第二十五週．週一

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晨興餧養

腓四５～６　『當叫眾人知道你們的謙讓宜人。主是近的。應當一無罣慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，帶著感謝，將你們所要的告訴神。』

在腓立比一章二十一節保羅宣告：『在我，活著就是基督。』這句話是保羅內裏實際的見證。但活基督之生活的真正彰顯是甚麼？這彰顯見於四章五至九節所列的美德。同樣的原則，在二章保羅說明基督是我們的榜樣。…照著這榜樣所過生活的彰顯會是甚麼？這彰顯就在四章五至九節。關於保羅在三章所說，將萬事看作虧損，甚至看作糞土，以贏得基督，也是這樣。人若定罪哲學，棄絕文化，拋棄宗教，將這些看作糞土，為要贏得基督，他的生活將會有怎樣的彰顯？我們要再指出，這彰顯乃見於四章五至九節。（腓立比書生命讀經，二六八至二六九頁。）

信息選讀

活基督之生活的彰顯，第一面乃是謙讓宜人。〔參腓四5。〕…第二面是一無罣慮。在活基督的生活裏，會有謙讓宜人，但沒有罣慮，沒有憂愁。

活基督的生活是平靜、安寧、平安、且安靜的。反之，風波的生活是活撒但的生活。謙讓宜人是安寧生活最重要的元素。謙讓宜人是待人合理，體諒，顧到別人，不嚴格要求合法的權利。

謙讓宜人包括忍耐和適度，但還不只這些。你若謙讓宜人，就不會與人爭辯，與人爭鬥，或與人爭論。你也許有許多可說的，但你對待別人忍耐並適度，被惹動或激怒時也不會說甚麼以回應。

假定一班姊妹住在一起。最寶貴的姊妹將是最謙讓宜人的姊妹。難處發生時，她會平靜、安靜。即使別人得罪她，她也不會報復。然而，缺乏謙讓宜人的姊妹被得罪時，也許很容易反應。…正確的基督徒生活是平靜的生活。過這樣的生活，意思是我們不與人爭辯，或與人爭鬥。

謙讓宜人與私圖好爭、貪圖虛榮這兩件保羅所題消極的事相對。謙讓宜人也與發怨言、起爭論相對。…每當我們私圖好爭、貪圖虛榮、發怨言、起爭論的時候，就沒有平靜，沒有安寧，沒有謙讓宜人。

我們若活基督，就不會與別人爭辯。我們會知道，甚至平靜的話在甚麼時候說纔合宜；即使是平靜的話，若在不當的時候說出來，也能助長爭辯。…有人對你生氣，最好不要說甚麼。要操練謙讓宜人，並等候適當的時候說平靜的話。已婚的弟兄姊妹實行這點尤其重要。你的丈夫或妻子若好爭辯，要謹慎你說話的方式；甚至不要大聲呼求主，這可能是智慧的，因為大聲呼求主也可能激起麻煩。你外面不要說話，要使自己平靜，裏面呼求主，一直等到情況安寧纔說。

我是個老年人，歷盡人世滄桑。在主主宰的手下，我遭遇過許多不同的環境。我經歷過貧窮，也經歷過需要得著供應。我可以見證，人生一切的境遇都離不開罣慮。一言以蔽之，人生就是罣慮；人生的總和就是罣慮。

保羅在腓立比四章六節說到罣慮，因為他領悟，罣慮就是人生的總和。保羅也領悟，謙讓宜人是正確基督徒生活的總和。…因此，活基督就是謙讓宜人而一無罣慮。（腓立比書生命讀經，二七○至二七一、六三二頁。）

參讀：腓立比書生命讀經，第二十七、六十一篇。

WEEK 25 — DAY 1

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Morning Nourishment

Phil. 4:5-6 Let your forbearance be known to all men. The Lord is near. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

In Philippians 1:21 Paul declares, “To me, to live is Christ.” This statement is a testimony of Paul’s inner reality. But what is the real expression of a life that lives Christ? This expression is found in the virtues listed in 4:5-9. In the same principle, in chapter 2 Paul sets forth Christ as our pattern…What will be the expression of a life that lives according to this pattern? The expression is in 4:5-9. The same is true with respect to Paul’s word in chapter 3 concerning counting all things as loss, even refuse, in order to gain Christ. What kind of expression will there be in a person’s life if that one condemns philosophy, rejects culture, and renounces religion, counting them as refuse in order to gain Christ?…Again…the expression is seen in 4:5-9. (Life-study of Philippians, p. 222)

Todays Reading

The first aspect of the expression of a life that lives Christ is forbearance [Phil. 4:5]…A second aspect is the absence of anxiety. In a life that lives Christ there will be forbearance but no anxiety, no worry…A life that lives Christ is calm, tranquil, peaceful, and quiet. A life of turmoil, on the contrary, is a life that lives Satan. Forbearance is the most important element of a tranquil life.

Forbearance is reasonableness and consideration in dealing with others. To have forbearance is to deal with others without strictness of legal right. Forbearance includes patience and moderation but goes beyond them. If you have forbearance, you will not argue with others, fight with them, or debate with them. You may have a great deal to say, but you will have patience and moderation in dealing with others and will not say anything in response to provocation or irritation.

Suppose a group of sisters live together. The most precious sister will be the one who is the most forbearing. When difficulties arise, she will be calm and quiet. Even if others offend her, she will not retaliate. Sisters who lack forbearance, however, may easily react when they are offended…A proper Christian life is a life of calm. To live such a life means that we do not argue with people or fight with them.

Forbearance is versus selfish ambition and vainglory, two negative things mentioned by Paul. Forbearance is also opposed to murmurings and reasonings…Whenever we have selfish ambition, vainglory, murmurings, and reasonings, there is no calm, no tranquillity, no forbearance.

If we live Christ, we will not argue with others. We will know what is the right time to speak even a calm word. Even a calm statement made at the wrong time can contribute to an argument…If someone is angry with you, it is best not to say anything. Exercise forbearance and wait for the right time to utter a calm word. It is especially important for married brothers and sisters to practice this. If your husband or wife is argumentative, be careful about the way you speak. It may be wise not even to call on the Lord aloud. Such a calling may stir up trouble. Instead of speaking outwardly, calm yourself, call on the Lord inwardly, and wait until the situation is tranquil before you say
anything.

As an elderly person, I have passed through a great many experiences in human life. Under the sovereign hand of the Lord, I have been in a great many different circumstances. I have known poverty, and I have known what it is to have my needs supplied. I can testify that in all the circumstances of human life, anxiety is present. Anxiety is a word that can sum up human life. The totality of human life is anxiety.

Paul speaks of anxiety in 4:6 because he realized that it is the totality of man’s life. Paul also realized that forbearance is the totality of a proper Christian life…Thus, to live Christ is to have forbearance without anxiety. (Life-study of Philippians, pp. 223-224, 513)

Further Reading: Life-study of Philippians, msgs. 27, 61