【双语灵修】信心－慷慨捐助 Faith

“〔他们〕仍有满足的快乐；在极穷之间，还格外显出他们乐捐的厚恩。我可以证明他们是按着力量，而且也过了力量。” - 林后 8:2-3

一位尼日利亚的邻居来敲我们的大门，前两个星期他也曾来过；那时他请我给他提供一份工作，他急需赚取一些金钱来养活妻儿。我给他的那份工作对我来说有帮助，但却不是必需的；每天早上，他拿着锄地工具到来，锄平我们庭园地上凹凸不平的地方，使地面平滑一点。

然而，在他再来时的那个早上，他手中拿着的不是锄地的工具，他拿着的乃是一只鸡－是活生生的鸡！他用尼日利亚的豪萨语与我对话，他的意思是：“先生，这是送给你的礼物。谢谢你给我一份工作，请你收下这只鸡。”

我想像那只鸡－小小的一群鸡当中的一只，在院子里啄食地上的残羹剩饭和小草的情景。我也可以想像到，我们的邻居吩咐他的儿子去捕捉那只鸡，让他带来我们家中。尽管他没有多余的鸡，但他却站在我家门口－拿着这唯一的一只鸡送给我们。

多么有爱心！多么慷慨！从他自己不足的资源中，这位在基督里的弟兄慷慨地送礼物给我－甚至是超过了他的力量，他就像那些付诸行动以爱心捐献的马其顿人。他的慷慨令我谦卑下来－甚至感到有点不安！何等大的恩惠啊！

祷告

主啊，你已将丰盛和慈爱赐福给我们，求你赐我们欢欣快乐的心，乐意感恩捐助来祝福别人。奉基督之名祈求，阿们。

哥林多后书 8:1-9

1弟兄们，我把神赐给马其顿众教会的恩告诉你们，
2就是他们在患难中受大试炼的时候，仍有满足的快乐，在极穷之间还格外显出他们乐捐的厚恩。
3我可以证明他们是按着力量，而且也过了力量，自己甘心乐意地捐助，
4再三地求我们，准他们在这供给圣徒的恩情上有份。
5并且他们所做的，不但照我们所想望的，更照神的旨意，先把自己献给主，又归附了我们。
6因此我劝提多，既然在你们中间开办这慈惠的事，就当办成了。
7你们既然在信心、口才、知识、热心和待我们的爱心上，都格外显出满足来，就当在这慈惠的事上也格外显出满足来。
8我说这话，不是吩咐你们，乃是藉着别人的热心试验你们爱心的实在。
9你们知道我们主耶稣基督的恩典：他本来富足，却为你们成了贫穷，叫你们因他的贫穷可以成为富足。

Faith—Giving Generously

"Their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability." - 2 Corinthians 8:2-3

A Nigerian neighbor came knocking at our door. He had come a couple of weeks earlier too. At that time he had pleaded for a job that would bring him some needed cash to support his family. The task I gave him was beneficial but not essential. Every morning, with digging tools in hand, he was there, smoothing out some rough places in our yard and making them plain.

But on the morning when he came again, it wasn't digging tools he had in hand. It was a chicken—a live one! In the Hausa language he said something like, "For you, sir. Thank you for giving me a job to do. I want you to have this chicken."

I pictured that chicken—one of a tiny flock picking up scraps of food and blades of grass on the compound. I could picture our neighbor telling his son to catch that chicken so that he could bring it to our home. He didn't have chickens to spare, but there he stood—with a chicken to give to us.

How gracious! How generous! Out of his own meager resources, this brother in Christ generously gave—even beyond his ability. He was like the Macedonians, who embodied the grace of giving. I was humbled by his generosity—and even troubled! Such grace!

Prayer

Lord, you have richly and graciously blessed us. Please give us a spirit of joy and gladness that gratefully blesses others in our giving. In Christ, Amen.