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知足˙不贪婪
【船主贪财丧命】一次一只海舶触礁，快沉时候，那只船的船主告诉船上水手说，请把救生船放好，我要下到船底有事，立刻就来。下到船底作什幺呢？因为他有许多的钱，放在保险柜里，舍不得钱一同沉在海里，就在一发千钧时候，冒险去拿。船一分一分的沉下，船主还在那里拿钱。船一寸一寸的沉下，还在那里拿钱。船沉下去的速率，比他拿钱的速率更快。水手见他不来，就放下救生船逃命。到底船主是不来的，水到他脚底时候，他才打算走开，但已太迟，他的结果就是淹死。后来船从海里打捞起来，那个船主还是一手拿着保险柜的钥匙，还有一手拿着满手金洋。钱是拿到手了，但是没有命了！沉沦了！是钱好，是命好呢？贪财已把那个船主送到地狱去了。所以你要小心，贪财也要把你送到那个永苦的地狱里去！
【贪财的水手】还有一个这样的故事。就是有一只船快沉时候，船上所有的人顾不得财物，纷纷离船逃命去了。有一水手，舍不得财物沉在海里，也舍不得他的命丢在那里，所以豫先拿了一个最好的救生圈，围在自己的胸前。他就对自己说：『现在命是保险的了，现在可用一点工夫，去发横财。』他就跑到舱底下去搜括金钱，钞票。所得真是不少，他就拿块大布，包满金洋钞票，绑在自己腰里，跑到船面。现在船快沉了，时机不可再失，他就望海一跳，盼藉救生圈浮在水面，等人来救。但很奇怪，一跳下海，并不上浮，就像一块石头，一直沉到海底。救生圈失了功效幺？为何沉下去呢？因为金洋太重。救生圈的力量只够救他自己，救生圈的力量不够救他和他金钱。
【孩子和镍币】一次，一个男子在街上看见一个孩子正在路上号啕大哭，他便问这房子，为何痛哭呢？孩子回答说：因为刚才遗失一枚镍币。这位男子见他可怜，也就给他一枚镍币，谁知他又哭起来了。男子见他又哭起来，心中大惑不解，于是再问他说，还哭什幺？孩子答说：『倘若不落掉那一枚，现在我就有两枚了。』世界上人不断蹈此覆辙。这样事情叫做『贪婪』。贪婪的人心中时常想要得点什幺，欲望很大，所以平时总不快乐。
【有了马还要马鞍子】一个传道的人，常对他的厨子说人是坏的，这个厨子不服。一次传道人说：『今天和你打赌，你如能在一个锺头之内，心裹不起一点罪的念头，我就把我骑的那匹大马送你。我要把你关在一间屋里，不让人来看你，来打扰你。」厨子说：『这个还不容易吗？『传道人把他关在一间屋里，厨子欢欢喜喜坐于椅上，心里说道，这个还不容易吗？再过一个钟头，那匹大马就是我的了。心里想想，越想越快乐，越想越高兴。后来他又想到传道人只把大马给我，没把马鞍给我，叫我如何骑呢？接着他又想到，我要如何才能得着这个马鞍子呢？一想，二想一个钟头就已过去。传道人间到他说：『你犯了罪没有？』他说：『没有呀。』传道人是懂得人的故事的，他说：『你想了什幺没有呢？』他说：『我想我有了马，却没有马鞍子。』传道人说：『你再想了别的没有？』就说：『我想怎样可以得着你的马鞍子。』传道人问道：『这个想法是不是贪心呢？』他明白了，就说：『是贪心。』传道人追问他说：『那幺贪心是罪不是罪呢？『他说：『贪心是罪。』末了传道人说：『那幺马是不是你的呢？』他说：『马不是我的了。』亲爱的朋友！你说你没有罪，难道你终日所想的都没有罪的成分吗？
【欲望终你们什幺工价】一次有位天使，寻找歇宿地方。有两家人：一家房子高大华丽，一家很是简陋。天使去敲第一家的门，财主推窗一看，就从客人的头顶打量到脚底，见他穿着褴袄不堪的衣服，想他袋里并没有钱，摇摇头说：『我不能留宿，我的房子堆满了五谷，还是到别处去找宿罢1！』天使转身走向穷人房子，穷人出来欢迎，热诚款待，天使喜出望外。他又烤些马铃薯，拿了一些牛奶，一同吃饭。第二天清晨天使对家主说：『你们这样怜恤与虔诚，可以向我要三样顶愿意要的东西，我必成全你们的愿望。』穷人回答说：『唉！若叫我要，有什幺东西能比永远活着更好呢？其次就是叫我们两个活着的时候，有健康，有力量，并有每日所需用的饭食。第三，要一座新房子代替我们的旧房子。』天使便叫他们的旧房子变成一座新的，然后走出门外。天亮以后，财主起身往窗外一看，看见邻居旧草房变为壮丽洋房，于是叫起他的妻子问道：『告诉我！这是一回什幺事；昨天对面还是一间茅草棚，今天怎幺成了一幢美丽的新房子呢？赶快去，问问这是一同什幺事！」妻子跑去问穷人，穷人就把昨晚旅客投宿的事说了一遍。财主听了立时喊道：『若我晓得是这样，一定叫他到我这里来过夜。』妻子催他说：『赶快，骑上你的马，或许能够追上他。』财主很快追上了天使，柔声和天使说：『昨晚我是进去找门上的钥匙，你就走了，不是不招待，请你回来，我很欢迎你多住。』天使答应了，财主就乘机请求天使应允给他三样东西，天使回答说：『可以的，但是与你没有好处，还是不要的好，你既一定要。我必给你。』
财主骑马返家，走在路上考虑要些什幺。当他思想时候，松了马的缰绳，马跳起来，被马颠的非常厉害，不能专心想他的问题。最后他不耐烦的说：『该死的东西，我巴不得你的头颈断了。』马头就落到地上，他第一个愿望已经得到了。财主的贪得天性，那肯把马鞍留下，于是背在背上走同家去。路上走的时候，太阳晒得非常难过，开始恼怒生气起来；更加鞍子压痛他的背脊，他还未决定他该要什幺呢！有好几次想好了他所要的，可是马上觉得那个未免太少了。于是想到他的妻子是太惬意了，坐在家里乘着风凉，想到此处叫他非常忿怒，就不知不觉的，大声说道：『巴不得她坐在这个马鞍上，永下不来，好叫她尝尝这种滋味。』那时马鞍果然飞去，回家之后他的妻子坐在马鞍上不得下来，哭叫救命，财主不得已只好把第三个愿望花费在妻子脱离马鞍之上。贪欲的财主结果毫无所得徒受虚惊。
【要学会知足】有一个故事，讲到一个看园的，一天早晨，当他到花园中去的时候，他发现所有的花草树木都枯萎雕谢了。园中充满了死象，一无生气。他非常诧异，就问园门口的一颗橡树：它们中间究竟出了甚么岔子。后来他纔知道，橡树因为自怨没有松树那样高大俊秀，所以就生出厌世之心，不想活了。松树又恨自己不能像葡萄藤那样多结果子。葡萄藤也将自尽，因为它终日匍匐于地，不能直立，又不能像桃树那样开美丽可爱的花。牵牛花也病倒了，因为自叹没有紫丁香那样芬芳。其余的都垂头丧气，怨自己不如人。只有一枝顶小的心安草(堇属)，仍在喷香吐艳。他高兴极了，对它说：「心安草，我真欢喜，别的都悲观厌世，只有你这枝小草还这样勇敢。你似乎一点都没有沮丧。」小草儿回答说：「我绝对没有，连一丝的灰心、一毫的失望也没有。我虽然算不得甚么，但是我知道如果你要一棵橡树，或者一棵松树，或者葡萄藤，或者桃树，或者牵牛花，或者紫丁香，你就会去种植；我知道你要我作一枝小的心安草，所以我就心满意足的尽力作一枝小心安草。」
【知足】知足是圣徒的一件美德。奉献一切与神是知足的初步。以神为万有的人，才有知足的心。萦念世界的信徒，难免贪图虚名。虚名，与世界别的荣耀一般，不能满足人的心。无论得凓多少名声，这样的信徒，总无知足之一日。知道主耶稣是我们的一切之人，有福了！如果我们不是与主一同升天，看见日光下的虚空情形，则我们也是难免思念地上的事的。如果我们不是蒙圣灵光照，叫我们知道，我们所得凓的乃是永远的、实在的，则我们也难免贪求。赞美神，因为信的人能以祂为宝贝。―― 倪柝声
【心安草】经文：「我无论在甚么景况，都可以知足，这是我已经学会了」(腓四11)。
有一个故事，讲到一个国王，一天早晨独自到他的花园中去散步，他发现所有的花草树木都枯萎雕谢了。园中充满了死象，一无生气。
国王非常诧异，就问园门口的一棵橡树：它们中间究竟出了甚么岔子？后来他才知道橡树因为自怨没有松树那样高大俊秀，所以就生出厌世之心，不想活了。松树又恨自己不能像葡萄藤那样多结果子。葡萄藤也将自尽，因为它终日匍伏于地，不能直立，又不能像桃树那样开美丽可爱的花。牵牛儿也病倒了，因为它叹自己没有紫丁香那样芬芳。其余的都垂头丧气，怨自己不如人，只有一枝顶小的心安草(Heart's-ease)，国王见它仍在喷香吐艳，维持原状。国王高兴极了，对它说：“心安草，我真欢喜，别的都悲观厌世，只有你这枝小草这样勇敢。你似乎一点都没有沮丧。”小草儿回答说：“王阿，我绝对没有，连一丝的灰心，一毫的失望，也没有。我虽然算不得甚么，但是我知道如果你要一棵橡树，或者一棵松树，或者葡萄藤，或者桃树，或者牵牛儿，或者紫丁香，你就会去种植﹔我知道你要我作一枝小的心安草，所以我就心满意足地尽力作一枝小的心安草。”――《荒漠甘泉》
※ 主后第四世纪的君士坦丁主教Chrysostom有一句话说得很好：『”我的”、”你的”这两个字的概念，已熄灭了我们同情的火焰，点燃了我们贪婪的欲火。』
※ 从军不怕――(1)后方、前方；(2)安全、危险；(3)轻伤、重伤；(4)死、痊愈。
※ 约翰卫斯理未信主前遇见大学校工：(1)昨天已吃，今早已喝了水；(2)衣虽不够暖，但比没衣好；(3)主预备别人的屋檐台阶作卧处。
※ 被搶：(1)僅此一次；(2)未被殺；(3)錢不多；(4)被人搶，不是搶別人；(5)一切遭遇為使我得益處。
※ 被下監：(1)為得安靜讀經；(2)背經、親近主；(3)去見主好得無比。
【Complaining】The next time you feel like complaining, remember that your garbage disposal probably eats better than 30 percent of the world’s population does.
【Complaining】The story is told of a Christian who was reduced to such poverty that he had only one pair of shoes, with the soles worn through and his toes sticking out. Depressed and discouraged, he walked down the street mumbling to himself: “I might as well be barefooted as to wear these miserable, uncomfortable shoes.” As he felt himself becoming more and more bitter, he came upon a man sitting on the sidewalk and begging. The poor fellow had no legs. After a moment, the discouraged Christian realized that there was something worse than having old shoes-having no feet upon which to wear the shoes.
Are you complaining? Think how much worse things could be.
【Contentment】Two little teardrops were floating down the river of life. One teardrop asked the other, “Who are you?”
“I am a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him. But who are you?”
The first teardrop replied, “I am a teardrop from the girl who got him.”
Life is like that. We cry over the things we can’t have, but we might cry twice as hard if we had received them. Paul had the right idea when he said, “…I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…” (Phil. 4:12).
【Contentment】A little Swiss watch had been made with the smallest of parts and great skill. Yet it was dissatisfied with its restricted sphere of influence on a lady’s wrist. It envied the position of the great tower clock on the city hall. One day as it passed with its owner by the city hall, the tiny watch exclaimed, “I wish I could go way up there! I could then serve many instead of just one.” Now it so happened that its owner was in a position with the city that gave her access to the tower clock, so she said, “You shall have your opportunity, little watch.”
The next day, a slender thread was let down from the tower and the little watch was tied to it. Slowly and carefully, the watch was pulled up the side of the tower, rising higher and higher each moment. Of course, when it reached the top, it was completely lost to view. In this dramatic way, the watch learned that its elevation had effected its annihilation!
Pray the you too may not lose the small influence you now have for Christ by coveting something larger for which you are not equipped, and which God constantly refuses you in his love. Learn to be content.
【Contentment】A story is told of a king who was suffering from a mysterious malady and was advised by his astrologer that he would be cured if the shirt of a contented man was brought for him to wear. People went out to all parts of the kingdom looking for such a person, and after a long search they found a man who was really happy. But he did not even possess a shirt.
【Contentment】A Puritan sat down to his meal and found that he had only a little bread and some water. His response was to exclaim, “What? All this and Jesus Christ, too!”
Contentment is found when we have a correct perspective on life.
【Covetousness】A father was walking down the street with his two small sons, both of whom were cry loudly, A neighbor passing by inquired, “What’s the matter? Why all the fuss?” The father responded, “The trouble with these lads is what’s wrong with the world. One has a piece of candy and the other wants it!”
【Covetousness】The trouble with this world is that too many people try to go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands.
【Covetousness】The story is told of an elderly Quaker who, to teach his neighbors a lesson, put up a sign on a vacant piece of property he owned that read, “I will give this lot to anyone who is really satisfied.”
A wealthy farmer read it as he rode by and said to himself, “Since my Quaker friend is going to give this piece of land away, I might as well have it as anyone else. I am rich and have all I need, so I am well able to qualify.” He went up to the Quaker’s door and, when the aged man appeared, the farmer explained why he had come.
“And art thou really satisfied?” asked the owner of the lot.
“I surely am,” was the farmer’s reply. “I have all I need, and I am well satisfied.”
“Friend,” said the other, “if thou art satisfied, then what dost thou want with my lot?” The question revealed the covetousness that was hidden in the man’s heart.