God loves wholehearted giving of any measure.

上帝喜悦全心全意的付出，不计多寡。

For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12

因为人若有愿做的心，必蒙悦纳，乃是照他所有的，并不是照他所无的。-哥林多后书8章12节

My friend was eager to gather her family and friends for a festive holiday celebration at her home. Each of the guests looked forward to gathering around the table together and wanted to help defray the expense of feeding so many by contributing to the meal. Some would bring bread, others salad or a side dish. For one guest, however, money was exceptionally tight. Although she looked forward to spending the evening with those whom she loved, she couldn’t afford to purchase any food. So, instead, she offered to clean the host’s home as her gift.

朋友在家里举办节日庆祝活动，热切邀请亲朋好友来参加。每个受邀的人都很期待同享盛宴，但他们也希望能提供食物以减轻我朋友的负担，毕竟要为这么多人预备餐点的开销不小。因此，有人带面包，有人带沙拉或小菜。但其中有一位客人经济拮据，无法准备餐点，却仍希望能与好友共度这个夜晚，所以她愿意帮忙打扫清理我朋友的家以表达谢意。

She would have been welcome at the table had she come empty-handed. Yet she looked at what she did have to offer—her time and skills—and brought them to the gathering with her whole heart. I think that’s precisely the spirit of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 8. They had been eager to give to help some fellow Christians, and he urged them to follow through on that effort. He commended them for their desire and their willingness, saying their motivation to give is what makes a gift of any size or amount acceptable (v. 12).

其实，就算她空手而来也会受到欢迎。但她却希望为这个聚会尽一份心意，按自己的能力付出时间和精力来整理场地。我想，这正是保罗在哥林多后书8章所教导的精髓。哥林多的信徒一直渴望帮助主内肢体，保罗敦促他们要继续尽力完成。保罗也赞扬他们有恳切愿意的心，并说他们甘心乐意地去做，无论多寡都得蒙悦纳（12节）。

We’re often quick to compare our giving to that of others, especially when our resources don’t afford us the luxury of giving as much as we’d like to. But God views our giving differently: it’s our willingness to give what we have that He loves.

无论是对人的给予或对上帝的献上，我们常会跟别人做比较，特别是当我们的能力有限，无法付出更多时更是如此。然而，上帝却有不同的看法：祂所喜悦的是我们按着自己的能力，甘心乐意地付出。

Lord, help me see what You’ve given me, even if it doesn’t seem like much by the world’s standards, and help me to give generously to benefit others.

主啊，请帮助我看到祢所赐给我的一切，虽然从世界的标准来看，这些可能并不多，但帮助我愿意慷慨地付出，惠及他人。

2 Corinthians 8:1-12    NIV

8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 10 And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingnessto do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

哥林多后书 8:1-12 

8 弟兄们，我把神赐给马其顿众教会的恩告诉你们， 2 就是他们在患难中受大试炼的时候，仍有满足的快乐，在极穷之间还格外显出他们乐捐的厚恩。 3 我可以证明他们是按着力量，而且也过了力量，自己甘心乐意地捐助， 4 再三地求我们，准他们在这供给圣徒的恩情上有份。 5 并且他们所做的，不但照我们所想望的，更照神的旨意，先把自己献给主，又归附了我们。 6 因此我劝提多，既然在你们中间开办这慈惠的事，就当办成了。 7 你们既然在信心、口才、知识、热心和待我们的爱心上，都格外显出满足来，就当在这慈惠的事上也格外显出满足来。 8 我说这话，不是吩咐你们，乃是借着别人的热心试验你们爱心的实在。9 你们知道我们主耶稣基督的恩典：他本来富足，却为你们成了贫穷，叫你们因他的贫穷可以成为富足。 10 我在这事上把我的意见告诉你们，是于你们有益；因为你们下手办这事，而且起此心意已经有一年了， 11 如今就当办成这事。既有愿做的心，也当照你们所有的去办成。 12 因为人若有愿做的心，必蒙悦纳，乃是照他所有的，并不是照他所无的。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

Just as Paul wrote to the Corinthian church,James also encourages those who have been tested:"count it all joy to all trials. For to know that your faith is tried,is patience.But let patience be successful,that you may be perfect and perfect,lacking in nothing"(James1:2-4).Those who endure receive strength now and "receive the crown of life"(v.12),eternal life.

正如保罗写给哥林多教会的书信一样，雅各也在书信中鼓励那些遭遇试炼的人：“你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐；因为知道你们的信心经过试验，就生忍耐。但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全完备，毫无缺欠”（雅各书1章2-4节）。那些忍耐的人在现今能得到力量，在将来“必得生命的冠冕”（12节），就是永恒的生命。

How do you experience the joy of Christ in your trials?

你在试炼中如何体验到从基督而来的喜乐呢？

整理：于姊妹