Pastor Dale Barrett (8-12-18) DEATH: A LENS FOR LIVING LIFE-FULLY OR FUTILELY 死亡: 生活的鏡片- 豐富地或無益地 Lesson Three: Ecclesiastes 4:1-16 第三課: 傳道書4:1-16 SUBSTITUTING THE ”I” FOCUS FOR THE ”WE” FOCUS 焦點從「我」替換成「我們」 Pastor Dale Barrett (8-12-18)

INTRODUCTION 引言 THE FUTILITY OF LIFE IS CHARACTERIZED AS A “CHASING AFTER THE WIND” 人生的虛空被形容成好比「捕風」. THE FULNESS OF LIFE IS DESCRIBED AS SEEING ALL THAT WE HAVE TO ENJOY AS ”FROM THE HAND OF GOD” 人生的豐富 被形容成一切享受「來自上帝的手」. TIME IS A GIFT FROM GOD AND THE CHALLENGE IS TO STEWARD IT WISELY 時間是來自上帝的禮物, 我們的挑戰 是作它智慧的管家.

THE “I” FACTIOR vs. THE ”WE” FACTOR 「我」的因素對比「我們」的因素 IN HIS BOOK, “LIVING LIFE BACKWARDS”, THE AUTHORS SUGGESTS THE RIGHT QUESTION IS NOT “WHAT AM I GETTING OUT OF LIFE?” BUT “WHAT ARE WE GETTING OUT OF LIFE?” 在此書中, 「倒活著來看」, 作者建議正確的發問 不是「我從生活中獲得什麼？」而是「我們從生活 中獲得什麼？」

THE “I” FACTIOR vs. THE ”WE” FACTOR 「我」的因素對比「我們」的因素 Approach from these three truths 從這三個真理出發: THE PAIN OF SELFISH PURSUIT 自私地追尋的痛苦 2. THE PROBLEM OF ‘SECURING PEACE’ 「確保平安」的問題 3. THE PROFIT OF A ”SHARING and SERVING” PERSPECTIVE 從「分享與服務」的觀點得來的益處

THE PAIN OF SELFISH PURSUIT 自私地追尋的痛苦 MY LIFE AND LABOR TEND TO BE ALL ABOUT ME—MY ACHIEVMENTS AND MY ELUSIVE SENSE OF WELL-BEING. 我的人生和努力全是關於自我 – 我的成就和我捉摸不定的 順遂感. THE ENVY OF OTHERS MOTIVATES ME TO ASPIRE FOR MORE, “CHASING AFTER THE WIND”. 他人的嫉妒激發我冀求更多, 去「捕風」.

THE PAIN OF SELFISH PURSUIT 自私地追尋的痛苦 I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS PURSUIT IS POINTLESS AND UNSATISFYING…THE DEAD ARE HAPPIER THAN THE LIVING. 我認清這樣的追求是無意義且不令人滿意的…死人比活人更 快樂. I CAN RESPOND TO THIS SENSE OF FUTILITY BY “FOLDING MY HANDS” WHILE IGNORING OTHERS AND BEING DEVOURED BY MY OWN APPETITES. 我可以藉由「抱著手」應對此種虛無感,被自己的胃口吞噬, 而不理睬他人.

WHAT AM I “CHASING AFTER”? 我在追逐什麼? Success 成功 Wealth 財富 Approval and Acceptance 讚許和接納 Fame 名聲 Knowledge 知識 Things (“stuff”) 東西 Beauty 美麗 “More” 更多

THE PROBLEM OF SECURING PEACE 確保平安的問題 A handful of peace and contentment is better than two handfuls of self-serving hard work, verse 6. (Barrett paraphrase) 一手的平安和滿足, 比兩手的為自己努力工作更好, 6節 OPPRESSION CAN FEEL LIKE THE LOT OF MY LIFE WITH NO REWARD FOR MY HARD WORK. 壓迫的感覺好似:我的命運就是人生努力工作卻 得不到報償.

THE PROBLEM OF “SECURING PEACE” 「確保平安」的問題 THERE IS NO LASTING CONTENTMENT FROM THE PURSUIT AND ACQUISITION OF WEALTH. 對財富的追尋和收獲,沒有長久的滿足. SUCH A FUTILE PURSUIT DEPRIVES ME OF THE ENJOYMENT GOD INTENDS. 如此虛空的追尋,剝奪了上帝要我獲得的享受.

RATING MY SENSE OF PEACE, CONTENTMENT, AND REST…平安,滿足, 安息感評分 ___I AM CONTENT WITH WHAT I HAVE. 我滿足於所擁有的 ___I AM AT REST WITH MY LABOR AND WORK. 我在勞力和工作中有安息 ___I AM AT PEACE WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. 我與家人和朋友之間有平安

RATING MY SENSE OF PEACE, CONTENTMENT, AND REST…平安,滿足, 安息感評分 ___I AM ENJOYING THE LIFE GOD HAS GIVEN ME. 我享受上帝給我的人生 ___I AM GRATEFUL TO GOD, THE GIVER OF ALL GOOD THINGS. 我對賞賜給我一切美事的上帝感恩

THE PROFIT OF A “SHARING AND SERVING” PERSPECTIVE 從「分享與服務」的觀點得來的益處 AS YOU ENJOY LIFE AS A GIFT FROM GOD, SHARE YOUR LIFE WITH OTHERS…MEANING AND PURPOSE. 當你享受人生是上帝所賜的禮物時, 把你的人生與他人分 享….意義與目的. TO HAVE “NO OTHER” IS “VANITY AND UNHAPPY BUSINESS”, 4:8 沒有「他人」,就是「虛空, 不快樂的勞碌」. 4:8

THE PROFIT OF A “SHARING AND SERVING” PERSPECTIVE 從分享與服務的觀點得來的益處 TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE…IF THEY FALL, IF THEY ARE COLD, IF THEY ARE IN BATTLE 兩人比一人好…倘若他們跌倒, 倘若他們感到寒冷, 倘若他們上戰場… “A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT EASILY BROKEN,” 4;11 「三股合成的繩子不容易折斷」, 4:11

THE SHARING PERSPECTIVE 分享的觀點 IF THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL , SPEND/SHARE YOUR MONEY/RESOURCES WITH OTHERS. 倘若貪愛錢財是萬惡之根,就要與他人花/分享你的金錢和資源. THE VALUE OF LIFE IS NOT WHAT YOU EARN BUT WHOM YOU INVEST IN. WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO IS IN NEED? 人生的價值不在於你賺得什麼,而在於你投資給誰. 你知道誰有需 要嗎? ASK YOURSELF, “WHAT ARE WE DOING”, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON “WHAT AM I DOING?” 問你自己, 「我們在做什麼」, 而不是專注在「我在做什麼?」

THE SERVING PERSPECTIVE 服務的觀點 WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND ENJOY THE MULTIPLIED REWARDS. 我們可以合作, 並享受加倍的報償. WE CAN LIFT EACH OTHER UP AND WALK TOGETHER THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES WHEN SUPPORT IS NEEDED. 我們可以彼此提升, 且在人生需要支援的困難時刻彼此同行. WE CAN BRING WARMTH AND COMFORT TO ONE ANOTHER WHEN THE CHILL OF LIFE EXPERIENCES SHADOWS US. 當人生遭遇冷風的陰影時, 我們可以彼此取暖,安慰. WE CAN STAND WITH ONE ANOTHER IN OUR DAILY STRUGGLES WHEN OTHERWISE WE WOULD FEEL ALONE. 我們可以在日常生活中彼此關照, 而不感覺孤單.

CHALLENGE 挑戰 HOW MUCH OF MY LIFE IS ALL ABOUT ME? “WHAT AM I DOING?” 我的人生有多少是關於我? 「我在做什麼?」 HOW MUCH OF MY LIFE IS ABOUT OTHERS? “WHAT ARE WE DOING?” 我的人生有多少是關於他人? 「我們在做什麼?」 THE FUTILITY OF LIFE IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF A SELF-CENTERED FOCUS BUT THE FULLNESS OF LIFE IS CULTIVATED BY SERVING GOD AND SHARING WITH OTHERS. 人生的虛空是自我中心的結果, 但人生的豐滿要藉著服事上帝並與 他人分享來培養.