音频：

视频：

•13我不是要别人轻松，你们受累，而是要均匀：14就是要你们现在的富余补他们的不足，使他们的富余将来也可以补你们的不足，这就均匀了。15如经上所记：

•多收的没有余，

•少收的也没有缺。

保罗从旧约的一段经文中得出了一个真理，这段经文描绘了以色列百姓在旷野藉着神从天上赐下的吗哪得到了奇妙的喂养。上帝供应他们每天所需要的食物。当以色列人收集好吗哪，不论他们收集的是多还是少，都刚好够每个家庭每天所需用的。神也以同样的方式供应他的百姓。有的人他给得少，有的人他给得多。但是神赐给我们有多有少的目的，不是让有的人富有，有的人贫穷。他的目的是让我们能彼此分享，最终让所有的人都得到供应。

    如果今天的世界也是这样运转，会是什么样?公司老板会尽可能多地给员工好处，而不是总想着维护自己的利润。寡妇会得到有爱心的邻舍的照顾，就像波阿斯愿意把自己的粮食分享给路得一样，使路得养活自己和婆婆。那些无家可归的人可以在有多余床位的人家找到地方住。这听上去有些像社会主义，但却是自愿的社会主义。那些有社会良知的人会关心他们的邻舍。为什么？因为他们知道他们所富余的那部分最好用来帮助别人，而不只是让自己变得越来越富有。

    我想我们很多人甚至包括我自己，已经丧失了我们的社会良知。我们认定政府会照顾那些穷人和寡妇，所以根本不将这件事放在心上。但是我们的政府真能取代有爱心的邻舍吗？它能为寡妇提供与她所需要的与食物一样重要的友情吗。它能为无家可归的人提供他所需要的指导，让他的生活井然有序吗?我承认今天早晨上帝的话语像镜子一样照出我的罪，没有达到他的要求，但同时也引导我在他丰盛的怜悯中寻求庇护。

祷告：主耶稣，请打开我的眼睛，让我看到周围那些处于伤害中和需要帮助的人。请让我为别人而活，而不仅仅为自己而活。阿们。

2 Corinthians 8: 13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”  (NIV)

Paul draws a truth from an Old Testament passage that describes the miraculous feeding of the Israelite nation with manna in the wilderness. God provided them with the food they needed every day. And when people gathered it up, whether they had a little or a lot, it was enough for each family. In the same way, God provides for his people. To some he gives a little and to some he gives a lot. But his purpose in providing for us is not so that some become rich and others remain poor, but so that we can share with each other and all will be provided for.

        If the world functioned that way today, what would it look like? The company owners would give their employees as much as they could instead of protecting their profit margin all the time. Widows would be cared for by caring neighbors in the way that Boaz shared his grain with Ruth, who provided for herself and her mother-in-law. Homeless people would find a home with someone who had an extra bedroom. It sounds a little bit like socialism, but a voluntary socialism. People with a social conscience would look out for their neighbors. Why? Because they know that their overabundance is best used to help others instead of enriching themselves.

        I think that we, or maybe I should only speak for myself, have lost our social conscience. We assume the government will take care of the poor and the widows and we have put that out of our minds. But can our government be a substitute for loving neighbors? Can it give the widow the friendship she needs as much as food on her table? Can it give that homeless person the guidance he needs to get his life in order?  I confess that I am troubled by the words God brings to my heart this morning and seek refuge in the abundance of his mercy.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus,  open my eyes to see the hurting and the helpless that surround me and make me live for others, and not just for myself.  Amen.