传道书［第4章］
Book of Ecclesiastes 4
文章下载 ｜ Article Download
传道书［第4章|Book of Ecclesiastes 4【建造美好的关系】
10/02/2022
引言：
传道书第4章带出日光之下所发生的事都让人觉得虚空，因无人能了解且分担。所以，在日光之下若能建造和谐美好的人际关系，会让我们的生命富有意义。
一、面对欺压，能得安慰（V1-3）
这里我们看到一个不公平的画面，就是恃强凌弱：弱者无人同情，强者无人制止。就算是欺压者也是痛苦的，因为他们也同样是孤独无人安慰。
其实寻得安慰的属灵原则很简单。我们希望别人如何对待我们，我们就要如何对待他人。所以，当我们先去安慰人，成为别人的聆听者，这样，安慰的互动就会出来。我们要突破自己，懂得去找人一起分担自己的软弱，使自己不再孤单，也可以得着帮助。
二、懂得知足，就有安静（V4-6）
这里提到两种工作态度：一种是辛勤劳碌，并且很有能力和智慧；一种是游手好闲。前者遭人的嫉妒而面对处处刁难。另外游手好闲的人，他们却是走向消极（“抱着手”），结果等于自我毁灭（“吃自己的肉”）。这两种态度都不能带来真正的快乐。在关系的建立上也是无益处的。
我们既不要淹没于野心之中，也不要毫无野心，而是以平安喜乐为准则。接受自己的力量和限制，对自己或别人都不作过分的要求，享受与他人和谐的关系。基督徒的人生还有一个更崇高的目的，就是荣耀神。人若为此动机而生活，所得的就有永存的价值和意义。
三、分享祝福，得享福乐（V7-8）
人若孤身一人，固然可以无牵无挂、专心工作。但劳碌不息所赚得的财富既无亲朋好友可以分享，也无子孙可以继承，最终还不归自己享受（7-8节），又有什么意义呢？
因此，我们要懂得与人分享。将神给我们的祝福分享出去，我们会看见不止是别人得着祝福，我们所作的也会被神记念。
四、二人同行，美好果效（V9-12）
神安排的人生是与人结伴而不是与人隔绝；是与人建立亲密的关系，而不是一人孤独地生活。传道者说明两个同工总比一个好，因为他们借着合作，生产就更有效率。再者，寒夜里两人同睡总比一人独睡好，因为两人能互相暖和。人数加一倍，合在一起的效果竟大了十倍。
在奔跑天国的路上，我们需要有人同心相助。因为无论怎样健全的人，也有软弱、灰心、患病、甚至怠惰的时候，或在情绪低沉的时候，有时受了试探也会为过犯所胜；然而，当有两个人在一起，我们就可以扶持相顾，而不会孤单无助。
五、作王有伴，听取谏言（V13-16）
本来人上了年纪，经验丰富，会受人敬重。但若不肯虚心，智慧就可能比不上年轻人。 年轻的王也会老去，也可能渐渐变成傲慢、不再愿意听人劝告，而最终为人所弃，像老王一样孤独，被人遗忘。
逝去的岁月未必带来智慧，愚昧人也没有年龄的限制！因此当我们处在越高的位子，我们身旁越需要可以对我们生命说话并愿意帮助我们的人。这些人会不时的提醒我们，使我们不至于走差了路。
总结：
我们要为着神赐给我们有家人和同伴感恩。纵使在人际关系上会面对挑战、冲突和受伤。我们可以求神给我们智慧去处理，并教我们懂得与人互动建立美好的系。
若我们过去都是孤单一人，也不需要觉得失落。我们也可以求神赐给我们好的同伴，更重要的是当我们愿意靠近神，神是愿意与我们建立亲密关系。
Ecclesiastes 4: Building Great Relationships
GK611 Morning Devotion
10/02/2022
Speaker: IP Stella Ling + Rev David Tan
Introduction:
Ecclesiastes 4 brings out that what happens under the sun feels empty because there is no one to understand and share it. Therefore, if we can build harmonious and beautiful relationships under the sun, it will make our life meaningful.
1. Can Be Comforted in the Face of Oppression (V1-3)
Here we see an unfair picture of bullying: the weak have no one to sympathize with and the strong have no one to stop them. Even the oppressors suffer, for they are equally alone and uncomforted. The spiritual principle of finding comfort is actually quite simple. How we want others to treat us is how we are to treat them. So, when we first go to comfort people and become a listener to others, then the comforting interaction will come out. We need to break through and know how to find people to share our weaknesses with, so that we are not alone and can be helped.
2. If You Know How To Be Content, You Will Have Quiet (V4-6)
There are two kinds of work attitudes mentioned here: one is hard-working and very capable and wise; the other is idle. The former is jealous of people and faces difficulties at every turn. The other one is idle, but they are going to negativity ("holding hands"), which results in self-destruction ("eating their own flesh"). Neither of these attitudes brings true happiness. They are also unhelpful in relationship building.
We should neither drown in ambition nor have no ambition at all, but be guided by peace and joy. Accept our own strengths and limitations, make no excessive demands on ourselves or others, and enjoy harmonious relationships with others. There is a higher purpose of the Christian life, which is to glorify God. If one lives for this motive, what one obtains has eternal value and meaning.
3. Share the Blessings and Be Blessed (V7-8)
If a person is alone, he can certainly work without any worries. But what is the point of having no friends or relatives to share the wealth you earn by working endlessly, and no children or grandchildren to inherit it, and ultimately not to enjoy it yourself (v. 7-8)?
Therefore, we need to know how to share with others. By sharing the blessings God has given us, we will see that not only will others be blessed, but what we do will also be remembered by God.
4. The Two Walk Together, Beautiful Results (V9-12)
God ordained life to be lived in companionship and not in isolation; to be in intimate relationship with people, and not alone. The evangelist explains that two co-workers are better than one, because by working together they are more productive. Furthermore, it is better for two people to sleep together on a cold night than for one to sleep alone, for they can warm each other. When the number of people is doubled, the combined effect is ten times greater.
We need people to help each other on the way to the kingdom of heaven. For no matter how sound a person is, there are times of weakness, discouragement, sickness, and even laziness, or when he is depressed, and sometimes when he is tempted, he is overcome by sin; but when there are two together, we can support each other, and not be alone.
5. To Be a King with Company and Listen to Advice (V13-16)
Originally, when people are older and more experienced, they will be respected. But if they refuse to be humble, their wisdom may not be as good as that of the young.
The young king will also grow old, and may gradually become arrogant and no longer willing to listen to people, and eventually be abandoned by people, lonely and forgotten like the old king.
Passing years do not necessarily bring wisdom, and there is no age limit for the foolish! Therefore when we are in a higher position, the more we need people around us who can speak into our lives and are willing to help us. These people will remind us from time to time, so that we do not go astray.
Conclusion:
We need to be thankful for the family and companions that God has given us. Even though we will face challenges, conflicts and hurts in our relationships. We can ask God to give us the wisdom to deal with them and teach us how to interact with people to build good relationships.
We don't need to feel lost if we have been alone in the past. We can also ask God to give us good companions, and more importantly, God is willing to build intimate relationships with us when we are willing to draw near to Him.
录音在线播放 | Online audio player