7月21日 成功与知足
成功与知足
信心教导圣徒，将神在护理中赐下的一切供应，视为神向他所定的旨意，并带着甘甜的满足去享用。
一个属世的人，若每天早晨不是先进入祷告的内室而后才去办理事务，那么他晚上回家时，便极少会向神献上感恩。他既在没有神的情况下开始这一天，若在结束时竟然想到神，反倒成了稀罕事。蜘蛛从体内吐丝结网，织成后便安居其中；同样，一个人若单凭自己的聪明才智经营事业，便会以“白手起家”自居。因此，对这样的人而言，敬拜自己的智慧，远比敬拜神容易得多。
曾有一个人，听见邻居为田里丰收的庄稼感谢神，便对这番赞美嗤之以鼻。他说：“感谢神？我倒宁愿感谢我的粪车！”这话暴露出他有一颗如阴沟般污秽的心，比他车上的粪便还要肮脏。你若要作基督徒，就必须在一切所行的事上认定神，不可倚靠自己的聪明（箴3:5-6）。当你借着这种不以自我为中心的态度，在工作上获得成功的冠冕时，你也必将赞美的冠冕归给神。
为了积累财富，雅各所付出的辛劳与汗水绝不亚于任何一位商人；然而，他勤勉的根基乃在于祷告，并且仰望从天上而来的赐福。他将自己所拥有的宝贵产业，全都归功于神的信实与慈爱；因为当他还是一个贫穷的客旅，走在前往巴旦亚兰的路上时，神就已应许要供应他（创28:2-4）。
贫乏与困境是教导异教徒知足的启蒙师傅，但信心才是教导基督徒知足的恩师。信心教导圣徒，将神在护理中赐下的一切供应，视为神向他所定的旨意，并带着甘甜的满足去享用。这就是得胜的敬虔——无论神的护理在他面前摆上怎样的筵席或粗粝，基督徒都能从中咀嚼出知足的滋味。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：士4章，徒8章，
个人灵修：耶17章，可3章
JULY 21, TUESDAY
SUCCESS AND CONTENTMENT
Faith is what teaches the saint to enjoy the supplies of providence with sweet complacency as the will of God concerning him.
The worldly person who does not go to his business every morning by way of a prayer closet rarely returns home in the evening to give thanks to God. He begins the day without God and it would be unusual for him to end it with Him. The spider that spins her web out of her own body dwells in it when she is through; and the person who operates his enterprises by his own ingenuity entitles himself to recognition as a “self-made man.” Thus it is easier for such a person to worship his own wisdom than to worship God.
Once a man overheard his neighbor thanking God for the rich stand of corn in his field and reacted to this praise. “Thank God? Why I would rather thank my manure-cart!” It was the speech of a sewer-spirit, more filthy than the load on his cart. If you want to be a Christian you must acknowledge God in all your ways and not lean unto your own understanding (Proverbs 3:6). This selfless attitude will lead you to crown God with praise when success crowns your work.
Jacob worked as long and hard as any other businessman for his wealth; yet the foundation of his diligence was in prayer and in the expectation of blessing from heaven. He attributed his valuable holdings to the truth and mercy of God, who promised to provide for him when he was still a poor pilgrim on his way to Padan-aram (Genesis 28:2–4).
Necessity was the heathen’s schoolmaster to teach contentment; but faith is the Christian’s. Faith is what teaches the saint to enjoy the supplies of providence with sweet complacency as the will of God concerning him. This is godliness that triumphs—when the Christian can carve contentment out of God’s providence, no matter what dish it sets before him.