Chapter 8: The Local Church And Its Collections
| |
One of the fascinating features of the nature of our God is that He is a giving God. One has put it this way: “God ever lives, forgives, outlives and ever stands with outstretched hands, and while He lives He gives, for this is Love’s prerogative to give, and give, and give.” Adam was the first one to use the word as seen in Gen.3.12, “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me”. Hence in keeping with this most commendable feature of Divinity from Genesis to Revelation our God is seen as a “giving God”, see Gen.12.7; Rev.22.12.
|
우리의 하나님의 본질의 매력적인 특징 중 하나는 그분은 주시는 하나님이라는 것이다. 사람은 이처럼 표현했다: “언제나 살아계신 하나님, 용서, 오래 참으시고 펼친 손으로 언제나 서신, 그분은 살아계시는 동안 그분은 주시고 이것을 위해 사랑의 특권을 주시고, 주시고 또 주시기 위해 계신다.” 아담은 창
|
It is essential and indeed vital, to our understanding of the subject of giving to recognise that we may give our gifts and our goods, and yet miss the priority of God in this matter and fail in giving our persons in wholehearted devotion to God, as is urged by Paul in Rom.12.1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” The Lord wants more than my money or my resources. He wants me in total resignation to Himself, and this surely is extremely personal, practical and permanent. Is that all? Nay, verily, for as we turn to Heb.13.15 our God is awaiting yet a further giving, and that is praise, |
우리가 우리의 은사들과 좋은 것들을 드릴 수도 있다는 것을 인식하고 드림의 주제에 관해 우리의 이해하는 것은 본질적이고 실제로 중요하다, 그리고 여전히 이 문제에 대한 하나님의 우선 순위를 놓치고 하나님께 전심으로 헌신함에 우리의 사람들은 드림에 실패한다, 따라서 롬 |
“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.” It is recorded that the great C. H. Spurgeon having ministered from this verse one Lord’s Day, was found by one of his parishioners the very next day lying on the ground, having been attacked by a person who managed to take his money. His friend standing by said to him, “Can you still praise the Lord?” “Yes,” he replied, and among the many things Spurgeon reiterated as his cause for praise was, “the robber did not take my life, he only took my money; and while he hit me, I did not hit him” and so on. Yet another offering is to be noted as found in Rev.8.3,4 and that is prayer, “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” Every possible resource is to be ours through the grace of God whatever the circumstances may be.
|
“이러므로 우리가 예수로 말미암아 항상 찬미의 제사를 하나님께 드리자 이는 그 이름을 증거하는 입술의 열매니라.” 그것은 어느 주님의 날 이 구절에서 섬겼던 위대한 C.H. 스펄젼이 그의 돈을 갖기 위해 관리했던 사람에 의해 공격을 받아 바로 다음날 바닥에 누워 있는 것이 그의 교구민 한 사람에 의해 발견되었다고 기록되어 있다. 입석한 그의 친구가 “당신이 여전히 주님을 찬양할 수 있는가?”라고 그에게 말했던 것에 의해 “예”라고 그는 대답했고, 스펄젼은 많은 것들 가운데 찬양에 대한 그의 이유로 “강도가 나의 생명을 취해가지 않았고, 그가 내 돈만 가져갔다; 그가 나를 공격하는 동안 나는 그를 공격하지 않았다”는 등등이었다. 다시 다른 연보는 계
|
King David provides a good illustration of the concept of giving in a selfless manner. Though he was intent on building a temple for God he was told that such was certainly not to be his privilege. “And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God: But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight” 1 Chron.22.7,8. Naturally, he might well have both suppressed his interest and retained his resources, leaving others to supply the need. But no, David is recorded as having “prepared in abundance” for the Temple, although he would never have the privilege of being personally involved in its construction, “And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight; Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David. And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death ... Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto. Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work. Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee” 1 Chron.22.3-5;14-16. Whatever our situation in life may be, let us never withhold our devoted giving from God even though certain privileges that we may have anticipated, may not be ours in which to engage.
|
다윗 왕은 스스로의 방식으로 드림의 개념에 관한 좋은 그림을 제공한다. 그가 하나님을 위한 성전을 건축하는 것에 열심이었지만 그는 그러한 것이 확실히 자신의 특권이 아니었다는 것을 들었다. “이르되 내 아들아 나는 내 하나님 여호와의 이름을 위하여 전을 건축할 마음이 있었으나 여호와의 말씀이 내게 임하여 이르시되 너는 피를 심히 많이 흘렸고 크게 전쟁하였느니라 네가 내 앞에서 땅에 피를 많이 흘렸은즉 내 이름을 위하어 전을 건축하지 못하리라”(대상
|
In the days of Josiah the insight that preserved him was truly ordered of God, else Athaliah, who hated kingship, would have killed him. But there was one with perception and intelligence, namely Jehosabeath, who acknowledged him and hid him in the house of God, and so he was preserved by priestly care. It is most important for the serious reader of Holy Scripture to note in any portion of the Book, the use and repetition of simple, yet key words. In 2 Chronicles chapters 23 and 24, such a word is “set”.
|
요시아의 시대에 그를 보존했던 통찰력은 진정한 하나님의 질서였으며 달리 왕권에 반감을 품었던 아달랴는 그를 죽였을 것이다. 그러나 지각과 지성을 가진 사람이 있었다, 즉 하나님의 집에서 그를 인정했고 그를 숨겼던 여호사브앗이다, 그래서 그는 제사장의 돌봄에 의해 보존 되었다. 그것은 책의 어떤 부분에는 단순하지만 핵심 단어의 사용과 반복을 주목하고 성실하게 성경을 읽는 자를 위해 매우 중요하다. 대하 23장과 24장에서 그와 같은 단어들이 “놓여” 있다.
|
Observe in 23.20 the King is “set upon the Throne” suggesting the Government of the house. In v.19 the porters are “set at the gates” ensuring the Guardianship of the house. Earlier in v.10 Jehoiada “set all the people … on the right side … and the left side of the temple,” which signifies the Gallantry of the house. The Glory of the house is certainly discernable in the final result of this mighty activity and recovery as 24.13 records “they set the house of God in his state”. The purpose in inviting the interested reader to this special portion is to note that when it comes to the subject of giving, which is essential for the ongoing work of the house, it is recorded in v.8 that the king commanded a chest to be made “and set it without the gate of the house of the Lord” denoting the Giving of the house.
|
|
In 2 Kings 11.9 it is stated that the priest set the chest “beside the Altar”. The application is stimulating, as it reminds us of the privilege we have to gather in remembrance of the Lord, and then exercise our responsibility to give to Him our practical appreciation of Him. This, as we shall consider later, was within Paul’s communication to the Corinthians. Often I ask myself: would what I have set apart to offer at the remembrance meeting be more if I was truly affected by what the Lord Jesus has accomplished for me; would I give more after the remembrance than before it?
|
왕하
|
In the gospel by Mark chapter 13, there is what we may term an abbreviated record of the prophetic utterances by the Lord as recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25. It is helpful to note that four times the Lord Jesus urges that the persons addressed should “take heed” vv.5,9,23,33: our responsibility to do so is vital. It is encouraging to observe that before and after Mark’s account of the profusion and confusion of the times designated by the Lord, two women are mentioned, see 12.41–44; 14.1–9. Here are two women who, out of heartfelt devotion, give to God their wealth and worship. Beloved, ponder where Jesus the Lord is sitting “over against the treasury”. Then observe what He is seeing, and listen to what He is saying.
|
마가복음 13장에서 마태복음 24,25장에 기록된 것에 따라 주님의 우리가 신에 의해 우리가 주님에 의한 예언적인 말에 관해 생략되었던 기록이라고 부를 수도 있다는 것이다. 주 예수님께서 네번이나 사람들에게 말씀하셨던 “주의하라”(5,9,23,33)를 주목하는 것은 도움이 된다: 그렇게 하는 우리의 책임은 극히 중대하다. 그것은 주님에 의해 지정된 시대의 풍부하고 혼란한 마가의 설명 이전과 이후, 두 여성이 언급되어 관찰하도록 격려되고 있다,
|
“And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And He called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living” Mk.12.41-44. “And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on His head” Mk.14.3.
|
“예수께서 연보궤를 대하여 앉으사 무리의 연보궤에 돈 넣는 것을 보실새 여러 부자는 많이 넣는데 한 가난한 과부는 와서 두 렙돈 곧 한 고드란트를 넣는지라 예수께서 제자들을 불러다가 이르시되 내가 진실로 너희에게 이르노니 이 가난한 과부는 연보궤에 넣는 모든 사람보다 많이 넣었도다 저희는 다 그 풍족한 중에서 넣었거니와 이 과부는 그 구차한 중에서 자기 모든 소유 곧 생활비 전부를 넣었느니라 하셨더라”(막 “예수께서 베다니 문둥이 시몬의 집에서 식사하실 때에 한 여자가 매우 값진 향유 곧 순전한 나드 한 옥합을 가지고 와서 그 옥합을 깨뜨리고 예수의 머리에 부으니”(막
|
Surely when each one of us comes to such an exercise, He is neither absent nor oblivious. He is still the same Lord. The attitude of these women is in stark contrast to those in the days of Malachi of whom it is said they robbed God: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed Me, even this whole nation.” However, to give to God His portion would bring great blessing, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” Mal.3.8-10.
|
확실히 우리 중의 한 사람 각자가 그와 같이 행사하러 왔을 때 그분은 여전히 동일한 주님이시다. 이러한 여자들의 태도는 하나님을 강탈했던 사람들에 관한 말라기의 시대에 그들에 대해 현저하게 대조적이다: “사람이 어찌 하나님의 것을 도적질하겠느냐 그러나 너희는 나의 것을 도적질하고도 말하기를 우리가 어떻게 주의 것을 도적질하였나이까 하도다 이는 곧 십일조와 헌물이라 너희 곧 온 나라가 나의 것을 도적질하였으므로 너희가 저주를 받았느니라 만군의 여호와가 이르노라 너희의 온전한 십일조를 창고에 들여 나의 집에 양식이 있게 하고 그것으로 나를 시험하여 내가 하늘 문을 열고 너희에게 복을 쌓을 곳이 없도록 붓지 아니하나 보라”(말
|
Years ago brethren in an assembly, having apportioned the giving of the saints, had five pounds left. They mutually decided to give the five pounds to a dear sister they knew very well. The brother appointed put it in an envelope and placed it through her letterbox. Not very long after he met the sister who said she had something to tell him. She reported having been at a missionary meeting where a very special need was made known and she was moved to give, but she had only a five-pound note left in her purse. She bowed her head and said, “Lord, if I give this I will have nothing left, but what else can I do but give it to Thee?” And she did. But she said, “Brother, you will never believe what happened when I got home. On opening the door there was an envelope with five pounds in it.” The brother in question could not get away quickly enough as his eyes filled with tears because of how God the Lord can see it all and repay the faithful. I ask my soul, has it ever been my experience to give all that I had?
|
여러 해 전에 모임의 형제들은 성도들의 드림을 할당했으며 다섯 파운드를 놓고 가도록 시켰다. 그들은 그들이 잘 알고 있었던 사랑하는 자매들에게 다섯 파운드를 제공하기로 서로 결정했다. 임명된 형제가 그것을 봉투에 넣었고 그녀의 우편함을 통해 두어졌다. 그다지 길지 않은 후에 그는 그녀가 그에게 말할 무엇인가 있다고 말했던 자매를 만났다. 그녀는 아주 특별한 필요성이 알려지게 되었던 선교사 집회에서 있었다는 것을 보고했고 그녀는 드림을 이동했다. 그러나 그녀는 그녀의 지갑에 남아있는 다섯 파운드만 적어놓고 있었다. 그녀는 고개를 숙이고 말했다 “주님, 만약 내가 아무것도 남은 것이 없을 경우, 그러나 다른 무엇을 할 수 있지만, 그러나 그것이 주님께 드리는 것인가요?” 그리고 그녀는 했다. 그러나 그녀는 “형제님, 당신이 저의 집에 왔을 때 무슨 일이 있었는지 결코 생각하지 않을 것입니다. 문을 열고 거기에 그 다섯 파운드의 봉투가 있었다.” 문제에서 형제는 하나님의 방법에 관해 그의 눈에 눈물이 가득했기 때문에 족히 그 자리를 떠날 수 없었으며 주님은 그 모두를 보실 수 있고 충분히 보답하실 것이다. 나는 내 영혼에게 묻는다, 그것은 이제까지 내가 가졌던 모두를 드림에 나의 경험이 되었는가?
|
http://www.assemblytestimony.org/ |
'말씀 안으로 > 지역교회의 영광' 카테고리의 다른 글
제9장 지역교회와 그 돌봄(2) (0) | 2013.09.26 |
---|---|
제9장 지역교회와 그 돌봄(1) (0) | 2013.09.26 |
제8장 지역 교회와 연보(3) (0) | 2013.09.20 |
제8장 지역 교회와 연보(2) (0) | 2013.09.20 |
제7장 지역교회와 의사 소통(3) (0) | 2013.09.14 |
제7장 지역교회와 의사 소통(2) (0) | 2013.09.14 |
제7장 지역교회와 의사 소통(1) (0) | 2013.09.14 |
제6장: 지역 교회와 그 기념(4) (0) | 2013.03.22 |