2015年12月15日
態度更重要 The Importance of How
读经: 民數記4章17-32節
Reading: Numbers 4:17-32
派他們各人所當辦的、所當抬的。-民數記4章19節
Assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.- Numbers 4:19
全年读经: 阿摩司書1-3章;啟示錄6章
Bible in a Year: Amos 1–3; Revelation 6
我與朋友查理在神學院就讀時，也同時在一間家具店打工。我們會和一位室內設計師一起送家具給顧客。當室內設計師與訂購家具的客戶交談時，我們則負責將家具從貨車抬到客戶家裡。有時，我們必須扛著沉重的家具，爬上好幾層樓才進到公寓裡，這時，我和查理總是盼望和那名室內設計師互換工作。
以色列人在曠野漂流四十年期間，祭司利未支派的哥轄、革順和米拉利這三個宗族，被指定負責搬運會幕（帳幕）的事。他們將帳篷架起來，擺好會幕裡所有的器具，過後又拆下來，抬到下一站，再重新把帳篷架起來，如此周而復始。他們的工作就是抬所指定的器具（參閱民數記4章32節）。
我不知道這些搬運聖物的「管理人員」曾否妒嫉那些在聖所獻燔祭、獻馨香、使用聖物的「聖職人員」（4-5、15節）。因為那份工作看起來更輕鬆、更有聲望。但是，這兩份工作都同樣重要，都是上帝所指定的。
許多時候，我們無法選擇工作，但卻可以選擇以怎樣的態度來進行所指定的工作。我們如何完成上帝所指派的工作，顯示出我們服事上帝的心。
親愛的天父，每日的工作都看似微不足道。
求祢開我的眼，讓我看見承擔任務的重要性，
使我改變心境，藉我的工作態度來尊崇主名。
只要為上帝而做，卑微的事也是聖工。
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While attending Bible college, my friend Charlie and I worked for a furniture store. We often made deliveries accompanied by an interior decorator who talked with the people who had purchased the furniture while we brought it from the truck into the house. Sometimes we had to carry the furniture up several flights of stairs in an apartment building. Charlie and I often wished we had the decorator's job instead of ours!
During Israel's 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, three clans from the priestly tribe of Levi—the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites—were assigned the job of transporting the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle). They put it up, took it down, and carried it to the next place, then repeated the process again and again. Their job description was simple: "Carry the things assigned to you" (see Num. 4:32).
I wonder if these "custodians" ever envied the "clergymen" who offered sacrifices and incense using the holy articles in the sanctuary (vv. 4-5,15). That job must have looked much easier and more prestigious. But both assignments were important and came from the Lord.
Many times we don't get to select the work we do. But all of us can choose our attitude toward the tasks we're given. How we do the job God gives us is the measure of our service to Him.
Father in heaven, our work in life often causes us to wonder if we are accomplishing anything worthwhile. Give us eyes to see the importance of the tasks You have given us so that we may honor You by the way we do them.
Humble work becomes holy work when it's done for God.