二月十日
我……知道怎样处丰富……（腓4:12）
有很多人知道“怎样处卑贱”，可是没有学会“怎样处丰富”。当他们上到崇高的山顶时，他们就头晕起来，像要倾跌得样子。基督徒常在兴盛时羞辱他的身份，而非在祸患之时。兴盛富裕真是一件危险的事。基督徒能经得起患难的煎熬，但却受不了兴盛的锻炼。唉！神的许多恩怜和丰富常常使一个人的灵命瘦削起来，并且忽略属灵的事！但这并非必须如此，使徒保罗告诉我们，他知道怎样处丰富。当他富裕时，他知道怎样使用；丰盛的恩典使他当得起丰盛的富裕。当他满载的时候，便把帆完全张开，好平稳地航行；当属灵的福乐涨满到了杯子的边缘时，必须用一只坚定的手来把持，这是人力所难能的，但保罗却学会了这技巧。他说：“或饱足、或饥饿……随事随在，我都得了秘诀。”饱足是我们该学得一个属灵的功课，因为以色列人曾饱足过，但他们吃的肉还在口中时，神的烈怒就临到了他们。有很多人求神的恩怜为的是要满足他们心中的肉欲。所以食欲饱足常想靠自己的血气，并使灵命凋敝。当我们在物质方面多得神的恩怜时，常是在属灵方面少得神的恩典，并且为我们得的丰富所存的感激心也是很小的。我们得了丰满，却是忘了神：属世的方面得了满足，以为没有天堂也行。知道怎样处饱足比知道怎样处饥饿还难。人的天性是很容易骄傲并忘记神的。在你祷告的时候要求神指教你“怎样处丰富”。“愿你爱的恩赐，使我们不远离你。”
February
10
“I
know how to abound.” –Philippians 4:12
There are many who know “how to be
abased” who have not learned “how to abound.” When they are set
upon the top of a pinnacle their heads grow dizzy, and they are ready to fall.
The Christian far oftener disgraces his profession in prosperity than in adversity.
It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less
severe trial to the Christian than the fining-pot of prosperity. Oh, what
leanness of soul and neglect of spiritual things have been brought on through
the very mercies and bounties of God! Yet this is not a matter of necessity,
for the apostle tells us that he knew how to abound. When he had much he knew
how to use it. Abundant grace enabled him to bear abundant prosperity. When he
had a full sail he was loaded with much ballast, and so floated safely. It
needs more than human skill to carry the brimming cup of mortal joy with a
steady hand, yet Paul had learned that skill, for he declares, “In all
things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry.” It is a divine
lesson to know how to be full, for the Israelites were full once, but while the
flesh was yet in their mouth, the wrath of God came upon them. Many have asked
for mercies that they might satisfy their own hearts’ lust. Fulness of bread
has often made fulness of blood, and that has brought on wantonness of spirit.
When we have much of God’s providential mercies, it often happens that we have
but little of God’s grace, and little gratitude for the bounties we have
received. We are full and we forget God: satisfied with earth, we are content
to do without heaven. Rest assured it is harder to know how to be full than it
is to know how to be hungry–so desperate is the tendency of human nature to
pride and forgetfulness of God. Take care that you ask in your prayers that God
would teach you “how to be full.”
” Let not the gifts Thy love bestows
Estrange our hearts from Thee.”
