註：本文轉自https://www.crosswalk.com/home-page/todays-features/why-generosity-is-better-than-greed.html，本文非商業用途且相關版權歸該網站及作者所有。
Why Generosity is Better than Greed
為何大方比貪婪好
作者
Ronnie Floyd
Tithing is the spiritual practice of honoring God by giving the first tenth of your entire income to your local church. Tithing is not taboo, meaning it is not banned, prohibited or forbidden. Your church may not emphasize the importance of tithing from your entire income, but it is a very important part of the Christian life.
什一奉獻是屬靈的操練，把收入的十分之一用來榮耀神，給予當地的教會。什一奉獻不是禁忌，也就是這並不是被禁止的，阻止的，或是不准的。你的教會或許不會強調從薪水裡作什一奉獻的重要，但是這是基督徒生命裡很重要的一部份。
Generosity is a lifestyle that gives freely and lives openhandedly. Generosity is the amount beyond the first tenth you give to your church. I can assure you that generosity is better than greed.
大方就是不求回報的給予以及活的坦蕩。大方就是給予教會比十分之一更多的金額。我可以保證大方比貪婪好。
Greed is an insatiable desire for more. Greed is about grasping, craving, acquiring and hoarding, while generosity is about giving, charity, blessing and handing.
貪婪是無法滿足渴望更多的慾望。貪婪是關於緊抓不放，渴望，取得以及囤積，而大方是關於給予，慈善，恩賜以及付出。
Greed is Not Godly 貪婪不是來自上帝
Christians ignore and mock God’s Word when they do not honor God with giving at least the first tenth of their entire income to their local church. They try to rationalize or even justify it, and some even attempt to explain it away biblically. I have never discovered anyone who practices tithing and generosity try to explain why tithing and generosity are not biblical.
當基督徒不至少給予他們全部收入的十分之一給當地教會，他們就是忽略以及嘲笑上帝的話語。他們試圖合理化或是辯解，有些人甚至想用聖經來解釋。我從來沒有發現實行什一奉獻以及大方的人解釋為合這些不合聖經教導。
Somehow, we must grow in our faith enough to understand that when we do not give biblically by both tithing and practicing generosity, we are not walking in godliness. Greed is not godly.
無論何種方式，我們一定要有足夠的信心才能了解當我們不按照聖經來作出什一奉獻以及慷慨大方，我們就無法走在上帝的道中。貪婪不是來自上帝。
No one is exempt from tithing and generosity沒有人可以免除什一奉獻以及大方
Pastors, staff members, elders, deacons, lay leaders and all Christians are not exempt from tithing and generosity. In fact, when we do not practice giving the first tenth of our income and enter into the sphere of generosity, we are practicing and choosing greed.
牧師，同工，長老，執事，領袖以及所有基督徒都不免除要做什一奉獻，與表現大方。事實上，當我們不實行從我們的收入裡奉獻十分之一而進入大方的領域，我們就是實踐與選擇貪婪。
Greed is like a rattlesnake that many of us want to snuggle up with in our hearts. While on a run last week, I ran upon a Copperhead snake lying right beside the curb. I did not cuddle with it; in fact, I ran with a chill up my spine for the rest of the week.
貪婪就像眼鏡蛇，盤纏在我們心中。當我上禮拜跑步，我看到一條銅頭蝮，在路旁邊。我沒有跟他纏鬥，事實上，我整個禮拜後來都帶著雞皮疙瘩跑步。
Greed is not about how much a person has or does not have. Greed is a matter of the heart. I have seen greed exist in the lives of those who have little and I have seen it exist in the lives of those who are overwhelmed with wealth. Nice things are not wrong until you violate God’s principles of giving in order to attain them.
貪婪非關人擁有多少。貪婪是心的問題。我看到貪婪在窮人身上，也看到貪婪在非常有錢的人身上。享受生活的美好沒有錯，直到你觸犯了上帝的要給予而獲得的教條。
Only one way to avoid greed避免貪婪唯有一條路
There is only one way those with much or those with little avoid greed: Giving the first 10 percent of their entire income to their local church and moving into the sphere of practicing generosity. They completely embrace a lifestyle of giving freely and living openhandedly.
窮人與有錢人只有一條路可以避免貪婪: 就是將其所有收入的十分之一獻給他們當地的教會，藉此來到實踐大方的境界。他們完全擁抱大方給予的生活，也活的坦蕩。
Pastor James MacDonald is correct when he says that giving the first tenth of all God has given to you is the on ramp to the highway called generosity. Wherever you are in your life educationally, vocationally, or financially, ALL BLESSINGS flood the person and family that get on this on-ramp that leads to the highway called generosity.
詹姆士麥德勞牧師是正確的。他說，什一奉獻是從上帝給你的給祂十分之一，也是能夠進入名叫大方的高速公路的坡道。無論你的學歷，經歷，或是財務狀況，當你踏上通往大方高速公路的坡道，所有的恩賜都會向著你與你的家庭而來。
Living on 90 percent靠90%生活
When you obey God’s Word about giving and generosity, you are getting God involved in your life supernaturally. You are never more like Jesus than when you give.
當你順服上帝關於大方給予的話語，你將會使上帝透過超自然的方式融入你的生活。當你給予的時候，你就是最像耶穌樣式的時候。
Living on 90 percent with God involved will go further than living on 100 percent without God involved. I have never met any person who practiced giving the first 10 percent of their income through their local church that ever regretted it or did not have their needs met in life.
靠90%生活，跟著上帝，超越生活中沒有上帝而有100%。我從來沒有遇過一個大方給予其當地教會收入十分之一的人後悔這樣做，或是沒有辦法生活下去。
Three important things to remember記住三件重要的事情
1. Pastors need to preach unashamedly and uncompromisingly what the Bible says about tithing and generosity.
1. 牧師需要帶有熱誠且問心無愧又不妥協的傳講聖經上描述關於什一奉獻與大方的事情:
When you speak on tithing and generosity, there will always be some who will complain or crank up the rumor mill. But just remember pastor: Many who do so do not give as they should biblically. Many who cause this stir are carnal and do not want to face the reality of their greed. Pastor, you and your family should model giving at least the first 10 percent of all God gives you through your local church and practice generosity beyond that.
當你傳講什一奉獻與大方，一定會有人抗議或是不開心而謠傳。但是，牧師請你記住: 這些人並沒有根據聖經而給予。很多人貪婪世俗，而不願意面對他們貪婪的事實。牧師，你與你的家人要先做什一奉獻的榜樣，至少將所有上帝給予你的十分之一給你的當地教會，實踐大方及更多。
2. Laypeople, encourage your pastor to preach on tithing and generosity.
2. 領袖，鼓勵你的牧師傳講什一奉獻與大方。
Lead the way laypeople, encouraging your pastor to preach on tithing and generosity. Encourage and defend him both privately and publicly. Rebuke people who want to criticize him for doing it. People who do not want to hear and be challenged in giving are people who are not practicing giving God’s way.
領袖，請領導，鼓勵你的牧師傳講什一奉獻與大方。鼓勵與替他辯護，無論私底下或是公開的。訓斥那些批評他公開傳講的人。不想聽到或是質疑給予的人，就不是以上帝的方式生活。
3. Give freely and live openhandedly.
大方給予不求回報，活的坦蕩。
Be a giver, not a grabber. Live generously, not greedily. Give freely because God gave all He has given to you freely. Live openhandedly, sharing it with your church and other people because none of it is yours anyway. You own nothing; God owns everything. Give it away freely and live your entire life openhandedly.
當一個給予的人，而不是緊握的人。大方的活，不要活的貪婪。給予不求回報，因為上帝把祂所有的都免費給你。活的坦蕩，跟你的教會分享，還有他人，因為這不是你的。你並不擁有任何東西。上帝才擁有所有。不求回報的給予，活的坦蕩蕩。
By the way, even when you die, leave at least the first 10 percent of all God had given you in your life and legacy to your local church. Additionally, practice generosity by giving to your church even beyond the first 10 percent and then to other Christian ministries that are advancing the gospel globally.
還有，當你死去，至少上帝給你所有的還有10%在你的當地教會，成為遺產。此外，實踐大方，給予你的教會多於10%，然後其他基督徒的教會，讓福音在全球傳遍。
Allow God to be part of your life in a supernatural way by giving biblically.
讓上帝透過超自然的方式成為你生命一部份，透過屬靈的給予。
留言列表
