The Joy of Giving 給予帶來喜樂

The giver is the greatest recipient.

施比受更為有福。

Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

勉勵灰心的人，扶助軟弱的人，也要向眾人忍耐。-帖撒羅尼迦前書5章14節

It was a dreary week. I had been feeling lethargic and listless, although I couldn』t figure out why.

那是沉悶的一周。不知道為什麼我對每件事都提不起勁，整天無精打采。

Near the end of the week, I found out that an aunt had kidney failure. I knew I had to visit her—but to be honest, I felt like postponing the visit. Still, I made my way to her place, where we had dinner, chatted, and prayed together. An hour later, I left her home feeling upbeat for the first time in days. Focusing on someone else rather than myself had somehow improved my mood.

接近周末時，我聽說我的一位阿姨腎功能衰竭。我知道應該去探望她，但說實話，我很想拖延。儘管如此，我還是去了她的住處，與她共進晚餐、閑話家常，並同心禱告。一個小時後，我帶著這一周從未有的好心情離開。不知怎地，把焦點放在他人而非自己身上，轉變了我的心情。

Psychologists have found that the act of giving can produce satisfaction, which comes when the giver sees the recipient』s gratitude. Some experts even believe that humans are wired to be generous!

心理學家發現，「給予」能帶來滿足感，因為給予者會得到接受者的感謝。有些專家甚至相信，人類天生慷慨！

Perhaps that』s why Paul, when encouraging the church in Thessalonica to build up their faith community, urged them to 「help the weak」 (1 Thessalonians 5:14). Earlier, he had also cited Jesus』s words, 「It is more blessed to give than to receive」 (Acts 20:35). While this was said in the context of giving financially, it applies as well to the giving of time and effort.

也許正因如此，保羅在寫信鼓勵帖撒羅尼迦教會建立他們的信徒群體時，也激勵他們要「扶助軟弱的人」（帖撒羅尼迦前書5章14節）。先前，他也曾引述耶穌所說：「施比受更為有福」（使徒行傳20章35節） 。雖然這節經文指的是給予人經濟方面的援助，但也同樣適用於為人付出時間與精力。

When we give, we get an insight into how God feels. We understand why He』s so delighted to give us His love, and we share in His joy and the satisfaction of blessing others. I think I』ll be visiting my aunt again soon.

當我們給予他人時，便能開始明白上帝的心意。明白上帝為何樂意將祂的愛賜給我們，讓我們與祂一同喜樂，並從祝福他人中得著滿足。我想我很快會再去探望這位阿姨。

Father, You have made us to give to others just as You have given to us. Teach us to give so that we can truly reflect Your character and be more like You today.

天父啊，禰如何賞賜我們，禰也要我們同樣給予別人。求禰教導我們懂得給予，好讓我們能充分反映出禰的特質，並讓我們今天能夠更加像禰！

1 Thessalonians 5:12-24NIV

5Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.14And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.16Rejoice always,17pray continually,18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God』s will for you in Christ Jesus.19Do not quench the Spirit.20Do not treat prophecies with contempt21but test them all; hold on to what is good,22reject every kind of evil.23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

帖撒羅尼迦前書 5:12-24

5弟兄們，我們勸你們敬重那在你們中間勞苦的人，就是在主裡面治理你們、勸誡你們的。13又因他們所做的工，用愛心格外尊重他們。你們也要彼此和睦。14我們又勸弟兄們，要警戒不守規矩的人，勉勵灰心的人，扶助軟弱的人，也要向眾人忍耐。15你們要謹慎，無論是誰都不可以惡報惡。或是彼此相待，或是待眾人，常要追求良善。16要常常喜樂，17不住地禱告，18凡事謝恩，因為這是神在基督耶穌里向你們所定的旨意。19不要消滅聖靈的感動，20不要藐視先知的講論。21但要凡事察驗，善美的要持守，22各樣的惡事要禁戒不做。23願賜平安的神親自使你們全然成聖！又願你們的靈與魂與身子得蒙保守，在我們主耶穌基督降臨的時候完全無可指摘！24那召你們的本是信實的，他必成就這事。

INSIGHT

靈糧透視

Do you ever feel that you』re always on the giving end? Or do you feel you』re always taking and receiving—with nothing to offer others but your own neediness? Take another look at Paul』s words to the Thessalonians. See if you can hear the wisdom of someone who knows there』s a time to give and a time to receive.

你可曾覺得自己一直在付出？或是覺得自己始終在索取和接受，什麼也沒有給別人，只是滿足自己的需要？不妨再次閱讀保羅對帖撒羅尼迦信徒所說的話，聆聽保羅智慧的話語，學習什麼時候要給予，什麼時候當接受。

If you sense that you』re receiving more than your fair share of help, does Paul give you any idea about what you have to give even while receiving? Can you see that in acknowledging graciously the hard work of those who are caring for you, God can actually use you to encourage them?

如果你覺得自己接受別人的幫助，多於幫助別人的時候，保羅的教導或許能提醒你，在接受幫助的同時也要給予，那就是感謝那些關懷你的人所付出的辛勞。當你向他們表達感謝時，上帝便能以此來鼓勵他們。

If you seem to be giving to the point of exhaustion, see if you can hear any gentle wisdom here for yourself.

如果你正因為所付出的而感到疲憊不堪，盼望你能在這裡聽到溫柔的智慧之言。

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