新约 - 哥林多后书(2 Corinthians)第8章

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
哥林多后书第八章   林后 8:2-5> 捐得少,捐得多,何者比较好?捐献所在乎的是…… 

  8:2-5 保罗在第三次的宣教行程中,已经为耶路撒冷穷乏的信徒筹募捐款。马其顿的各教会──在腓立比、帖撒罗尼迦及庇哩亚,虽然贫穷,但仍慷慨乐捐;他们所献出的,比保罗所预期的还要多。这是一次自我牺牲的捐赠──他们自己虽贫穷,仍愿意助人。捐赠的关键不在于捐出多少,而在于我们为何捐赠和怎样捐赠。神不会要我们献不甘心乐意献的东西,祂期望我们能像马其顿各教会那样,以帮助有需要的人为乐,视此为自己当行的善事,爱其他的弟兄姊妹,把自己奉献给主。与马其顿各教会的乐捐相比,你的捐赠达到怎样的程度呢? 

  筹款计划的所需项目 

  林后 8:3-6> 你看神的国正在拓展,是啊,只因为这些人做了那些事──你也可以有分的,只要…… 

  8:3-6 藉着信徒对别人的关怀和积极的帮助,使神的国得以拓展。这里,我们看到几间教会联合起来,一同帮助一群在他们的生活圈子之外的,和不在他们的城市中的信徒群体。请看看你能否参与一些外地的福音事工,你的教会或别的福音机构可能都有这类事工。与其他信徒一起做神的工作,教会就更团结,神的国也更得以扩展。 

  林后 8:7-8> 爱又岂止一声我爱你,我关心你──那我要做什么? 

  8:7-8 哥林多的信徒在各方面都很丰足,包括信心、口才、知识、热心和爱心等,保罗期望他们在施赠的事上也有好榜样。施赠是爱心的自然反应,保罗并没有命令哥林多教会必须施赠,却鼓励他们去证明他们的爱心是真实的。当你爱某个人时,你必然乐意把你的时间、关怀以及他所需要的东西给他。你倘若拒绝帮助他,也许你对他的爱心并不如你所说的那样真诚。 

  林后 8:9> 那个拿撒勒人耶稣究竟是一个什么样的人,祂真的为我而变得贫穷? 

  8:9 没有证据说耶稣比一般住在巴勒斯坦地区的人更穷,不过耶稣是神,但是祂放下祂的权力、甘愿变为贫穷的人。道成肉身表示神自愿成为人──一个完全的凡人,拿撒勒的耶稣。作为一个人,耶稣受着时空及其他人要受的限制。祂并没有失去自身的永恒能力,但在成为人时,祂却将自己的荣耀和权利放在一边(参腓 2:5-7 )。耶稣的人性有别于我们的人性,因为祂没有罪,从祂身上我们能找到可以在人身上反映出的神的性情。(有关道成肉身的教导,请参约 1:1-14 ;罗 1:2-5 ;腓 2:6-11 ;提前 3:16 ;来 2:14 ;约壹 1:1-3 。) 

  林后 8:10-15> 我的钱财放在哪儿,我的心就在那儿──那就糟了…… 

  8:10-15 哥林多教会是有钱的,看来他们在一年前已计划收集捐款给耶路撒冷的教会(参 9:2 ),保罗现在鼓励他们把计划付诸实行。在这里我们可以看到四个原则:( 1 )甘心乐意的捐献比所捐献的数目更为重要;( 2 )你应该尽量学习在金钱上参与事奉;( 3 )在别人有需要时给以帮助,他日当你自己有需要时,别人也一样会帮助你;( 4 )你应视施赠为对基督的回应,不要希望有所回报。你施赠的态度足以反映你对基督热爱的程度。 

  林后 8:12> 捐赠的数目如何定──就随意定──你还有更好的提议? 

  8:12 你如何决定捐赠的数目?保罗给哥林多教会几个原则:( 1 )每个人都要履行自己曾作出的承诺( 8:10-11 ; 9:3 );( 2 )每个人都要尽其所能地捐助( 9:6 ; 8:12 );( 3 )每个人都要订立目标,确定所要捐的数目( 9:7 );( 4 )神所给我们的东西,每个人都要按比例来捐赠( 9:10 )。因为神先施与我们,我们才能施与别人。 

  林后 8:12> 怎样的捐赠是最合宜的呢?保罗说照人所有的是什么意思? 

  8:12 保罗说我们应当按我们所有的,并不是按我们所无的奉献;有牺牲的捐赠必须是负责任的捐赠。无疑保罗希望信徒慷慨乐捐,但这不等于他们可以连倚靠自己的人的生活需要(如他们的家庭)都不顾,便将所有的都献出来。尽力的施赠会令你感到心疼,但不要令本来要依赖你生活的人也受伤害,例如你的家人或某些需要你经济支持的亲戚。 

  林后 8:18-21> 难道保罗信不过自己,竟要多一位弟兄把捐款送到耶路撒冷?