Not So Different After All我们毕竟都一样
Author: Bro Daniel Koh
As I ponder about our church’s theme, Treasured Being, I wonder how the knowledge of my value translates into my expression in life? In a simplistic way, knowing we are precious and valued could either lead us to be appreciative or prideful.
Appreciative when we wonder in awe that this creator of heaven and earth loves, values, and knows us, to the extent Jesus died for us on the cross for our sins. On the other hand, prideful when we lead ourselves to believe this attention bestowed upon us by our Maker makes us any better/different than the person next to us.
In the last half a year, I had the privilege to serve alongside our brother Xing Rong at his ministry for a couple of outreach events to the migrant worker’s community. It was truly an eye-opening experience for me to learn to serve our migrant brothers. I didn’t think I was a prideful person, but God spotlighted my pride and impressed upon me that I am no better, and His love is no less for them.
It always feels good to be serving and giving back. However, I had to painfully remind myself that the focus is not on me serving, but on the people that I serve. That the love of God is focused on them at that moment, and we are but instruments of His love for them. They are as treasured and loved by our Holy Father as I.
This intriguing love of God for humanity is absolutely personal, yet absolutely universal. The sooner we recognise that, the sooner we understand the purpose of the treasure, that is us. That in us is the capacity from God to love, serve and worship.
Are there people in our lives that we unknowingly see less of their value because of our misplaced pride in our own treasured identity? It could be migrant workers, ex-convicts, sex workers or even the disabled. The fact is, we are not so different after all.
文:许燕俊弟兄
翻译:许燕杰传道
当我思考我们教会的主题 "尊贵人生"时，我在想对自己价值的认识如何转化为我在生活中的表达？认识我们尊贵的身份可能引起的回应有两个，可能是感激，但也可能是傲慢。
当我们惊奇地发现这位创造天地的主对我们的爱、重视和谅解，甚至神的独生儿子愿意为我们在十字架上死时，我们就会生出感激。相反的，当我们认为我们比旁边的人更好因为造物主赋予我们的这样特殊的身份时，我们就生出了傲慢。
过去的半年里，我有幸在兴荣弟兄的事工中与他一起配搭，为客工群体举办了几次外展活动。客工群体的服事确实是一个让我大开眼界的经验。我本不认为自己是一个骄傲的人，但上帝让我在服事中看见我自己的骄傲，也让我看见神对客工的爱是一样的丰富。
服事及能够回馈的感觉很好。然而，我不得不提醒自己，重点并不在于我的服事，而是在于我所服事的对象。在我们服事的那一刻，神的爱集中在我们所服事的对象身上，而我们只是神输出爱的一个器皿罢了。他们和我们一样被天父所珍惜和爱护。
上帝对人那奇妙的爱是个人性的，也是普世性的。我们越早认识到这一点，就越早能理解我们尊贵身份的目的是什么。是神赋予我们能力去爱、去彼此服事和敬拜祂。
我们是否因为傲慢的缘故，只看到自己尊贵的身份，而贬低了生命中其他人的价值呢？我们是否藐视了我们身边的外劳、前囚犯、性工作者，甚至残疾人士？其实，我们在神眼中的价值与他们并没有什么不同。