1. Welcome our listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好！
2. We are glad you joined us today.
我们很高兴你今天收听这个节目。
3. We are in the midst of a series of messages on the life of Abraham.
我们正在讲一系列跟亚伯拉罕有关的信息，
4. We call it “The Journey of Faith”.
题目叫做“信心之旅”。
5. And today I want to begin by saying that quarrels... disputes... arguments and fights... are all often the result of division.
今天我要跟大家讲的是，吵架、争执、辩论和斗争，全都是分裂的结果。
6. the well-known name Franklin Roosevelt once said;
鼎鼎大名的罗斯福总统曾经说过：
7. “There is nothing I love as much as a good fight.”
“我最喜欢打一场美好的仗。”
8. Quarreling and fighting comes naturally to all of us.
对每个人来说，争辩和斗争是最自然不过的。
9. Why?
为什么？
10. Because each of us are naturally born preferring to go for the jugular... than to give in.
因为每一个人天生喜欢逞强，不喜欢让步。
11. This rambunctious nature was seen first between Cain and Able...
这种暴戾的天性，在该隐和亚伯之间已存在，
12. and has come to us through the law of heredity.
并且遗传到我们身上。
13. People quarrel over all kinds of things;
人们为着各样的事情争辩；
14. Some quarrel... over ideas and opinions...
有些人为了想法和意见不同而争辩，
15. as it happened between Paul and Barnabas.
就像保罗和巴拿巴那样。
16. Some quarrel over jealousy and envy...
有些人出于嫉妒和羡慕而争辩，
17. as it happened with Moses and his sister and brother
就像摩西和他的兄姊那样。
18. Moses’ brother Aaron and his sister Miriam quarreled with Moses about his wife.
表面上摩西的哥哥亚伦和他的姊姊米利暗为着摩西的妻子与摩西发生争执。
19. But in reality they were envying his authority.
但是骨子里他们在妒忌他的领导地位。
20. But most quarrels... happen over money.
但是大部份的纠纷，是跟钱财有关。
21. That is... money in all forms and material possessions of all kinds.
包括金钱，和各式各样的物质财富。
22. the Bible gives us example after example of how money and possessions blind the eyes of people.
圣经给我们很多例子，说明钱财如何蒙蔽人。
23. even God’s people.
即使神的儿女也不能幸免。
24. And the results were often disastrous.
而且往往带来灾祸。
25. Love of money breaks up families.
贪爱钱财会摧毁家庭。
26. Love of money destroys friendships.
贪爱钱财会拆散友谊。
27. Love of money causes wars and fights... domestic and otherwise,
贪财带来战争和纠纷，不论在家在外，国内或国际间都是如此。
28. Abraham and his nephew Lot... who had a relationship that was closer than a father and son... had to part company.
亚伯拉罕和他的侄儿罗得，本来比父子的关系还亲，最后却要分道扬镳。
29. Why?
为什么？
30. Because of Lots greed.
因为罗得贪爱钱财。
31. In the last message... we saw Abraham, Sarah, and Lot... and their clan... departing Egypt in shame... because Abraham was out of the will of God.
在上次的信息中，我们讲到亚伯拉罕、撒拉和罗得，还有他们的家属，带着羞愧离开埃及，因为亚伯拉罕没有遵行神的旨意。
32. But something happened in Egypt.
但是在埃及有些事发生了。
33. What was it?
那是什么？
34. Genesis 13:2 tells us
创世记十三章第二节告诉我们。
35. Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold. (NIV)
亚伯兰的金、银、牲畜极多。
36. Abraham did well in Egypt!
原来亚伯拉罕在埃及发财了！
37. In verse 3, Abraham finally returns to Bethel
第三节经文记载亚伯拉罕终于回到伯特利。
38. Literally means the “house of God”
伯特利的意思是“神的家”。
39. He now had come back from where he had fallen.
现在他回到了他以前跌倒的地方。
40. Now he had returned to where he belonged.
现在他回到了他本来居住的地方。
41. Now he had come back from where he had left off... fellowshipping with God.
现在他回到了当初离弃神的地方，他回来重新亲近神。
42. My listening friends
亲爱的朋友，
43. The best thing you can do... when you spiritually fall off... is to go back to the same place where you had fallen.
当你灵性低落的时候，最该做的就是回到你开始跌倒的地方。
44. And, there you wait for new instructions.
在那里等候神给你新的指引。
45. Abraham had to physically come back.
亚伯拉罕人回来了，
46. Abraham had come back mentally.
亚伯拉罕的心思回来了，
47. Abraham had come back spiritually.
亚伯拉罕的灵性回来了，
48. Abraham had come back seeking the Lords will.
亚伯拉罕回来寻求神的心意。
49. Abraham had now returned to the place of obedience...
亚伯拉罕回到他顺服神的地方，
50. and he bowed before the Lord...
他在神面前俯伏谦卑，
51. and he waits upon the Lord...
仰望等候神，
52. in that order.
就照着这样的次序。
53. It is the mercy of God that He overrules our foolishness when we repent.
当我们悔改时，神便不再记念我们的愚昧，这实在是神的恩典。
54. It is the graciousness of God that He forgives our stupidity when we turn back to Him.
当我们回转归向祂时，神就赦免我们的愚蠢，这实在是神的恩典。
55. Every new day... there is a new beginning for each of us.
对每一个人来说，每一个新的日子，就是一个新的开始。
56. In verse 4 of Genesis 13,
创世记十三章第四节指出，
57. Abraham publicly declares his dependence upon God and calls on the name of the Lord.
亚伯拉罕求告神的名，公开地宣告他要倚靠神。
58. I don't know what Abraham said when he called upon the name of the Lord.
我不知道亚伯拉罕在求告神的名时，说了些什么，
59. But perhaps he echoed Psalms 51:1-3 (NIV):
也许正如诗篇五十一篇所说的：
60. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
神啊，求你按你的慈爱怜恤我，按你丰盛的慈悲涂抹我的过犯！
61. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
求你将我的罪孽洗除净尽，并洁除我的罪！
62. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
因为我知道我的过犯，我的罪常在我面前。
63. As Abraham repents, his heart becomes overwhelmed with the joy of the Lord... and the joy of forgiveness.
当亚伯拉罕向神认罪悔改，他的心充满了从神而来的喜乐，和罪得赦免的喜乐。
64. But something is about to happen to him... that will break his heart.
但是有件令他伤心的事就要发生了。
65. The man whom he loved as a son... and grew closer to him than a brother... was about to be wrenched out of his life.
有一个人，亚伯拉罕把他当作儿子，和他的感情比兄弟还要亲密，而这个人即将离开他了。
66. While this was extremely painful... it was a necessary move.
虽然这将带来极大的痛苦，却是必须的。
67. Why?
为什么？
68. Because, Lot was a man whose priorities were radically different from his God-fearing Uncle.
因为罗得的价值观跟他那敬畏神的叔叔截然不同。
69. Money has now come between Lot and Abraham.
如今钱财阻隔在亚伯拉罕和罗得之间。
70. We say blood is thicker that water...
我们常说血浓于水，
71. but money proved to be the most effective blood thinner known to man.
但是钱财却成为最有效的血液稀释剂。
72. I have seen how money creates more conflict, and more division, and more quarrels, and more tension, and more heartache, than anything else in the world.
我看过很多例子，钱财比世上任何事情带来更多的冲突、更多的分裂、更多的争吵、更多紧张的局面和更多的伤痛。
73. Had Abraham and Lot been struggling to make a living,
如果亚伯拉罕和罗得需要为生活而挣扎，
74. had they not become rich and prosperous,
如果他们都没有致富的话，
75. their focus would have been on surviving.
他们会专心的为生存而奋斗，
76. Their priority would have been on cooperating together.
他们会把互相合作当作最重要的事，
77. Their eyes would have been on the Lord.
他们会定睛仰望神。
78. But now they had money;
但是他们现在都有钱了；
79. My listening friends let me tell you something about money and prosperity when it rules supreme.
我亲爱的朋友，让我告诉你一些有关钱财支配一切的情况。
80. Money and prosperity doesn't only create conflict in families... it also creates conflict in Christian work.
财富不单造成家庭纠纷，也使教会的圣工产生冲突。
81. Money can divide families and tear them apart.
财富可以拆散家庭。
82. Money can divide Christian brothers and sisters and break their bond of peace.
财富可以离间弟兄姊妹，造成不和睦。
83. Money can create enemies faster than any other element.
财富比任何其它东西更容易树敌。
84. Now remember that both Abraham and Lot became rich.
现在亚伯拉罕和罗得两人都发了财。
85. But there was a fundamental difference between the two.
但是两人之间有基本的区别。
86. Abraham possessed the flocks... the flocks did not possess him.
亚伯拉罕拥有牲畜，却不被牲畜占有他。
87. Lot... on the other hand, let the flock own him.
而罗得刚刚相反，他让牲畜占据了他的生命。
88. Lot was an example of a Christian believer who is possessed by his possessions.
罗得代表着那些被财产支配的基督徒。
89. Lot was an example of a Christian believer who was more concerned about his financial prosperity... than the prosperity of his spiritual life.
罗得代表着某些基督徒，只关心如何增添财富，却不大在意自己属灵生命的丰盛与否。
90. Lot allowed his success in Egypt to turn his head... from Godly endeavors to worldly pleasures.
罗得容许他在埃及的成就，引诱他离开神的道路转向世界的享乐。
91. You never read that... Lot ever built an alter for God.
你从未听说罗得为神筑过一座坛。
92. You never read that... Lot ever came back to God.
你从未听过罗得回转到神那里。
93. You never read that... Lot ever sought forgiveness from God.
你从未听过罗得求神赦免他的罪。
94. The tragedy is that Lot never followed the example of Abraham.
最可悲的是，罗得从不效法亚伯拉罕的榜样。
95. And as we shall see in the next message that while Abraham gave 10% of all his possession to Melchizedek... Lot did not give anything.
在下一次的信息中，我们会看到亚伯拉罕奉献他所有的十分之一给麦基洗德，但罗得却什么也没有奉献。
96. Lot was a mean-minded... close-fisted... money-loving believer.
罗得是个贪爱钱财的信徒。
97. You might ask, “How do you know he was a believer like his uncle?”
你也许会问：“你怎么知道他跟他叔叔一样，也是信徒？”
98. The Bible tells us that the only reason God saved him from the fire of Sodom was because he was a believer.
圣经告诉我们，因为罗得是一个信徒，所以神拯救他脱离所多玛的大火。
99. In verse 7 of chapter 2 of II Peter,
彼得后书二章第七节记载：
100. “Rescued Lot a righteous man who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men”
只搭救了那常为恶人淫行忧伤的义人罗得。
101. A dear friend told me once many years ago
很多年前有一个好朋友告诉我，
102. that the world is made up of two kinds of people...
这个世界有两种人，
103. givers and takers.
施予的人和接受的人。
104. I can find no better example in the scripture than the differences between Lot and his uncle Abraham.
我觉得这个说法最能够说明，罗得跟他的叔叔亚伯拉罕的不同之处。
105. Lot was a taker... but Abraham was a giver.
罗得是个接受的人，但亚伯拉罕是个施予的人。
106. Lot never acknowledged God as the provider... Abraham did.
罗得从不承认神是供应的神，但是亚伯拉罕却这样承认。
107. Lot's life was filled with heartache... Abraham blessed others with his blessings.
罗得的生命充满了悲哀，亚伯拉罕的生命却成为别人的祝福。
108. And that is why eventually Lot lost everything including his wife and family... while Abraham prospered in every way.
这正好说明为何最后罗得失去了一切，包括他的妻子和家人，而亚伯拉罕却在各方面都丰富有余。
109. Don't ever forget that quarrels between people... start in the heart.
请不要忘记人与人们之间的纠纷，往往是由心中开始的。
110. Major explosions... don't often result from minor conflicts.
轻微的摩擦，不会马上带来巨大的冲突，
111. They are like a slow gas leak... that could be leaking for a long time.
就像泄漏煤气那样，经过一段时间慢慢地渗出来，
112. All it needs is a spark and WHAM... big explosion.
然后，只须要一个小火花，就会引起大爆炸。
113. Tune in next time, when I will tell you what Jesus said about selfish ambitions.
请收听下次的节目，我会告诉大家耶稣怎么样看“自私的野心”。
114. And until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessings.
愿神大大的赐福给你，下次节目再会。
