上帝在我家

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8 Ways to Trust God When Money is Tight

預算緊縮時八個相信上帝的方式

作者

Cindi McMenamin

Wouldn’t it be nice if having a relationship with God meant never having to worry or stress about money again? 
如果我們跟上帝建立關係同時也意味我們不用再為錢擔心或是感到壓力，那該多好啊?

Actually, that’s possible. But not because God fills our bank account with money when we surrender our lives to Him. Like with every aspect of our lives, God wants a relationship with us in which we are dependent on Him, and trusting Him with all that we have. He wants us to keep Him as our God, not what we have or what we’d like to have. 
其實，這是有可能的。但是，這不是因為上帝在我們讓祂掌權人生時幫我們填滿銀行帳戶的錢。就如同我們生活所有的面向，上帝希望我們與祂建立關係，倚靠祂，全然的信任祂。祂希望我們視祂為上帝而跟隨祂，而不是視祂為我們擁有的東西，或是我們想要的東西。

My husband and I have lived on a small church pastor’s salary for nearly 30 years – including a few years in which my husband supported our family on a couple of minimum-wage paying jobs. I can honestly tell you that God has always provided everything we have needed and so much of what we’ve wanted.
我跟我先生三十年來過了僅依靠小教會牧師微薄薪水的日子- 包括我先生透過最低薪的工作養家活口。我能告訴你，上帝永遠都供給我們所須，且給予比我們期望的多很多。

Based on three decades of seeing God come through for my family financially, here are “8 Ways to Trust God When Money is Tight.”
就我三個世紀來看到上帝為我家與我家經濟狀況所做的，我寫下"預算緊縮時相信上帝的八個方式"。 

1. Realize it's not about the money.認清現狀並非關於金錢。

I’m convinced that our financial stability depends on how much we trust God rather than on how much we make. It’s really not about the money, how hard you work, and how wisely you’ve invested. Our financial situation is almost always about trust. 
我很確定我們的金錢穩定度取決於我們多信任上帝，而非我們賺多少錢。這並非關於金錢，你多認真工作，或是你多會投資。我們的經濟狀況幾乎都一直是跟信任有關。

I used to get a little disillusioned during my college years, thinking If God, my Father, owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10) why is it that I can’t even afford a hamburger? I’ve learned since then that it isn’t about whether God has the money and can help us. It’s about what He wants to do in and through us, as we rely on Him for what we need. God can take whatever financial situation you're in and build into you character, hope, and a future. See every financial struggle as an opportunity to trust Him more and a doorway through which you can discover God's grace, provision, and fatherly love.  
我在唸大學的時候有些迷網，我想: 如果上帝，我的天父，也就是千山上的牲畜的主人(詩篇50:10)，為何我連漢堡都買不起? 後來，我學到這其實非關上帝有沒有錢，也不關上帝能不能幫助我們。而是關於祂想在我們身上做甚麼，或是透過我們成就甚麼，當我們倚靠祂提供我們所需的時候。上帝藉由我們身處的經濟狀況來建立我們的人格，希望，與未來。視每個經濟困難為信任上帝的機會，也是一扇我們可以發現上帝的恩典，供需，與父愛的門。

2. Trust Him with today. 將每日交於上帝手中。

It’s easy to look ahead at the month and estimate how much you’ll need to pay your bills and then stress about the shortfall. But Jesus must have known we’d have a tendency to do that. He told His followers to look around and see how God provides food for the birds, and clothing for the lilies of the field. Then He told them, “if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” (Matthew 6:30). 
我們預計一個月要花多少錢來支付帳單，而且為金錢的不足感到壓力很容易。但是，耶穌一定知道我們有憂慮的傾向。祂告訴祂的門徒，看看你們周圍，上帝不提供了鳥兒食物，花兒妝飾? 然後祂說: 「野 地 裡 的 草 今 天 還 在 ， 明 天 就 丟 在 爐 裡 ， 神 還 給 他 這 樣 的 妝 飾 ， 何 況 你 們 呢 !」 (馬太福音6:30)

Jesus summed up His teaching by saying, “don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (verses 31-33).  
耶穌為祂的教導做總節: 「所 以 ， 不 要 憂 慮 說 ： 吃 甚 麼 ？ 喝 甚 麼 ？ 穿 甚 麼 ？這 都 是 外 邦 人 所 求 的 ， 你 們 需 用 的 這 一 切 東 西 ， 你 們 的 天 父 是 知 道 的 。」(馬太福音6:31-33)

Jesus was giving them – and us – a formula for trusting Him daily for our provision, and not stressing about money by worrying about tomorrow. 
耶穌給了他們，以及我們，一個信任祂給予我們每日所須，而且不要擔心錢與明天的方程式。

3. Remember how rich you really are.提醒自己多富足。

God owns it all… which makes us (His children by faith in Christ) heirs of all He has (Galatians 3:29). While we might not feel that we have much on this earth, we can read Ephesians 1:3-14 and be reminded again of what is ours in the heavenly realm. As you look at what God gives you through salvation, you can be encouraged at what is yours today, not just some day in heaven. 
上帝是萬有的掌管者。也就是說，我們身為祂的孩子(因信基督而成為祂的孩子)，我們繼承祂的一切(加拉太書3:29)。我們可能覺得在世上我們擁有的並不多，我們可以閱讀以弗所書1:3-14節然後再次提醒自己我們在天國所有的。當你看見上帝藉由救贖給你的，你能感到激勵而想想你今天擁有的，不僅是未來在天國所有的。

Think about it. If God can take care of our eternal life, by providing His beloved Son for our salvation, then certainly He can take care of our everyday life, including whatever financial needs we have. Read Ephesians 1 – daily if you have to – and remember what is yours in Christ. It will give you a different perspective and it may cause you to thank Him more than ask Him, when it comes to your financial needs. 
仔細想想。如果上帝能給你永生並且照顧你，透過祂親愛的兒子給予我們的救贖，祂一定也能照顧好我們每日的生活，包括我們各種財務上的需要。請閱讀以弗所書第一章-每天都讀一次如果必要-然後提醒自己在基督裡我們擁有的。那會使你從不同角度看事情，尤其在財物須求上，會讓你感謝祂而不是有求於祂。

4. Release it back to God.放手讓上帝掌權。

We are managers, not owners of the money God has entrusted us with. That makes it all His in the first place. Therefore, He expects us to give from the first of what we have to Him, as a way of honoring Him, and as a reminder to us that He owns it all. 
我們是上帝託付給我們金錢的管理者，而非所有者。這也是說金錢都歸祂所有。所以，祂期望我們從屬於祂給予我們的先給祂，作為榮耀祂的方式，也提醒我們祂是一切的掌管者。

The Old Covenant Law required God’s people to tithe (which literally means giving to God a tenth of your income). Under the New Covenant, Jesus instructed us to give generously in proportion to how we would like God to be generous toward us (Luke 6:38). He wanted to make sure that our desire to please Him was stronger than our desire for money.
舊約聖經要求上帝的兒女十一奉獻(顧名思義就是給予上帝自己收入的十分之一)。在新約下，耶穌教導我們要大方給予至我們希望上帝如何對待我們的程度(路加福音6:38)。祂希望我們侍奉祂的渴望大過於對錢的渴望。

I can attest to the fact that God is faithful to His children who give, even as they struggle to be faithful, financially, to Him. My husband once challenged his very small congregation to tithe 10 percent of their income for a month, and if they couldn’t pay all their bills at the end of the month – after tithing and being responsible with what they had left – my husband would personally pay their bills for them! Now that was scary for me, yet God showed His faithfulness as that poverty-stricken congregation (and the pastor’s wife!) learned to tithe and trust. Ask God to challenge you with what He wants you to give and trust Him with each month. 
我可以證明上帝對於給予的兒女非常信實，就算他們掙扎著在財務上相信上帝。我的丈夫有一次挑戰他規模甚小的教會，要求他們每月十一奉獻，如果這些人月底因奉獻而無法支付帳單，我的丈夫就會親自幫他們付帳。我當時很害怕，但是上帝顯露祂的信實，讓這個貧窮邊緣的教會(以及牧師的太太)學會十一奉獻與相信上帝。請上帝讓祂挑戰你，使你知道祂要給你甚麼，並且每個月都信任祂。

5. Welcome the faith adventure.歡迎信仰的冒險。

Trusting God for His provision when it looks bleak is truly an adventure in faith. Yet, we have a God who is not only pleased by our faith (Hebrews 11:6), but who also loves to come through for His children (Matthew 7:9-11).  
要在前景堪憂的時候相信上帝會供給我們所須是信仰的冒險。但是，我們的上帝不僅會為我們的信心感到滿意(希伯來書11:6)，也愛替祂的孩子們解圍。

Do you know what it’s like to get an unexpected check in the mail on Monday for the exact amount of an unexpected car repair bill you receive on Tuesday? Your unforeseen financial situations don’t take God by surprise and as you trust Him and honor Him with what you have, you will continually see Him come through for you. See your “unforeseen financial situation” as the beginning of an exciting adventure God is waiting to lead you through. 
你知道在禮拜一收到意料之外的支票，而且金額跟禮拜二需要支付的維修費金額相同時的感覺嗎? 你看不到的財務狀況並不會使上帝驚訝，當你相信他且以你有的榮耀祂，你就會繼續看到祂替你解圍。請把你"意料之外的財務狀況"看作上帝正要帶領你前往的刺激冒險的開始。

My family has had a great time seeing God come through for us, financially, in incredible ways through the years. In fact, each time He does, we write it down on a small piece of paper and hang it on a loop we call our “blessing ring.” At the end of each year, we read through each of those blessings and are reminded again of God’s faithfulness. 
我的家庭享受著上帝為我們在財務上解圍的好時光，多年來透過很奇妙的方式。事實上，每次上帝的解圍，我們都會寫在一張小紙上，然後掛在一個圓圈上，我們稱之為"恩典之圈"。在每年的末了，我們都會一張張看，唸出上帝的恩典，再次提醒自己上帝的信實。

6. Gain wisdom through God's Word.透過上帝的話得到智慧。

Sometimes we are just foolish when it comes to spending, borrowing, and handling our money. Debt is often the consequence, as is feeling we are under too heavy of a burden to ever repay or be financially free again. But that doesn’t mean God can’t still work in our lives, teach us lessons, and get us back on the road to financial recovery. 
有時候，我們在花錢，借錢，或是處理金錢上很愚蠢。所以我們常常有債務，我們感到償還債務或是想要財務自由帶來的沉重壓力。但是，這不代表上帝不能繼續在我們生活動工，讓我們學會教訓，然後帶領我們回到財務重整的路上。

The Book of Proverbs is full of financial wisdom and warnings about getting into debt,  living beyond your means, and going into business with someone you can’t trust. Read it and take its advice when it comes to business dealings, spending money you don’t have,  and charging – or paying – excessive interest. I’ve also seen God work through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, and other resources that are available to help believers who want to start doing things right, financially. Do what it takes to become wiser and more responsible when it comes to the money God has entrusted you with. 
聖經裡的箴言充滿財務的智慧與警告我們關於負債，奢侈，與不能信任的人做生意的事情。仔細閱讀，且記取該文裡面有關買賣，預支，收款，或是付款與高利貸的建議。我也看到上帝在大衛萊姆斯所創的財務平安大學上的作為，以及其他可以幫助想要理財的基督徒的資原。無論如何，都該讓自己在管理上帝託付我們金錢的管理上更聰明與更有責任感。

7. Practice generosity.練習樂善好施。

Sometimes we think the more money we hold onto, the more we’ll have. But the opposite is true in the Kingdom of God. The more we give, the more God gives us so we can keep on giving. In Second Corinthians 9:6-11 we are told that as we give generously and cheerfully “God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (verse 8). 
有時候，我們認為存越多錢，我們會越有錢。但是在神國裡恰好相反。我們給予的越多，上帝給我們的越多，好讓我們能持續付出。在歌林多後書第9:6-11章，我們被教導應該大方與喜樂的給予，「神能將各樣的恩惠多多地加給你們，使你們凡事常常充足，能多行各樣善事。」(歌林多後書9:8)。

As you live generously toward others, Scripture promises God “will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous” (verses 10-11). Pray that God will help you be generous with what you have so you will always have money to give to those who are in need. 
當你對於他人大方，聖經也承諾上帝「那賜種給撒種的、賜糧給人吃的，必多多加給你們種地的種子，又增添你們仁義的果子，叫你們凡事富足，可以多多施捨，就藉著我們使感謝歸於神。」(歌林多後書9:10-11)。向上帝禱告，請求祂幫助你成為一個樂善好施的人，以使你永遠有金錢給予需要的人。

8. Choose contentment.選擇感到滿足。