A Big Deal vs 重要的事

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Dexu Xia

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Feb 2, 2019, 12:34:52 AM2/2/19

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This is the kind of fasting I want: . . . Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Isaiah 58:6 nlt

A family member needed help with his December rent. To his family, the request felt like a burden—especially with their own unexpected expenses at year’s end. But they dug into their savings, grateful for God’s provision—and blessed by their relative’s gratitude.

He handed them a thank-you card filled with grateful words. “There you go again . . . doing nice things, probably passing it off as no big deal.”

Helping others is a big deal, however, to God. The prophet Isaiah made that point to the nation of Israel. The people were fasting but still quarreling and fighting. Instead, said Isaiah: “Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. . . . Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help” (Isaiah 58:6–7 nlt).

Such a sacrifice, said Isaiah, shares God’s light but also heals our own brokenness (v. 8). As the family helped their relative, they looked hard at their own finances, seeing ways they could manage better all year. This was God’s promise for being generous: “Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind” (v. 8 nlt). In the end, giving to their kin blessed them more. And God? He already gave His all—with love.

Lord, light the path of generosity, helping us to give like You.

God gave His all. Let’s follow as He leads.

我想要的禁食是：……让被压迫的人得到自由，除去束缚人的锁链。-以赛亚书58章6节，新普及译本

一位在外租房的朋友需要家人帮忙支付12月份的房租。这对他的家人来说是一个负担，特别在年终的时候，本来就有额外的开支。但他们都愿意用自己的积蓄雪中送炭，以感恩的心分享上帝的供应，也获得我朋友的无限感激。

朋友写了一张感谢卡给家人：“感谢你们又一次帮助我度过难关，或许你们认为这不算什么，但对我却是大事。”

对上帝而言，帮助人是重要的事，先知以赛亚向以色列人表明了这点。他们在禁食时仍然吵闹争斗，因此以赛亚说：“释放那蒙冤被囚的，减轻雇工的重担，……同饥饿的人分享食物，给无家可归者提供居所，送衣物给有需要的人，不躲避需要帮助的亲属。”（以赛亚书58章6-7节，新普及译本）

以赛亚说，这样的付出不仅彰显上帝的荣光，就连自己所受的伤害也都会得医治（8节）。我朋友的家人向他伸出了援手，虽然接下来他们必须仔细计算开销，但却学会了如何善用金钱，以至各方面都没有缺乏。对那些心存慷慨的人，上帝应许说：“你的公义必在你前面行；耶和华的荣光必作你的后盾”（8节）。至终，那些愿为他人付出的人更加蒙福。上帝更是早已因爱的缘故，将祂的一切都赐给了我们。

主啊，祢照亮慷慨待人之路，
帮助我们能像祢那样甘心付出。