Seed and Bread 种子与麪包 林後 2 Cor 9:6-15; 8:1-12; 徒 Acts 20:34-35 加 Gal 6:7-8; 路 Luke 6:38; 12:33-34; 瑪 Mal 3:8-10

Big Seed Potatoes 好多好大的馬菱薯

Don’t Eat Your Seed Potatoes 別把種子也吃掉

林後 2 Cor 9:6-15 READ 請讀: 林後 2 Cor 8:1-12 瑪 Mal 3:8-10 路 Luke 6:38 徒 Acts 20:34-35

林後 2 Corinthians 9:6–15 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (NIV)

林後 2 Corinthians 9:6–15 6少種的少收，多種的多收‧這話是真的‧7各人要隨本心所酌定的‧不要作難，不要勉強，因為捐得樂意的人，是神所喜愛的‧8神能將各樣的恩惠，多多的加給你們‧使你們凡事常常充足，能多行各樣善事‧9如經上所記，『他施捨錢財，賙濟貧窮‧他的仁義存到永遠‧』10那賜種給撒種的，賜糧給人吃的，必多多加給你們種地的種子，又增添你們仁義的果子‧11叫你們凡事富足，可以多多施捨，就藉著我們使感謝歸於神‧12因為辦這供給的事，不但補聖徒的缺乏，而且叫許多人越發感謝神‧13他們從這供給的事上得了憑據，知道你們承認基督順服他的福音，多多的捐錢給他們和眾人，便將榮耀歸與神‧14他們也因神極大的恩賜，顯在你們心裡，就切切的想念你們，為你們祈禱‧15感謝神，因他有說不盡的恩賜‧

I. God supplies seed and bread. 神賜給我們種子与粮食 (麪包) I. God supplies seed and bread. 神賜給我們種子与粮食 (麪包). (林後 2Co 9:6-15; 9:10; 提前 1Tim 6:17; 徒 Acts 20:34-35; 約 John 12:24; 林前 1Co 15:36) Seed (種子) Bread (糧食, 麪包) A story on eating the best potatoes 一個吃完最大的馬菱薯的故事

神賜種子與糧食(麪包) (林後 2 Cor 9:10-11) 10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 10那賜種給撒種的，賜糧給人吃的，必多多加給你們種地的種子，又增添你們仁義的果子‧11叫你們凡事富足，可以多多施捨，就藉著我們使感謝歸於神‧

II. Giving is sowing the seed in God’s kingdom. 施予(奉献)乃是在天國撒種. Sow seeds in other people’s lives. 在别人生命裡撒种. Sow seeds for ourselves in God’s Kingdom. 在神國度裡為自己撒种. Store up treasures in heaven. 積財宝在天上. (創 Gen 14:20; 利 Lev 27:30-32, 瑪 Mal 3:8-10; 林前 1Co 9:13-14; 林後 2Co 8:1-12, 9:6-15; 太 Matt 6:2-3; 7:2; 路 Luke 12:33-34; 6:38; 約 John 12:24)

約 John 12:24 (NASB) 24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 我實實在在的告訴你們，一粒麥子不落在地裡死了，仍舊是一粒‧若是死了，就結出許多子粒來‧

Giving is a spiritual gift “施予” 是一種属灵恩賜 林後 2 Cor 8:7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 你們既然在信心，口才，知識，熱心，和待我們的愛心上，都格外顯出滿足來，就當在這慈惠的事上，也格外顯出滿足來‧ Ref. Rom 12:8 (参考: 羅 12:8)

III. Biblical principles for giving. 聖經对施予(奉献)原則的教導 OT teaching (舊約) (創 Gen 14:20; 利 Lev 27:30-32, 瑪 Mal 3:8-10; 林前 1Co 9:13-14) NT teaching (新約) (太 Matt 6:2-4; 7:2; 可 Mk 4:24; 路 Luke 6:38; 12:33-34; 林後 2Co 8:1-12; 9:6-15)

OT teaching on giving 舊約对給予(奉献)的教導 (瑪 Mal 3:8-10; 創 Gen 14:20; 利 Lev 27:30-32; 林前 1Co 9:13-14) Firstfruits 初熟的果子 (民Num 18:12) Tithe (10%)- Law (Levi-priests) 十一奉献 (法律責任- 利未/祭司) Alms (poor)-Additional-Free Will 給窮人 (額外- 自由意志) Special giving-Additional-Free Will 特别奉献 (額外- 自由意志)

利未記 Leviticus 27:30–32 30 “火‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD. 31 If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD.’” 30地上所有的，無論是地上的種子是樹上的果子，十分之一是耶和華的，是歸給耶和華為聖的‧31人若要贖這十分之一的什麼物，就要加上五分之一‧32凡牛群羊群中，一切從杖下經過的，每第十隻要歸給耶和華為聖‧

瑪拉基 Mal 3:8-10 8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 8人豈可奪取神之物呢‧你們竟奪取我的供物，你們卻說，我們在何事上奪取你的供物呢‧就是你們在當納的十分之一，和當獻的供物上‧9因你們通國的人，都奪取我的供物，咒詛就臨到你們身上‧10萬軍之耶和華說，你們要將當納的十分之一，全然送入倉庫，使我家有糧，以此試試我，是否為你們敞開天上的窗戶，傾福與你們，甚至無處可容‧

NT teaching on giving 新約對給予(奉献)的教導 (林後2Cor 8:1-12; 9:6-15; 太Matt 5:7; 6:1-4; 路Luke 6:38; 12:33-34; 徒Acts 20:34-35; 林前1Cor 9:13-14; 罗Rom 12:1) Giving = Sowing Seeds (Investment) (奉献 = 撒種 = 投資) The more you sow, the more you reap. (多種的多收, 少種的少收) Work hard to earn the means to give. (努力工作賺得給的能力) Make free-will giving: (按自由意志奉献-給予) Give self to God first (先將自己献給神) Give willingly, not forced (自願) Give proportionally (按比例) Give cheerfully (甘心樂意) Guided on the principle of sowing seeds (給多少由撒种原則引導) Sacrificial giving yields supernatural harvest. (牺牲的奉献導致神賜超然的收成)

林後 2 Cor 9:6-7 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 6少種的少收，多種的多收‧這話是真的‧7各人要隨本心所酌定的‧不要作難，不要勉強，因為捐得樂意的人，是神所喜愛的‧

1. Giving helps support… 奉献(施予)所支持事物… Those who lead and shepherd the church 支持帶領及牧養教会的人 The poor 幫助窮困人 Church ministry that furthers God’s kingdom 支持擴展神國度的教会事工 Other worthy causes 其他榮神益人的事工

2. Patterns and levels of giving 不同的奉献模式 No giving (不撒種) Compulsive giving (情感式) Regular giving (經常規律式) Systematic giving (計劃式) Sacrificial giving (犧牲式)

3. Examples of sacrificial giving 自我犧牲的奉献: 例子 The poor widow (路 Luke 21:1-4) 窮寡婦 The church in Macedonia (林後 2Cor 8:1-5) 馬其頓教会

IV. Reap what you sow: Reward for giving 施予(奉献)所帶來的賞賜 You reap what you sow (种什么就收什么) Generous giving results in greater giving from God (Luke 6:38; 2Co 9:6-15; 瑪 Mal 3:10) (得神更多的恩賜) Greater capacity to give…snowballing the positive results. (有更大的能力去給予/奉献) Helping people in need (對有需要的人提供實際幫助) Furthering God’s kingdom (擴展神的国度) Achieving God’s purposes (達成神的/教会的目標) Treasures in heaven (積財宝在天上) Winning friends and blessing (得到愛我們並代祷的朋友) (林後 2Co 9:6-15; 加 Gal 6:7-10; 太 Matt 5:7; 6:2-4, 19-21; 路 Luke 6:38; 12:33-34; 16-21; 提前 1Tim 6:17-19)

种瓜得瓜, 种豆得豆 Plant melon, you harvest melon. Plant bean, you harvest bean. 加拉太 Gal 6:7-10 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. 7不要自欺，神是輕慢不得的‧人種的是什麼，收的也是什麼‧8順著情慾撒種的，必從情慾收敗壞順著聖靈撒種的，必從聖靈收永生‧9我們行善，不可喪志‧若不灰心，到了時候，就要收成‧10所以有了機會，就當向眾人行善‧向信徒一家的人更當這樣‧

Real Treasure (真財宝): 路 Luke 12:33-34 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 33你們要變賣所有的，賙濟人‧為自己預備永不壞的錢囊，用不盡的財寶在天上，就是賊不能近，蟲不能蛀的地方‧34因為你們的財寶在那裡，你們的心也在那裡‧

提前 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV) 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 17你要囑咐那些今世富足的人，不要自高，也不要倚靠無定的錢財‧只要倚靠那厚賜百物給我們享受的神‧18又要囑咐他們行善，在好事上富足，甘心施捨，樂意供給人, 19為自己積成美好的根基，預備將來，叫他們持定那真正的生命‧

路加 Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 你們要給人，就必有給你們的‧並且用十足的升斗，連搖帶按，上尖下流的，倒在你們懷裡‧因為你們用什麼量器量給人，也必用什麼量器量給你們‧

V. It is more blessed to give. than to receive. 施比受更為有福 V. It is more blessed to give than to receive. 施比受更為有福. (徒 Acts 20:33-34; 太 Matt 5:7) 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:34-35) 34我這兩隻手，常供給我和同人的需用，這是你們自己知道的‧35我凡事給你們作榜樣，叫你們知道，應當這樣勞苦，扶助軟弱的人，又當記念主耶穌的話，說，施比受更為有福‧

路加 Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 你們要給人，就必有給你們的‧並且用十足的升斗，連搖帶按，上尖下流的，倒在你們懷裡‧因為你們用什麼量器量給人，也必用什麼量器量給你們‧

Personal Response 個人回应

Ronald Reagan Quote: 雷根總統名言: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” 我們靠”得”來謀生, 但我們用”給”來塑造生命.