腓立比书生命读经 · 第60篇

满了谦让宜人却一无罣虑的生活（五）

A LIFE FULL OF FORBEARANCE BUT WITHOUT ANXIETY (5

1读经：腓立比书4:4-7;1:18-21;4:10-13。我们已经一再强调，腓立比书是一卷论到经历基督的书。我们要经历基督，就必须活基督，以显大基督。（一20～21。）然后我们必须以祂为我们的榜样，并竭力追求祂作我们的标竿。在我们基督徒的生活中，我们应当思念独一的事，就是思念追求基督并赢得基督。保罗交通到经历基督的这几方面之后，令我们有点惊讶的是，他在四章却说到谦让宜人和罣虑。在积极一面，我们需要谦让宜人；在消极一面，我们应当一无罣虑。

1Scripture Reading: Phil. 4:4-7; 1:18-21; 4:10-13 We have repeatedly emphasized that the book of Philippians is a book on the experience of Christ. To experience Christ we need to live Him that we may magnify Him (1:20-21). Then we need to take Him as our pattern and pursue Him as our goal. In our Christian life we should have the unique mind—the mind to pursue Christ and gain Him. After covering these aspects of the experience of Christ, Paul, somewhat to our surprise, speaks in chapter four of forbearance and anxiety. On the positive side, we need forbearance; on the negative side, we should not have any anxiety

2在这样一卷论到经历基督深奥的书信末了，保罗为甚么要题到谦让宜人和罣虑？表面看来，一、二、三章所交通的事，与保罗论到谦让宜人和罣虑的话之间没有关联。许多年前，我认为罣虑一事不值得保罗来题说；照著我的观念，他应当继续讲更高的事，虽然我不清楚更高的事是甚么。

2Why at the conclusion of such a profound book on the experience of Christ does Paul mention forbearance and anxiety? Apparently there is no connection between the matters covered in chapters one, two, and three and Paul’sword about forbearance and anxiety. Years ago, I did not consider it worthwhile for Paul to speak of anxiety. According to my concept, he should have continued to speak about higher things, although I was not clear what these higher things should be

神所派定的环境

THE CIRCUMSTANCES ASSIGNED BY GOD

3保罗在以弗所一章三节和二章六节说到诸天界。在你的经历中，你是天天在诸天界里，还是天天在罣虑里？我们多半都在罣虑里，很少在诸天界里。人堕落以后，人类的生活就成了罣虑和担忧的组合。你若仔细读创世记三章，就会看见，罣虑乃是从神派定给我们的环境来的。例如，我们有些罣虑是从儿女来的。从孩子出世那一刻开始，作父母的就一直为他担忧。没有孩子的人也许梦想有一天要有个孩子，但他们不领悟，生养儿女会带来多少的担忧和罣虑。凡影响我们儿女生活的事，都会引起我们的罣虑。我们会为他们的呼吸、饮食、穿著挂心。大多数的父母都能见证，就著儿女这一面而言，他们的日子充满罣虑，过于充满快乐。

3In Ephesians 1:3 and 2:6 Paul talks about the heavenlies. In your experience day by day are you in the heavenlies or in anxiety? More often than not, we are in anxiety, not in the heavenlies. After the fall of man, human life became a composition of anxiety and worry. If you read Genesis 3 carefully, you will see that anxiety comes from the environment assigned to us by God. For example, we have anxiety with respect to our children. From the moment a child is born, his parents worry about him. Those who do not have children may dream of having a child one day. But they do not realize the worry and anxiety associated with giving birth to a child and raising him. Everything that affects the living of our children gives rise to anxiety. We may worry about their breathing, their diet, and their clothing. Most parents can testify that as far as their children are concerned, their days are filled more with anxiety than with happiness

4创世记三章指明，堕落的人还要为谋生罣虑。在十七节耶和华对那人说，『地必为你的缘故受咒诅；你必终身劳苦，才能从地里得吃的。』在十九节耶和华说，『你必汗流满面才得糊口。』人必须劳苦才能维持生存，所以人满了罣虑。每个农夫都为他的收成罣虑。他担心天气，也担心灾病与昆虫所造成的伤害。事实上，没有一种工作是不叫我们罣虑的。连那些事业成功的人也为他们的工作罣虑。罣虑是无可避免的。

4Genesis 3 indicates that fallen man is also anxious about making a living. In Genesis 3:17 the Lord said to the man, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life.” In verse 19 the Lord says, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” Because man must labor to maintain his existence, he is full of anxiety. Every farmer is anxious about his crops. He worries about the weather and also about damage caused by disease and insects. Actually there is not one kind of work which leaves us free from anxiety. Even those who are successful in their profession are anxious about their work. Anxiety is unavoidable.

5还有许多罣虑是从婚姻生活来的。青年人都盼望结婚。婚姻生活虽好，但其中所包含的烦恼和罣虑，比喜乐要来得多。我鼓励青年人到了适婚年龄都该结婚，但他们不该期盼能有一个免于罣虑的婚姻生活。人生充满了罣虑。可是，天使没有罣虑，因为他们没有甚么环境叫他们担忧。他们不嫁不娶，也不必为谋生或照顾家庭担心。天使甚至不必睡觉。有些人犯了一个错误，想要过天使般的日子。但是神已经命定人生的一切环境，尽管这些环境所产生的罣虑比喜乐还多。忧愁似乎总是比快乐持久。快乐或许只有片时，接踵而来的却是更长久的忧愁、烦恼或罣虑。

5There is also a good deal of anxiety related to married life. Young people desire to be married. Married life is good, but it involves more worry and anxiety than happiness. I encourage all the young people to get married at the proper time, but they should not expect a married life free from anxiety. Human life is full of anxiety. Angels, however, are not subject to anxiety because they do not have any circumstances to worry about. They do not marry, and they do not need to be concerned about earning a living or taking care of a family. It is not even necessary for angels to sleep. Some people make the mistake of trying to live as if they were angels. But God has ordained all the circumstances of human life, even though these circumstances give rise more to anxiety than to happiness. It seems that sorrow always lasts longer than happiness. There may be a short period of happiness and then a much longer time of sorrow, worry, or anxiety

6神派定这些引起罣虑的环境给我们，目的何在？照著罗马八章，我们除了救赎和内住的灵之外，还需要『万有』。二十八节说，『还有，我们晓得万有都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按祂旨意被召的人。』当然，『万有』也包括苦难、罣虑和烦恼。神要成全我们，苦难是不可少的。我们从经历中能彀知道，实际上『万有』所包括的每一件事，都牵连到罣虑。

6What is God’s purpose in assigning circumstances to us which cause anxiety? According to Romans 8, in addition to redemption and the indwelling Spirit, we need “all things.” Verse 28 says, “ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to the purpose.” To be sure, included in “all things” are sufferings, anxieties, and worries. In order for God to perfect us, sufferings are necessary. From our experience we know that virtually every matter included in “all things” involves anxiety

人类生活的总和与基督徒生活的总和

THE TOTALITY OF HUMAN LIFE AND OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

7我是个老年人，历尽人世沧桑。在主主宰的手下，我遭遇过许多不同的环境。我经历过贫穷，也经历过需要得著供应。我可以见证，人生一切的境遇都离不开罣虑。一言以蔽之，人生就是罣虑；人生的总和就是罣虑。你若请一个老年人谈谈罣虑，他会告诉你，他这一辈子几乎天天都在罣虑。

7As an elderly person, I have passed through a great many experiences in human life. Under the sovereign hand of the Lord, I have been in a great many different circumstances. I have known poverty, and I have known what it is to have my needs supplied. I can testify that in all the circumstances of human life anxiety is present. Anxiety is a word that can sum up human life. The totality of human life is anxiety. If you ask an older person about anxiety, he will tell you that he has known anxiety almost every day of his life.

8保罗在四章六节说到罣虑，因为他领悟，罣虑就是人生的总和。保罗也领悟，谦让宜人是正确基督徒生活的总和。保罗知道，人生是由忧虑所构成，而基督徒的生活是由谦让宜人所构成。因此，活基督就是谦让宜人而一无罣虑。4我们若仅仅在字句上研读腓立比四章，还不能充分的明白这一章。我们要明白保罗的意思，就必须对主有经历。五十年前，我对这一章没有正确的领会。但是藉著多年的研读，以及在属人生活和基督徒生活中的经历，主开了我的眼睛，叫我看见，真正的基督徒生活乃是谦让宜人的生活。我逐渐领悟，罣虑如何是人生的总和，谦让宜人也照样是基督徒生活的总和。这就是保罗把谦让宜人和罣虑这两个辞摆在一起，来嘱咐圣徒的原因。在积极一面，我们应当叫人知道我们的谦让宜人。凡接触我们的人都当知道我们的谦让宜人。在消极一面，我们必须过一种没有罣虑的生活。我们若要作正确的人，就必须作基督徒；要作正常的基督徒，就必须过召会生活。然而，我们若要有正确且真实的召会生活，就需要过一种满了谦让宜人却一无罣虑的生活。过这样的生活就是活基督。

8Paul speaks of anxiety in 4:6 because he realizes that it is the totality of man’s life. Paul also realized that forbearance is the totality of a proper Christian life. Paul knew that human life is constituted of anxiety and that the Christian life is constituted of forbearance. Thus, to live Christ is to have forbearance without anxiety. It is not possible to understand Philippians adequately simply by studying this chapter in letters. We need experience with the Lord in order to understand Paul’s meaning. Fifty years ago I did not have a proper understanding of this chapter. But through many years of study and experience, both in human life and in the Christian life, the Lord has opened my eyes to see that the genuine Christian life is a life of forbearance. I have come to realize that just as anxiety is the totality of human life, so forbearance is the totality of the Christian life. This is the reason Paul uses the words forbearance and anxiety together in charging the saints. Positively, we should make known our forbearance. All those who come in contact with us should know our forbearance. Negatively, we need to have a life without anxiety. To be a proper human being we need to be Christians, and to be normal Christians we need to have the church life. However, if we are to have the proper and genuine church life, we need a life full of forbearance but without anxiety. To have such a life is to live Christ.

活基督

LIVING CHRIST

9保罗在加拉太二章二十节说，『我已经与基督同钉十字架；现在活著的，不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活著。』许多年前，我就开始读论到这节圣经的书籍。然而，我还是不明白基督在我里面活著是甚么意思。加拉太二章二十节的解释，不是在加拉太书，乃是在腓立比书。保罗在腓立比书不仅说基督在我们里面活著，更进一步启示，活著就是基督。活基督远超过只有基督在我们里面活著。活基督的意思是，我们有一种满了谦让宜人却一无罣虑的生活。任何一点罣虑都会减少我们经历中基督的度量，甚至稍微罣虑一下，也会使基督的度量减少。在我们的日常生活中，基督同在的程度取决于谦让宜人和罣虑的分量。我们若有谦让宜人，就有基督；我们若有罣虑，就缺少基督。你每天的生活里有多少的谦让宜人，又有多少的罣虑？谦让宜人的程度和罣虑的程度，那一个比较高？我们大部分的人可能都要承认，在我们的日常生活里，我们的罣虑多于谦让宜人。

9In Galatians 2:2 0 Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Years ago, I began to read book son this verse. However, I could not understand what it meant for Christ to live in me. The explanation of Galatians 2:20 is found not in Galatians, but in Philippians. In Philippians Paul says not only that Christ lives in us; he goes on to reveal that to live is Christ. To live Christ surpasses simply having Christ live in us. Living Christ means that we have a life full of forbearance but without anxiety. Any amount of anxiety decreases the measure of Christ in our experience. Even a little anxiety causes the measure of Christ to diminish. The extent to which Christ is present in our daily life is determined by the amount of forbearance and anxiety. If we have forbearance, we have Christ. But if we have anxiety, we are short of Christ. In your living day by day, how much forbearance do you have and how much anxiety? Which is greater— the degree of forbearance or of anxiety? Probably most of us would have to admit that in our daily life we have more anxiety than forbearance.

10我盼望强调这个事实：活基督乃是谦让宜人却一无罣虑。我们若谦让宜人，就不会有罣虑；但我们若有罣虑，就没有谦让宜人。谦让宜人和罣虑是不能并存的。

10I wish to emphasize the fact that to live Christ is to have forbearance but no anxiety. If we have forbearance we shall not have anxiety. But if we have anxiety, we shall not have forbearance. Forbearance and anxiety cannot coexist

显大基督

MAGNIFYING CHRIST

11腓立比四章四节说，『你们要在主里常常喜乐，我再说，你们要喜乐。』在四章十节保罗一开始就说，『我在主里大大的喜乐。』此外，保罗在一章十八节论到他的苦难时说，『这有何妨呢？或假意，或真诚，无论怎样，基督究竟被宣传开了。为此我就欢喜，并且还要欢喜。』当我们想到保罗的景况时，他论到喜乐的话就格外有意义。他被囚于罗马，而一些反对他的人又竭尽所能的破坏他的职事。然而，保罗宣告说，『因为我知道，这事藉著你们的祈求，和耶稣基督之灵全备的供应，终必叫我得救。』（19。）我们先前已指出，这里的得救，意思是藉著活基督而显大基督。因此保罗说，『这是照著我所专切期待并盼望的，就是没有一事会叫我羞愧，只要凡事放胆，无论是生，是死，总叫基督在我身体上，现今也照常显大。』（20。）保罗盼望没有一事叫他羞愧。

11Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Paul opens 4:10 with the words, “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly.” Furthermore, in 1:18 Paul, speaking of his affliction, says, “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is announced, and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.” Paul’sword about rejoicing is especially significant when we consider his circumstances. He was a prisoner in Rome, and certain of his opposers were doing everything possible to damage his ministry. Nevertheless, Paul declares, “For I know that for me this shall turn out to salvation through your petition and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ” (v. 19). As we have pointed out previously, salvation here means to magnify Christ by living Him. Thus, Paul says, “ According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be put to shame, but with all boldness, as always, even now Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether through life or through death” (v. 20). Paul did not expect to be put to shame in anything

12假如有一位保罗的同工到狱中去看望他，发现他在罣虑、悲伤，并且愁容满面。毫无疑问，去看望他的人会说，『真羞耻！居然看见这位将基督服事给我们的使徒这么悲伤，这么罣虑。』倘若保罗的光景是这样，他就要羞愧。但保罗却显大基督。不论他的景况多么艰难，他都一无罣虑。因著保罗不为任何事罣虑，所以没有一事叫他羞愧，反而叫基督在他身上显大。保罗能彀显大基督，因为他有谦让宜人。连保罗在监禁的期间，他也满了谦让宜人。他顾念众召会，对众圣徒有正确的了解，并且他还有能力将爱、怜悯、恩慈和同情，供应众圣徒和在他周围的人。因著他完满的谦让宜人，所以在他身上就没有罣虑的痕迹。保罗甚至能彀说，无论是生，是死，他盼望基督在他身体上照常显大。这指明保罗并不为死担心；死不足以叫他罣虑。

12Suppose one of Paul’s co-workers visited him in prison and found him anxious, sorrowful, and full of worry. No doubt the one visiting him would have said, “What a shame to see the very apostle who ministered Christ to us so sorrowful and anxious!” If this had been Paul’s situation, he would have been put to shame. But Paul magnified Christ. No matter how difficult his circumstances were, he did not have any anxiety. Because Paul was not anxious in any thing, he was not put to shame in anything. Instead, Christ was magnified in him. Paul could magnify Christ because he had forbearance. Even during his imprisonment, Paul had a great deal of forbearance. He considered the churches, he had a proper understanding of the saints, and he had the ability to supply the saints and those around him with love, mercy, kindness, and sympathy. Because he exercised his forbearance in full, there was not a trace of anxiety. Paul could even say that he expected Christ to be magnified in him whether through life or through death. This indicates that Paul was not worried about death. The thought of death did not make him anxious.

知足与谦让宜人

CONTENTMENT AND FORBEARANCE

13我们已经看见，罣虑是与谦让宜人对立的。罣虑像一条虫，把我们谦让宜人的能力吞噬。我们若没有谦让宜人，我们就很容易恼怒或发脾气。怒气常是从罣虑来的。我若为著我的将来、我的景况、或我的家庭担忧，我就会和别人处得不愉快。这些忧虑会使我厌烦每一个人。惟有当我们喜乐知足的时候，我们才有谦让宜人。我们在先前的一篇信息里指出，喜乐与知足乃是产生谦让宜人的两个要素。惟有喜乐、满足的人才能彀谦让宜人。相反的，一个忧愁、不知足的人很容易被激怒、被得罪。保罗满了喜乐与知足，所以他一无罣虑，并有丰盛的谦让宜人。

13We have seen that anxiety is opposed to forbearance. Anxiety is like a worm which devours our ability to forbear. If we have no forbearance, it will be easy for us to be upset or to lose our temper. Anger often comes out of anxiety. If I am worried about my future, my circumstances, or my family, I will not be happy with others. This worry will cause me to be upset with everyone. Only when we are happy and contented do we have forbearance. In a previous message we pointed out that happiness and contentment are two elements which produce forbearance. Only a happy, satisfied person can forbear. One who is sorrowful and discontented, on the contrary, is easily irritated or offended. Because Paul was full of happiness and contentment, with him there was no anxiety, but an abundance of forbearance

14我们从保罗在四章十至十二节的话可以得知，他至少有一段时间缺乏供给。但是他能彀作见证说，『我已经学会了，无论在甚么景况，都可以知足。』他能彀说，『我知道怎样处卑贱，也知道怎样处富余；或饱足、或饥饿、或富余、或缺乏，在各事上，并在一切事上，我都学得秘诀。』因著保罗学得秘诀，他就能彀知足，结果就有丰盛的谦让宜人。许多人曾指出，腓立比书是一卷论到喜乐的书。保罗一再的劝勉我们要在主里喜乐。保罗的处境叫任何人都很难喜乐。我们通常都不会认为监狱是一个叫人喜乐的地方。但是保罗一无罣虑，他不为当前的景况或未来担忧，所以他能彀在主里喜乐，也能彀谦让宜人。

14We know from Paul’sword in 4:10-12 that, at least for a period of time, he was short of supply. But he could testify, “I have learned, in whatever circumstances I am, to be content.” He could say, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to hunger, both to abound and to be in want.” Because Paul had learned the secret, he could be content and, as a result, have an abundance of forbearance. Many have pointed out that Philippians is a book of joy. Again and again Paul exhorts us to rejoice in the Lord. Paul’s environment would have made it difficult for anyone to be joyful. We do not usually think of a prison as a place for rejoicing. But because Paul had no anxiety, no worry about his circumstances or future, he could rejoice in the Lord and be forbearing

神的派定

GOD’S ASSIGNMENT

15我们若要有一无罣虑的生活，就必须领悟，我们所有的遭遇，不论是好是坏，都是神所派定的。我们需要对这个领悟有充分的把握。假如一位弟兄经商，他的生意兴旺，赚了一大笔钱。后来他的生意失败了，所赔的钱比已往赚的钱还要多。赚钱和赔钱都是神派定给他的。倘若这位弟兄有充分的把握，相信他的环境是神所派定的，他就能彀为著主的安排敬拜主。或许赔钱比赚钱对他更有益处，因为藉著这样的损失，他就得著成全并建造。

15If we would have a life free of anxiety, we need to realize that all our circumstances, good or bad, have been assigned to us by God. We need to have this realization with a full assurance. Suppose a brother is in business as a merchant. His business may prosper, and he may earn a good deal of money. Later his business may fail and he may lose much more than he earned. Both earning money and losing it are God’s assignment to him. If this brother has the full assurance that his circumstances come from God’s assignment, he will be able to worship the Lord for His arrangement. Perhaps losing money will benefit him more than earning money, for through such a loss he may be perfected and built up

16照样，疾病与健康都是神所派定的。我们都应当切慕健康。但有时候，健康不像疾病那样能成全我们。此外，我们不健康的时候也许比健康的时候更愿意祷告。要一无罣虑，第一个先决的条件就是要有充分的把握，知道我们所经历的一切苦难，都是神所派定的。何必为那些事担心？是神将这些事派定给我们的。祂知道我们的需要。我年幼的时候读过一则故事，说到两只麻雀的对话。牠们所谈的是人中间极为普遍的忧愁与烦恼。一只麻雀对另一只说，人类为甚么有那么多的烦恼。另一只回答说，『我想这是因为他们不像我们有一位父看顾我们。我们甚么事都不必烦恼，因为我们的父看顾我们。』不错，我们的父的确看顾我们。但是有时候祂差派艰难、苦难给我们，目的是要使我们达到显大基督的定命。我们能彀一无烦恼，不是因为神应许我们没有苦难的生活，乃是因为我们知道，所有临到我们的环境都是神所派定的。保罗不在意是生、是死，他只在意基督在他身上显大。他领悟每一种景况都是为著他的益处。这是一无罣虑的路。

16Likewise, both illness and good health come from God as His assignment. We should all aspire to be healthy. But sometimes good health does not perfect us as much as a period of illness. Furthermore, when our health fails, we may be more inclined to pray than when we are in good health. The first prerequisite to having no anxiety is to have the full assurance that all the sufferings we experience are God’s assignment. What need is there to worry about things? God has assigned them to us. He knows what we need. When I was very young, I read a story about a conversation between two sparrows who were talking about the sorrows and the worries common among human beings. One sparrow asked the other why people worry so much. The other sparrow answered, “I don’t think they have a Father who cares for them like we do. We don’t need to worry about anything because our Father takes care of us.” Yes, our Father does care for us. But sometimes He sends us hardships and sufferings to serve in fulfilling our destiny to magnify Christ. We can be freed from worry not because God has promised us a life without suffering, but because we know that all our circumstances come to us as God’s assignment. Paul did not care about life or death. He cared only that Christ would be magnified in him. He realized that every circumstance was for his good. This is the way to have no anxiety

17为甚么有些圣徒会担心赔钱？因为他们想要赚更多的钱。为甚么有些人担心身体的健康？他们罣虑是因为他们怕死。如果我们病了，我们必须宣告说，『撒但，你能把我怎样？我不怕死。死并不能叫我罣虑，反而给我机会来显大基督。』如果神差遣贫穷、疾病或死亡临到我们，我们不该惧怕，反要欢迎。这样，我们就一无罣虑，因为我们知道，每一种景况都是从父那里来的，是祂所派定的。然而，这不是说，我们为著要受苦就自讨苦吃。我们不该作自讨苦吃的事。作生意的人就该赚钱，作职员的人就该寻求升迁。但是我们若赔了钱，甚至失了业，也不必罣虑。这种损失乃是来自神的派定，我们不必为此罣虑。

17Why do certain saints worry about losing money? Simply because their desire is to have more money. Why are others anxious about their health? They are anxious because they are afraid to die. If we are ill, we need to declare, “Satan, what can you do to me? I am not worried about death. Death does not make me anxious. Rather, the possibility of dying gives me another opportunity to magnify Christ.” Instead of fearing poverty, illness, or death, we should welcome them if God sends them to us. Then we shall have no anxiety, for we shall know that every circumstance is an assignment from our Father. This does not mean, however, that we should seek suffering for its own sake. We should not do things that will cause us to suffer. Those who are in business should seek to make money, and those who are employees should try to get a promotion. But if we lose money or even lose our job, we need not be anxious. Such a loss comes from God’s assignment, and we need not be anxious about it.