SECTION A
甲部
1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好，
2. Welcome to you one more time to this series of messages from 2 Corinthians.
欢迎你再一次收听这个哥林多后书的系列信息。
3. We have been talking about the fifteen secrets of positive living.
我们一直在谈十五个积极生活的秘诀，
4. And today, we will talk about secret number eleven.
今天我们要讲第十一个秘诀。
5. Let us review the first ten very quickly.
让我们很快地温习一下，前十个秘诀是什么。
6. Number one,
第一，
7. take hold of the inflow/outflow equation of God’s blessings in your life.
掌握神赐给你生命之福的输入与输出的方程式。
8. Number two,
第二，
9. cling to the priceless deposit of Christ’s sacrifice for you.
重视耶稣基督为你牺牲所付出的昂贵订金。
10. Number three,
第三，
11. learn to enjoy giving and receiving forgiveness.
学习享受饶恕与被饶恕的恩典。
12. Number four,
第四，
13. overcoming timidity.
克服恐惧。
14. Number five,
第五，
15. revel in the real fountain of youth.
尽情享受真正的青春之泉。
16. Number six,
第六，
17. seek true health, wealth, and prosperity.
追求真实的健康、财富和丰盛。
18. Number seven,
第七，
19. master the art of peacemaking by reconciling others to God.
劝人与神和好，这是缔造和平者的最高造诣。
20. Number eight,
第八，
21. use the power of example by modeling Christ.
运用效法基督，以身作则的力量。
22. Number nine,
第九，
23. make your sorrow to be the back door to happiness.
让忧伤成为重获喜乐的门路。
24. Number ten
第十，
25. is getting through giving.
从付出中获取。
26. And today, I want to talk to you about number eleven, which is being appreciated.
今天我要跟你分享第十一个秘诀，就是“得称赞”。
27. Someone once said that the deepest principle in human nature is craving to be appreciated.
有人曾说过，在人性深处的一个特点就是，我们都渴望得到别人的赞许。
28. I’ve never met anyone who does not appreciate being appreciated.
我从来没有遇见过一个不喜欢别人称赞的人。
29. I have met people who pretended that they don’t want or need appreciation,
我见过那些假装自己不需要别人称赞的人，
30. but the truth is, there’s nothing wrong with giving or receiving appreciation.
但事实上，称赞与被称赞没什么不对。
31. It is biblical to express appreciation to others.
圣经也教导我们，要懂得欣赏别人。
32. But it’s like everything else—there’s always the danger of extremes.
可是，就像其他的道理一样，一旦走极端就有危险。
33. And Paul is not talking about extreme forms of appreciation in 2 Corinthians.
保罗在哥林多后书里，并不是指这种偏激的赞赏。
34. He is talking about our biblical view of giving and receiving appreciation.
他谈的是，符合圣经观点的赞赏与被赞赏。
35. For example,
举例来说，
36. the Bible says, “Give honor to whom honor is due.”
圣经说：“当恭敬的，恭敬他。”
37. The Bible said, “The laborer is worthy of his hire.”
圣经说：“工人得工价是应该的。”
38. Today, we will see the eleventh secret of positive living, which is being appreciated for generous giving.
今天，我们要来看积极生活的第十一个秘诀，就是那些慷慨施予者将得着称赞。
39. A philosopher once said ingratitude is always a form of weakness.
有一位哲学家说过，不知感恩是一种软弱的表现。
40. I have never known a truly strong person to be ungrateful.
我从没见过一个真正坚强的人，却不知感恩的。
41. And if that’s the case, the God is the strongest one of all.
如果我的看法正确，那么，我们的神就是最坚强的一位。
42. Why?
为什么？
43. Because the Bible tells us that God does not let any sacrifice by His children go unappreciated or unrewarded.
因为圣经告诉我们，神绝不会不欣赏，或不回报祂儿女所献的祭。
44. My listening friend,
我亲爱的朋友，
45. when you understand God’s appreciation of your generosity and sacrifice, it becomes overwhelming.
当你明白，神多么欣赏你慷慨无私的奉献，将令你惊叹不已。
46. And in chapter 8 of 2 Corinthians, Paul told us that the secret of getting is giving.
哥林多后书第八章那里，保罗告诉我们，收获来自施予。
47. And here in chapter 9, which we will look at today, the Apostle Paul continues by saying God not only appreciates, but rewards, generous givers.
我们今天要看的第九章这里，使徒保罗继续说，神不仅赞赏，更要回报慷慨施予的人。
48. If you have a Bible, please look at 2 Corinthians chapter 9 verses 6-15.
如果你有圣经，请看哥林多后书九章6-15节。
49. Verse 6 tells us,
第6节告诉我们，
50. “Now this, I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
“少种的少收，多种的多收，这话是真的。”
51. Paul was speaking to a farming society.
保罗当年是对生活在农业社会里的人说话，
52. They understood the complete meaning of this analogy.
他们完全理解这个比喻的意义。
53. If you scatter the seeds in abundance on the ground, you will get a large harvest.
如果你在土地里撒下大量种子，你就会有大丰收。
54. But if you are stingy and scatter seed lightly on the ground, then you will get a feeble harvest.
但如果你很吝啬，种子撒得稀稀落落，那么，你的收成也是很贫乏的。
55. And Paul is advising the Corinthians to learn this important lesson.
保罗就是在劝说哥林多人，一起来学习这个重要的教训。
56. He is telling them that the harvest they receive is in direct proportion to their sowing;
他告诉他们，收成与撒种的份量是成正比的。
57. that God’s depth of appreciation for them is in proportion for their giving back to God.
同样的，神称赞他们的程度，跟他们奉献给神多少，也成正比。
58. And so the question is, how does God express His appreciation to His generous children?
那么，问题在于，神如何表达祂对慷慨奉献的儿女的赞赏呢？
59. He expresses His gratitude in four ways.
神以四种方式表达祂的赞赏。
60. The first is that God has a special fondness for His generous children.
神对祂慷慨的儿女特别喜爱，
61. We see this in verse 7 of chapter 9.
我们从第九章7节那里可以看到。
62. The second is that God abundantly provides for their every need.
第二，神充足地供应他们一切的需要，
63. We see this in verses 11 and 12.
我们在第11和12节那里看到这一点。
64. The third is found in verse 13, where Paul tells us that God is glorified through His children’s generosity.
第三点，在13节那里，保罗告诉我们，当神的儿女多多地捐献时，神就得着荣耀。
65. And the fourth is that God answers prayers offered on their behalf,
第四，神会答应他们为别人的祷告，
66. which we see in verses 14 and 15.
在14，15节那里。
67. Let’s look more closely at these four results of our generosity.
现在，我们仔细来看看这四个慷慨奉献的结果。
68. Number one, God has a special fondness for His generous children.
神对祂慷慨的儿女特别喜爱。
69. In verse 7, Paul says, “For God loves a cheerful giver.”
第7节保罗说：“捐得乐意的人，是神所喜爱的。”
70. My listening friend, this is the most precious promise of all.
亲爱的朋友，这是最宝贵的应许，
71. There is no higher honor or reward.
没有比这更高的荣誉和奖赏了。
72. Of course, God loves the world in general.
当然，神爱全世界，
73. John chapter 3 verse 16 tells us this.
这是约翰福音三章16节告诉我们的。
74. And God has a deeper love for His children.
同时，神更深爱祂的儿女，
75. But God reserves a special fondness and highest love for the cheerful giver.
但神保留了祂特别的喜悦和最高的爱，给乐意奉献的人。
76. We cannot imagine a greater expression of gratitude than knowing that we are at the pinnacle of God’s love.
我们无法想象，还有比这更高的感谢方式，神竟然把我们放在祂至爱的高峰。
77. I think we all like to be appreciated.
我们都喜欢别人欣赏我们，
78. But when we receive appreciation from someone who is very special to us, then that appreciation is more meaningful to us.
但如果我们得到的赞赏，来自跟我们有特殊关系的人，这样的赞赏则别具更深的意义了。
79. So just think—that the God of heaven is expressing His appreciation to you.
你想，天上的神竟然表示欣赏你。
80. There can be no more uplifting thought than to hear the almighty and the all-powerful God saying that He appreciates you.
当我们听见大能权威的神说，祂欣赏你，世上再没有比这更大的鼓舞了。
81. But who are the cheerful givers?
那么，谁是捐得乐意的人呢？
82. Those who are giving to God comes from the heart and not from obligatory feelings.
就是那些从心里愿意奉献的人，而不是勉强尽一分义务而已。
83. God shows His appreciation to generous givers by having special fondness of them.
神对慷慨奉献者表示赞赏的第一种方式，就是特别喜爱他们。
84. The second way God shows appreciation to generous givers is found in verses 8-11.
神对慷慨奉献者表示赞赏的第二种方式，记载在8-11节，
85. And that is that God abundantly provides for their every need.
也就是，神充足地供应他们一切需要。
86. Verse 8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you,
第8节说：“神能将各样的恩惠，多多地加给你们，
87. so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
使你们凡事常常充足，能多行各样善事。”
88. Paul uses the word ‘all’ five times just in that verse.
保罗在这节经文里，五次使用“all”这个形容词。
89. What’s Paul saying here?
保罗想要表达什么？
90. He is saying that God’s gracious giving is limitless.
他想告诉我们，神所赏赐的恩惠，是无穷尽的。
91. God’s gracious giving cannot be measured.
神所赏赐的恩惠，是无法衡量的。
92. Why is that?
为什么呢？
93. Because through human understanding, we think that we will have a lesser amount if we give part of our money to God.
因为，在人的理解中我们认为，奉献部分金钱给神，就会减少我们所拥有的。
94. But through the understanding of faith, the opposite is true.
但从信心的领域来看，恰恰相反。
95. When you give to God, you will have more, not less.
当你奉献给神，你所拥有的不但不会减少，反而会增加。
96. You say, “But that’s not possible.”
你说：“这不可能。”
97. Oh, but you’re still living in the possible world.
那么，你还是活在一个可能性被局限的世界里。
98. But the world of faith is the world of the impossible.
然而信心的世界，是超越一切可能性的。
99. And God has deep appreciation toward those who live in the world of faith instead of the world of sight.
如果你凭信心而活，不凭眼见，那么神会格外地赞赏你。
SECTION B
乙部
1. Let me give you some examples.
让我举几个例子。
2. Human wisdom says that prosperity comes from accumulating and from hoarding and holding tight onto your money.
人间的智慧认为，我们要尽量赚取，并聚敛所有的钱，才能富起来。
3. But faith says, “I trust in God’s promises to provide all and everything I need.”
然而信心说，我信靠神的应许，祂必定供应我一切所需。
4. My listening friend,
亲爱的朋友，
5. if you have never experienced God’s expression of appreciation for you, then you are missing the greatest joy you can ever experience.
如果你从没有经历过神对你的赞赏，那么，你就错过了人生最大的喜乐。
6. The third way that God expresses His appreciation to the generous giver is found in verses 11-13.
神对慷慨奉献者表示赞赏的第三种方式，记载在11-13节。
7. God is glorified through the generosity of His children.
当神的儿女多多地捐献时，神就得着荣耀。
8. When other people are blessed by your generosity, they will glorify God.
当别人因着你慷慨的施予而蒙福，他们也会归荣耀与神。
9. And do you know who receives the recognition for that gift?
你知道这份礼物将归功于谁呢？
10. The generous giver.
慷慨的奉献者。
11. In these verses, Paul is saying that giving is the proof of genuine salvation.
在这几节经文里，保罗说，奉献是真实得救者的证明。
12. And an expression of obedience always brings glory to God.
一个顺服神的行动，必定能荣耀神。
13. Many of the poor believers during Paul’s time knew of the city of Corinth because of its reputation.
在保罗那个时代，许多贫穷的基督徒都知道，哥林多是个很出名的城市。
14. You say, “What’s that reputation?”
你会问：“怎么出名啊？”
15. Corinth was known as a city of immorality and idolatry.
原来，哥林多是个道德败坏的城市，以淫乱堕落著名。
16. So imagine their incredible, overwhelming joy when they hear that there were believers in Corinth,
所以，你可以想象得到，当他们听说哥林多居然有人信主成为基督徒，他们是多么的兴奋高兴呀！
17. and that these believers were supporting them.
而且，他们很乐意来支持哥林多的信徒。
18. And they will give glory to God who calls people out of that sinful city to be their brothers and sisters in Christ.
他们也因着神从一个充满罪恶的城市里，呼召人成为基督里的弟兄姊妹，就归荣耀给神。
19. Imagine the thanksgiving and the glory they gave to God because of that.
你想，他们为此是如何地感恩，并将荣耀归给神呢？
20. So, number one, God expresses appreciation to His generous children.
好，第一，神赞赏祂慷慨奉献的儿女。
21. Secondly, He abundantly provides for them.
第二，祂丰富地供应给他们。
22. Thirdly, God becomes glorified through them.
第三，神通过他们得荣耀。
23. Fourthly, and finally, by answering prayers offered on their behalf.
最后，第四，神应允他们为别人的代祷。
24. Paul tells us about this in verses 14 and 15.
保罗在14和15节那里告诉我们，
25. Verse 14 says, “And in their prayers for you, their hearts will go out to you because of the surpassing grace God has given you.”
14节说：“他们也因神极大的恩赐显在你们心里，就切切地想念你们，为你们祈祷。”
26. The prayers offered up on behalf of the Corinthians because of their generosity were a great blessing.
这些慷慨的奉献者，为哥林多人献上的祷告，真是一个极大的祝福。
27. These people might not have been rich,
他们不是富有的人，
28. they may not have been able to give much financially.
他们不能付出很多金钱，
29. but they sent faithful prayers to God on behalf of the Corinthians.
但他们可以忠心地，为哥林多人向神祷告。
30. And we see this in verse 15.
我们在15节那里看到：
31. “Thanks be to God for His incredible gift.”
“感谢神，因祂有说不尽的恩赐。”
32. So, my listening friends, as we bring this message to conclusion, I want you to remember this.
我亲爱的朋友，节目就快结束，请记着，
33. Show your appreciation to the Lord for His abundant blessing on you.
要为神赐给你丰富的恩典，向祂表示你的感激；
34. Express your appreciation to those around you.
也对你身边的人表示你的感激。
35. And until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大地赐福给你，下次节目再会。
