12月1日
标 题：不要争竞
经 节：然而主的仆人不可争竞，只要温温和和地待众人，善于教导，存心忍耐。（提摩太后书二章24节）
基督徒是不争竞的。神的真理与我们同在。我们不需要因为有人不接受神的真理，而有胁迫感或感到灰心。
有时候，人们可能不同意你所说关于神的言论。他们也许会怀疑你口中所说有关于神对你的引领，或者他们会质疑你对神的信心。在这种时刻，辩驳是绝对没有用的。你永远不能够以辩论的方式，叫人进入神的国度。你永远不可能以争辩赢得某人，说服他相信神对你的启示！如果你让神依着祂的时间及祂的方式来为你辩白，你抉择的智慧自会被证明（路加福音七：35）。如果你发现自己常常与其他人争论，你需要求神清楚向你透露你真正的动机，及求神饶恕你不遵守祂早已言明的诫命。
如果你与人争辩的动机，是出于想要证明自己是对的、为自己辩白、或赢得听众的信服，那么你的行为太自私了，神不会以你为荣的。不管你是多么公义及正确，神一点也不感兴趣。神在意的是你的顺服。神命令你不要以争论来取胜，祂要在别人错待你的时候，你能以仁慈及饶恕相待。以争竞为主的名赢得一场胜利，并不能荣耀神，然而，当有人错待你或误解你的动机时，你以忍耐的心反映出你效法基督的品格，你就能荣耀神。争辩永远不能使人同意你的看法，但效法基督一样爱人，会为你赢得许多朋友！
Not
Quarrelsome
And a
servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach,
patient. (2 Timothy 2:24)
There
should be no quarrelsome Christians. The truth of God is within us; we need
never be intimidated or frustrated by those who do not accept God’s truth.
At
times people may disagree with you regarding God’s Word. Perhaps they question
the way you say He is leading you, or they may challenge your faith in God. At
times like these it is never helpful to argue. You will never debate anyone
into the kingdom of God. You will never persuade someone that God has spoken to
you by outarguing them! Only God can convince others of the veracity of His
word to you. If you will allow God to vindicate you in His time, and in His
way, a time will come when the wisdom of your choice will be evident (Luke
7:35). If you find yourself often quarreling with others, you need to ask God
to clearly reveal your motives and to forgive you for your disobedience to His
clear command.
If
your motivation for arguing comes from your desire to be right, or to be
exonerated, or to gain the esteem of those listening to you, you are acting
selfishly, and God will not honor you. God is not interested in how right you
are. He is interested in how obedient you are. God’s command is not that you
win arguments, but that you are kind and forgiving when others mistreat you.
You bring God no honor by winning a dispute in His name, but you reflect a
Christlike character when you demonstrate patience to those who mistreat you or
misunderstand your motives. Arguing may never win people to your view, but
loving them as Christ does will win you many friends over time!
