How can you open yourself more fully to God’s presence in your life?

你要如何更切实地体会上帝的同在呢？

If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. Ecclesiastes 4:10

若是跌倒，这人可以扶起他的同伴。-传道书4章10节

My children have enjoyed the thrill of a backyard ice-skating rink during our cold Idaho winters. When they were young, learning to skate was challenging: persuading them to deliberately set foot on the hard, icy surface proved difficult because they knew the pain of falling. Each time their feet slid out from under them, my husband or I would reach out to pull them again to their feet, setting them upright and steadying their frames.

在我们爱达荷州的冬日里，后院宛如滑冰场，我的孩子们很享受飞舞其上的兴奋感。他们年纪还小的时候，教导他们溜冰是一大挑战，要说服他们从容不迫地踩在又硬又滑的冰面上，真的很困难，因为他们知道跌倒会有多痛。每次他们的脚失控一滑，我或是我丈夫就会伸手把他们扶起来，让他们站直、站稳。

Having someone there to help us up when we fall is the gift of a helping hand depicted in Ecclesiastes. Working with another makes our work sweeter and more effective (4:9), and a friend brings warmth to our lives. When we encounter challenges, it helps to have someone come alongside with practical and emotional support. These relationships can give us strength, purpose, and comfort.

跌倒时有人扶你一把真好，传道书正描述了这扶持的手所带来的益处。两人合作能使工作更美好，也更有效果（4章9节），而且朋友也能带给我们温暖。遇到难处时，若有人在旁陪伴，提供实质或情绪上的支持，对我们会很有帮助。这样的情谊，能加添我们的力量，帮助我们找到人生的目标，并让我们得到安慰。

When we find ourselves flattened on the cold ice of life’s hardships, is there a helping hand nearby? If so, it might be from God. Or when someone else needs a friend, could we be God’s answer to lift them up? In being a companion, we often find one. If it appears that no one is nearby to lift us to our feet again, we can find comfort in knowing that God is our ever-present help (Psalm 46:1). As we reach out to Him, He’s ready to steady us with His firm grip.

当我们遇到苦难，好像滑倒在寒冷的冰面上时，身旁是否有人伸出援手呢？若是，这可能来自上帝。或者，当其他人需要朋友时，上帝是否要藉着我们伸手扶持呢？我们若愿意陪伴别人，别人也会乐意陪伴我们。如果四周没有人能扶持我们再次站稳脚步，要知道上帝是我们随时的帮助（诗篇46篇1节） ，祂必会给我们带来安慰。当我们向祂求助，祂就会用祂坚定的手扶持我们，使我们站立得稳。

Thank You, Father, for helping me up when life knocks me down. Thank You for the people You’ve used to encourage and strengthen me. Yours is the most faithful friendship I have.

天父，在我被人生的困境击倒时，谢谢祢扶起我。谢谢祢差派人鼓励我、帮助我。祢是我最信实的朋友。

Ecclesiastes 4:8-12    NIV

4 There was a man all alone;he had neither son nor brother.There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.“For whom am I toiling,” he asked, “and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”This too is meaningless— a miserable business! 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered,  two can defend themselves.A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

传道书 4:8-12

4 有人孤单无二，无子无兄，竟劳碌不息，眼目也不以钱财为足。他说：“我劳劳碌碌，刻苦自己，不享福乐，到底是为谁呢？”这也是虚空，是极重的劳苦。 9 两个人总比一个人好，因为二人劳碌同得美好的果效。 10 若是跌倒，这人可以扶起他的同伴；若是孤身跌倒，没有别人扶起他来，这人就有祸了！ 11 再者，二人同睡就都暖和，一人独睡怎能暖和呢？ 12 有人攻胜孤身一人，若有二人便能抵挡他，三股合成的绳子不容易折断。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

The author of Ecclesiastes (“the Teacher,” 1:1–2) is in the midst of a long lament about the meaninglessness of living for this world only. This particular section concerns a lonely rich man the Teacher has observed. Perhaps he has trampled all others on his way to the top. (Think of Charles Dickens’s Ebenezer Scrooge.) Regardless of how the man got there, the author recognizes the futility of such efforts and concludes, “Two are better than one” (4:9).

传道书的作者（“传道者”，1章1-2节）哀叹只为今世而活的虚空乏味。这段经文特别讲到传道者细心观察一位孤独的财主，也许这财主已经爬到了顶点，把众人都踩在脚下（就像狄更斯《小气财神》中的守财奴）。然而，不管他是如何到达这个地步，作者认为这些努力皆是徒劳虚空，并下结论说：“两个人总比一个人好。”（4章9节）

Throughout Ecclesiastes, the Teacher’s larger point is that living with an earthbound view is cruelly dissatisfying. We toil and strive, yet we remain haunted by a vague sense that we’re missing something. As with all Scripture, Ecclesiastes must be understood within the context of the entire Bible. The early church fathers Jerome (347 – 420) and Ambrose ( 340 – 397) were among the first to note that the companion we’re missing is Christ Himself.

传道者在整本传道书中强调，带着属地的眼光生活绝对无法让人得到满足，这是残酷的事实。我们努力奋斗，但仍然会被一种莫名的感觉所困扰，总觉得错失了些什么。正如圣经其他的书卷，传道书必须藉着整本圣经的背景来理解。古代教父耶柔米（公元347-420年）和安波罗修（公元340-397年）首先注意到，我们错失的同伴乃是耶稣基督。

整理：于姊妹