10月16日

標　　題：永遠不要太忙碌

經　　節：惟有一個撒馬利亞人行路來到那裡，看見他就動了慈心。（路加福音十章33節）

若說有人能清楚瞭解「忙碌」會使自己遠離神的事工，這是非耶穌莫屬！祂曾經提到一個譬喻，貼切地描寫這個危險：某個猶太人在前往耶利哥的途中，被強盜攻擊，被毆打到瀕死的邊緣，倒在路旁。首先，來了個祭司，後又來了個利未人，經過他。他們都是宗教領袖，當然會憐憫一個受傷的人！然而，他們急忙趕路，因為已經和人約好，沒有時間停下來，徑從他的身邊走過。只有時間較充裕的人，才會停下來幫助這個受傷的人！最後，來了個撒馬利亞人。撒馬利亞人是被猶太人所鄙視的族群。這個撒馬利亞人比任何人都有理由走開，不管這受傷的猶太人，畢竟猶太人是他的宿敵。然而，他寧可行程被拖延，因為有人需要他的幫助。

我們很容易陷在忙碌當中，而漠視周圍人們的需要。你的行事曆可能被有意義的好事占滿，以至於你沒有辦法幫助周圍的人。神正在你的朋友、鄰居、家人的身上動工。祂可能會要求你中斷手上的工作，要你輔導他們。當你聽到神要你停止手中的工作，去幫助人時，無論計畫表的事情多麼緊急，都不能成為你漠視神聲音的藉口。如果生活太忙碌，以致不能夠幫助你周圍的人，求神重建你生活的優先順序，好叫你不會錯失任何事奉祂的機會。

Never Too Busy

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. (Luke 10:33)

If anyone could understand the temptation to let busyness distract Him from the Father’s activity, Jesus certainly could! He told a parable that clearly illustrated this danger: A certain Jewish man was on his way to Jericho when he was brutally attacked by thieves and left to die by the road. First a Levite, then a priest, passed by. These were religious leaders; surely they would show compassion to a wounded person! But they had places to go and appointments to keep, so they passed him by. Surely someone else would come along who had more time to help the wounded man! Then a Samaritan, despised by the Jews, came along. Of all people, this man had reason to look the other way, since the wounded man was his enemy. But wherever he was going could wait, for someone needed his help.

It’s easy to become so busy that you are oblivious to those in need. Your schedule can become so full of accomplishing good things that you are of no help to the people around you. God is at work in the lives of your friends, your neighbors, your family members. He may ask you to interrupt your day long enough to join Him as He ministers to them. Nothing on your agenda, no matter how pressing, is reason enough to ignore the voice of God when He tells you to stop and help. If you have become too busy to minister to those around you, ask God to reestablish your priorities so that you do not miss opportunities to serve Him.