Making Wise Choices 明智的选择
Dexu Xia
Your word is a lamp for my feet. Psalm 119:105
Sell my late mother’s house? That decision burdened my heart after my beloved, widowed mother passed away. Sentiment drove my feelings. Still, my sister and I spent two years cleaning and repairing her empty home, resigned to sell it. This was in 2008, and a global recession left us with no buyers. We kept dropping the price but got no offers. Then, while reading my Bible one morning, this passage grabbed my eye: “Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox” (Proverbs 14:4 esv).
The proverb spoke of farming, but I was intrigued by its message. An unoccupied stall stays neat, but only with the “mess” of inhabitants would it yield a harvest of crops. Or, for us, a crop of value and family legacy. Calling my sister, I asked, “What if we keep Mama’s house? We could rent it.”
The choice surprised us. We had no plans to turn Mom’s home into an investment. But the Bible, as a spiritual guide, also offers practical wisdom. As David prayed, “Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow” (Psalm 25:4 nlt).
With our choice, my sister and I have been blessed to rent Mama’s home to many lovely families. We also learned this life-changing truth: Scripture helps guide our decisions. “Your word is a lamp for my feet,” wrote the psalmist, “a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). May we walk in God’s light.
By: Patricia Raybon
What tough choices are you facing? How can the Scriptures provide answers?
As I make decisions, dear God, please guide me with the light of Scripture.
祢的话是我脚前的灯。—诗篇119篇105节
卖掉我已故母亲的房子？在我深爱的寡居母亲过世后，这个决定让我心情沉重，思念之情让我无法割舍。尽管如此，我和妹妹还是花了两年时间，清理和整修母亲那空荡荡的房子，很不情愿地准备出售。那是在2008年，全球经济衰退以致找不到买家。我们不断降价，仍旧无人问津。一天早上，我在读圣经时，有一节经文引起我的注意：“家里无牛，槽头干净；土产加多，乃凭牛力。”（箴言14章4节）
虽然这节经文是谈论农事，但其中的信息却让我深入思索。没有牛的牛棚能保持干净，但只有养了牛的脏乱牛棚，才能收获庄稼。或许，对我们来说，这栋房子是可收获的庄稼，可作为我们的传家之宝。于是，我打电话问妹妹：“不如我们保留母亲的房子？我们可以出租。”
这个决定确实出乎意料，因我们从未想过将这房子变成一项投资。但圣经不仅是属灵指南，还提供了实用的生活智慧。正如大卫向上帝祷告说：“求祢将正路指示给我。指引我该走的路，让我得以跟随。”（诗篇25篇4节，新普及译本）
因着这个选择，我和妹妹有幸能将母亲的房子租给许多可爱的家庭。我们也学到这改变生命的真理：圣经能引导我们做决定。诗人写道：“祢的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光”（119篇105节）。愿你我能在上帝的光中继续前行。
作者： 雷翠霞
你正面临哪些艰难的选择？
圣经如何为你提供答案？
上帝总会以祂完美的计划和步调来供应我们。
亲爱的上帝，当我做决定时，求祢用圣经的亮光引导我