在基督徒的生活中,能力是通过应用造就出来的。就是在一个人得到了属灵的恩赐之后,其有效性还会随这个人尽责地应用它而增长。所以,那些懒惰,不着重应用的基督徒往往没有多少能力。他们往往到教会去,交钱给牧师,让牧师来做他们应做的事。他们甚至以能力不足作为不去事奉的借口。
这个懒惰的仆人虽然称他的主人为“主”,但紧接着就辱骂他,称他偷窃他没有生产的。换句话讲,这个仆人觉得如果他去投资的话,所增的值的应该归他,不归他的主人。但因为他盘算反正他也不能从中得到什么,就没有去投资,一点都没有。银行家可比作把你的资源投资到别人的事奉里。机构化教会常常给人一种错觉,这种事奉是“非专职的”基督徒们唯一可做的事奉。
我估计有许多基督徒有这种态度:“我可以事奉基督,但我必须从中得到点什么。”许多人如果得不到报酬就不做基督徒的事工。他们把神给他们提供的资源看作是他们自己的。许多人称耶稣为主,但有多少人把他按主对待呢?
到头来,那些顺从他们的主人,对他们所得到的资源尽责的人将得到大的赏赐,而懒惰的将被定罪。不要自欺,人若只接受基督为救主,但不接受他的主权,是不能得救的。而且不能光是口头上,还必须在行为上。因为我们的行为显示出我们真正所信的是什么。
懒惰的仆人已经有的资源也将被夺过来,加给最有能力,最尽责的仆人。这是应该的——神把更多的责任交给那些被证明更尽责的人。
| A man went away but left his servants some money
"Talents" they're called, though that may seem funny The master gave to each as he thought best Not for themselves but for them to invest To those who have proven to have ability He gave more money and responsibility To one he gave five, to another two And another just one (what did he give you?) He went on his journey and then he returned And met with his servants to see what he earned The one he gave five had made five more "Good work faithful servant," he said as he swore To put him in charge of many things And see what rewards his happiness brings The man who had two also gain two "Good! I'll give the same to you" But the man who was given only but one When asked what he earned, his profit was none. But then he began to make an excuse "You take what you did not produce So I was afraid and hid in the ground That talent you gave." He said so profound The master replied, "You're wicked and lazy. I'm not stealing from you, are you crazy You don't want to work? Then put it in a bank. You could have earned interest, if I may be so frank Take the talent from this man and give it to the other The man who has ten talents and not to his brother For everyone who has, more will be given As for this man, he will not be forgiven Throw him outside where it's dark as night Let him weep and gnash teeth and have no sight. |