保罗在新约书信的提摩太前书和腓立比书里各用了一定的篇幅劝勉主里的弟兄姐妹们要有知足的心。希伯来书也提到人要以自己现所拥有的为足。弟兄姐妹们的生命乃是主用他的血在十字架上换来的,他担当了我们的罪,替我们受了我们在末世要受的神的惩罚,让我们有了永生,永远生活在神的爱的国度里。
在提摩太前书里,耶稣基督的使徒保罗提醒提摩太敬虔加上知足会使一个人获益匪浅,因为这样的人生会充满耶稣的平安喜乐,并且人带不走这世界上的任何东西,积累的钱财何用?若不待在耶稣基督里,那堆积如山的钱财会带来真正的平安喜乐吗?保罗说贪财是万恶之根,这样的人会有很多的愁苦和痛苦,这些贪婪与愁苦刺穿了他们自己,给自己制造了许多的痛苦。我们这些属神的子民不要贪财,而是要生活在神的爱里,有信心,爱神爱人,耐心,温柔,追求公义。正如希伯来书所说,神是我们的帮手,总不撇下我们,因此,属神的人不用惧怕。
在上一篇文章里,我们已经提到了腓立比书里保罗带给信徒们的榜样:靠主喜乐和那种随事随在的知足感。
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提前6:6 然而敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了.
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
提前6:7 因为我们没有带甚么到世上来、也不能带甚么去.
For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can't carry anything out.
提前6:8 只要有衣有食、就当知足。
But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.
提前6:9 但那些想要发财的人、就陷在迷惑、落在网罗、和许多无知有害的私欲里、叫人沉在败坏和灭亡中。
But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.
提前6:10 贪财是万恶之根.有人贪恋钱财、就被引诱离了真道、用许多愁苦把自己刺透了。
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
提前6:11 但你这属神的人、要逃避这些事、追求公义、敬虔、信心、爱心、忍耐、温柔。
But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
来13:5 你们存心不可贪爱钱财.要以自己所有的为足.因为主曾说、『我总不撇下你、也不丢弃你。』
Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you."
来13:6 所以我们可以放胆说、『主是帮助我的、我必不惧怕.人能把我怎么样呢。』
So that with good courage we say, "The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
路3:14 又有兵丁问他说、我们当作甚么呢。约翰说、不要以强暴待人、也不要讹诈人、自己有钱粮就当知足。
Soldiers also asked him, saying, "What about us? What must we do?" He said to them, "Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages."
腓4:10 我靠主大大的喜乐、因为你们思念我的心、如今又发生.你们向来就思念我、只是没得机会。
But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your thought for me; in which you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity.
腓4:11 我并不是因缺乏说这话、我无论在甚么景况、都可以知足、这是我已经学会了.
Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.
腓4:12 我知道怎样处卑贱、也知道怎样处丰富、或饱足、或饥饿、或有余、或缺乏、随事随在、我都得了秘诀。
I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.
腓4:13 我靠着那加给我力量的、凡事都能作。
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.