“人在那根基上所建造的工程若存得住,他就要得赏赐。” – 林前 3:14
我的妻子是一位技艺娴熟的钢琴手。有时我们会出席当地交响乐团的音乐会;如果可能的话,她会安排我们坐在可以清楚看到弹钢琴之人手和脚的座位上。她非常专心和钦佩地注视着钢琴手的动作,而我则在全神贯注欣赏交响乐团的演奏。相比之下,我欣赏音乐的程度实在远不及她呢!
同样,当神的子民在衪完全的荣耀中进入衪的国时,看来他们也会享受到不同程度的奖赏。尽管任何在神面前的人都会充满惊异和喜乐,然而,根据我们在此时此地过的生活,有些人显然会得到更蒙福的奖赏。
不过,保罗指出,最重要的是要“谨慎怎样在上面建造,”努力把生命建造在耶稣基督的根基上。我们既是神的儿女,已经藉着基督作成的工被接纳进入神的家庭,所以我们蒙召要效法耶稣生活,我们所想、所说和所作的,都以衪为典范。而我们也要按我们得到的恩赐和资源去实践这种生活。
在每天的生活中,我们蒙召要首先爱神和爱人如己(马太福音 22:37-40;也参考25:14-46)。神赐救恩是单单本乎恩,而不是基于我们的行为(以弗所书 2:8-10),然而神也奖赏忠心事奉衪的仆人。我们事奉的神是何等奇妙啊!
祷告
主啊,我们敬畏佩服你的恩典和怜悯!你对我们恩上加恩,我们称颂你的圣名!阿们。
哥林多前书 3:10-15
10我照神所给我的恩,好像一个聪明的工头立好了根基,有别人在上面建造,只是各人要谨慎怎样在上面建造。
11因为那已经立好的根基就是耶稣基督,此外没有人能立别的根基。
12若有人用金、银、宝石、草、木、禾秸在这根基上建造,
13各人的工程必然显露;因为那日子要将它表明出来,有火发现,这火要试验各人的工程怎样。
14人在那根基上所建造的工程若存得住,他就要得赏赐;
15人的工程若被烧了,他就要受亏损,自己却要得救,虽然得救,乃像从火里经过的一样。
Building With Care
“If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.” – 1 Corinthians 3:14
My wife is an accomplished pianist. On occasion we attend a local symphony. When possible, she arranges for us to sit in a location that gives a clear view of the pianist’s hands and feet. She watches the pianist’s movements with intensity and amazement. While I thoroughly enjoy listening to the symphony, my level of enjoyment pales in comparison to hers!
In a similar way, it seems, God’s children will enjoy varying levels of reward when they enter his kingdom in all its glory. Though everyone in God’s presence will be filled with wonder and joy, apparently some will be rewarded with more blessing and joy than others, based on the life they have lived here and now.
The important thing, though, as Paul points out, is to “build with care,” striving to base our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ. As God’s children, welcomed into God’s family through the finished work of Christ, we are called to live like Jesus, following his example in all we think, say, and do. And we are called to do this in line with the gifts and resources we are given.
In our daily living, we are called to love God first in our lives and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40; see also 25:14-46). God grants salvation by grace alone and not through works (Ephesians 2:8-10), but God also rewards his servants for their faithful service. What an amazing God we serve!
Prayer
Lord, we marvel at your grace and mercy! You add blessings upon blessings, and we praise your holy name! Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳