他像学者一样唤醒我的耳朵聆听”（以赛亚书50： 4）。 “他早晨起来，早起，出去，到一个僻静的地方，在那里祷告”（马可福音 1:35）。
 
If you and I are going to have tongues that delight, then we must meet with the Lord each day and learn from Him. We must get our “spiritual roots” deep into His Word. We must pray and meditate and permit the Spirit of God to fill our hearts with God’s love and truth.
如果你我要拥有令人愉悦的方言，那么我们必须每天与主见面并向他学习。我们必须将我们的“精神根源”深入到他的话语中。我们必须祈祷和默想，让上帝的灵以上帝的爱和真理充满我们的心。
 
But James issued a warning: a fountain cannot give forth two kinds of water, and a tree cannot bear two different kinds of fruit. We expect the fountain to flow with sweet water at all times, and we expect the fig tree to bear figs and the olive tree to bear olives. Nature reproduces after its kind.
但雅各发出警告：泉源不能发出两种水，一棵树不能结两种不同的果子。我们期待喷泉时刻流出甘甜的水，期待无花果树结无花果，橄榄树结橄榄。自然从容地繁衍后代。
 
If the tongue is inconsistent, there is something radically wrong with the heart. I heard about a professing Christian who got angry on the job and let loose with some oaths. Embarrassed, he turned to his partner and said, “I don’t know why I said that. It really isn’t in me.” His partner wisely replied, “It had to be in you or it couldn’t have come out of you.” When Peter was out of fellowship with Christ, he uttered some oaths, but he went out and wept bitterly and confessed his sins.
如果舌头不一致，说明心脏有问题。我听说一个自称是基督徒的人在工作中很生气，并且发了一些誓言。他尴尬地转向他的搭档说：“我不知道我为什么这么说。真的不属于我。”他的伴侣明智地回答说：“它必须在你身上，否则它不可能从你身上出来。”当彼得与基督失去交通时，他发了一些誓，但他出去痛哭并承认自己的罪。
 
The tongue that blesses the Father, and then turns around and curses men made in God’s image, is in desperate need of spiritual medicine! How easy it is to sing the hymns during the worship service, then after the service, get into the family car and argue and fight all the way home! “My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
赞美父，然后转身咒诅按神形象所造之人的舌头，急需灵药！敬拜时唱赞美诗，然后在敬拜结束后，进入家庭汽车，一路争论和战斗回家是多么容易！ “我的兄弟们，这些事情不应该是这样。”
 
The problem, of course, is not the tongue; it is the heart. It is easy to have “bitter envying and strife” in our hearts (James 3:14). “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man” (Matt. 15:18). “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). As we fill our hearts with God’s Word and yield to the Holy Spirit, He can use us to bring delight to others, and we will be refreshing fountains and trees.
当然，问题不在于舌头；它是心脏。我们心里很容易有“嫉妒和纷争”（雅各书 3:14）。 “但从口里出来的，是从心里发出来的；他们就玷污那人”（马太福音 15:18）。 “要全心全意保守你的心，因为生命的事不在其中”（箴言 4:23）。当我们用神的话语充满我们的心并顺服圣灵时，他可以使用我们给他人带来快乐，我们将成为令人耳目一新的泉源和树木。
 
As I close this chapter, let me suggest that you start using the “Twelve Words That Can Transform Your Life.” If you use these words and sincerely mean what you say from your heart, you will find that God will use you to be a blessing and encouragement to others. There are only twelve of them, but they work.
“Please” and “Thank you.” When you use these three words, you are treating others like people and not things. You are showing appreciation.
在我结束本章时，让我建议您开始使用“可以改变您生活的十二个词”。如果你用这些话，真心实意地说出你的心声，你会发现神会使用你成为别人的祝福和鼓励。它们只有十二个，但它们起作用了。
“谢谢，麻烦您了。”当你使用这三个词时，你就是把别人当人而不是物。你在表示赞赏。
 
“I’m sorry.” These two words have a way of breaking down walls and building bridges.
“抱歉。”这两个词有拆墙建桥的意思。
 
“I love you.” Too many people read “romance” into these words, but they go much deeper than that. As Christians, we should love the brethren and even love our enemies. “I love you” is a statement that can carry tremendous power.
“我爱你。”太多人将“浪漫”解读为这些词，但它们的含义远不止于此。作为基督徒，我们应该爱弟兄，甚至爱我们的敌人。 “我爱你”是一个可以承载巨大力量的声明。
 
“I’m praying for you.” And be sure that you are. When you talk to God about people, then you can talk to people about God. Our private praying for people helps us in our public meeting with people. Of course, we never say “I’m praying for you” in a boastful way, as though we are more spiritual than others. We say it in an encouraging way, to let others know that we care enough for them to meet them at the throne of grace.
“我在为你祈祷。”并确保你是。当你和上帝谈论人时，你就可以和人谈论上帝。我们私下为人祷告有助于我们与人的公开聚会。当然，我们从不吹嘘说“我为你祈祷”，好像我们比别人更属灵。我们以鼓励的方式说这句话，让其他人知道我们非常关心他们，让他们在施恩宝座上与他们会面。
 
Yes, the smallest but largest troublemaker in all the world is the tongue. But it does not have to be a troublemaker! God can use our tongues to direct others into the way of life, and to delight them in the trials of life. The tongue is a little member, but it has great power.
是的，世界上最小但最大的麻烦制造者是舌头。但它不一定是麻烦制造者！上帝可以用我们的舌头引导他人走上人生的道路，并在人生的试炼中取悦他们。舌头是一个小部件，但它有很大的力量。
 
Give God your tongue and your heart each day and ask Him to use you to be a blessing to others.
每天将你的舌头和你的心交给上帝，并祈求他使用你成为他人的祝福。
 
谢天谢地。
Thanks to God.