Do Not Be Anxious 不要忧虑
Author : Ps Andrew Xu
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
The recent inflation sparked by pandemic-related supply issues is quite serious. Prices for everyday items have risen quite sharply and we feel the direct impact when we visit the supermarket for groceries. Those in business are greatly affected too. Suppliers raising their prices and staff costs increasing due to inflation-related wage adjustments have compressed margins. Life has become more difficult and it is natural to be anxious. We worry if we would break our family budget and if we could be able to keep our jobs and businesses.
What is the attitude we should adopt in face of such challenges? It is most natural to use our own way to “settle” the problems when we are anxious. We cut our spending, change jobs, work harder, etc… this is what everyone else does, but how are we different? We can be different because we are not orphans, we have God with us. In the face of challenges, we ought to face them by faith.
To give our tithes, serve God, and rely on God when times are good is excellent. But to continue to do that in the face of challenges is when we can see if our reliance on God is on a solid foundation or on the sand. Perhaps you are already thinking about halting your ministry service or skipping a month or two of your tithes. We would expect God to “understand” our circumstances, but no matter if it is the tithe or serving in ministry we are talking about, they are not the main thing God is expecting of us. God expects us to trust and rely on Him fully, surrendering our lives wholly to Him. He wants you. He wants to know if you are truly seeking His kingdom and His righteousness. Tithes and service are but means for Him to remind us of and train us in dependence and obedience to Him.
God loves us very much and He knows what we need. Do you believe in His care for us? He has said:” But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Do not be anxious. Continue to seek His kingdom and righteousness in challenging times and continue to rely on Him by faith. Let us experience God’s grace and providence for us in this season together.
文: 许燕杰传道
“你们要先求祂的国和祂的义，这一切都必加给你们。所以不要为明天忧虑，因为明天自有明天的忧虑，一天的难处一天当就够了。”
最近因为疫情货物流通不顺所引起的通货膨胀非常的厉害，我们日常的用品的价格都起了不少。我们去超市的时候就能够直接的感受到通货的冲击。那些做生意的更是首当其冲，供应商的价格不断的起，导致盈利的压缩。因为日常用品物价的高涨，员工也盼望工资能够调整，营运开销的压力就更大了。这段期间，大家的生活都变得比较辛苦，忧虑自然的也比较多了。担心家庭开销是否会超出预算，生意是否能够做的下去，饭碗是否能够保得住。
面对着眼前的挑战我们是以怎样的心态去面对呢？因为忧虑和担心，很多时候我们自然的反应就是立刻用自己的方法去解决问题，收紧腰带、换工作、工作上更努力点，这样的做法是每个人都会有的自然反应。但身为基督徒的我们却应该不同，我们不同是因为我们知道我们不是无依无靠的，我们有上帝与我们同在。在艰巨的挑战中，我们要以信心去面对。
在顺境的时候能够做十一奉献、服事上帝、在生活上依靠祂是好的。但在逆境中仍然坚持下去才是真正信心的依靠。或许你现在正在想，生活都已经那么辛苦了，暂时停一停事奉吧，十一奉献一两个月不给上帝应该明白，那你就错了。基本上不论是事奉也好，十一奉献也好，都不是上帝的要求。上帝真正要求的，乃是我们完全的依靠和全人的奉献。上帝要的是你，祂想要看到的是你是否有先寻求祂的国和祂的义。事奉和十一奉献只是祂用来提醒与操练我们对祂依靠的方法而已。
上帝非常的爱我们，我们的需要祂都知道。我们是否相信祂必定会看顾我们呢？祂说：“你们要先求祂的国和祂的义，这一切都必加给你们。”不要为生活忧虑，在逆境中仍然选择以信心去面对。在所有的抉择中先寻求祂的国和义，继续事奉，继续奉献。让我们一起经历上帝在这个期间的恩典和供应。