十一月十九日
要远避无知的辩论。（多3：9）
我们的年日不多，故应用以多作善工；因爲所争辩的事，充其量不过是次要的事。古时的哲人学者不断地辩论一些实际上幷不重要的题目，真是危害世人不浅；我们的教会也常爲一些深奥难明的道理或是无关紧要的问题花很多时间作一些无谓的小论战。所能说的话都说完了之后，证明两造都不见得怎样高明；因此辩论幷不能增进知识和彼此相爱的心，在这样一块硗薄的地撒种，真是一件愚蠢的事。
辩论圣经上所未提到的问题——只有神知道的奥秘的事、两种解释的预言、守礼的仪式等都是无知的，聪明的人要远避这些。询问或答复无知的问题幷不是我们的事，我们乃要完全远避；我们若仔细看使徒的意思（多3：8）是叫我们留心作正经事业，我们就发现我们行善事的时间都被无价值、起纷争和不必需的争论占了去。但也有一些与无知相反的问题，我们却不当逃避，而应用诚恳的态度对待，例如：我相信主耶稣基督吗？我的心意已经在圣灵里更新了吗？我在恩典中不断地长进吗？我谈话时是否常提说救主我神的道呢？我盼望主再来，像一个仆人等待主人回来吗？我能爲耶稣多作一些什麽工作呢？这些问题是我们急待询问的。
若我们常吹毛求疵，无理非难，就当一反批评的常态，多作服侍主和人的工作，这是有益无损的。愿我们作和事老，藉我们的话语和榜样领导别人，“远避无知的辩论。”
November
19
“Avoid
foolish questions.”–Titus 3:9
Our days are few, and are far better spent
in doing good, than in disputing over matters which are, at best, of minor
importance. The old schoolmen did a world of mischief by their incessant discussion
of subjects of no practical importance; and our Churches suffer much from petty
wars over abstruse points and unimportant questions. After everything has been
said that can be said, neither party is any the wiser, and therefore the
discussion no more promotes knowledge than love, and it is foolish to sow in so
barren a field. Questions upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon
mysteries which belong to God alone; upon prophecies of doubtful
interpretation; and upon mere modes of observing human ceremonials, are all
foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our business is neither to ask nor answer
foolish questions, but to avoid them altogether; and if we observe the
apostle’s precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful to maintain good works, we shall
find ourselves far too much occupied with profitable business to take much
interest in unworthy, contentious, and needless strivings.
There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish,
which we must not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I
walking not after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does
my conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour? Am I looking for the
coming of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master?
What more can I do for Jesus? Such enquiries as these urgently demand our
attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, let us now turn our
critical abilities to a service so much more profitable. Let us be
peace-makers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to
“avoid foolish questions.”
