A Humble Thanksgiving 谦卑的感恩
Dexu Xia
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6
Today's Scripture Proverbs 22:1-6
Today's Insights It’s fascinating that the man who collected or wrote most of the sayings in the book of Proverbs (King Solomon) is also believed to be the writer of Ecclesiastes. The proverbs essentially say, Do this, and get that result. Do wise things and get good results; do foolish things and pay the price. However, Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes, “With much wisdom comes much sorrow” (1:18). Yet in Proverbs he says, “Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (4:7). Ecclesiastes shows us the futility of life without God at the center; Proverbs instructs us how and why to live wisely. And so we live by the wisdom of the Proverbs: “A good name is more desirable than great riches” (22:1). And “humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life” (v. 4)—a truth that will see its full fruition in the next life
Today's Devotional One Thanksgiving I called home to greet my parents. As we talked, I asked my mom what she was most grateful for. She exclaimed that she was most grateful that “all three of my children know how to call on the name of the Lord.” For my mother, who’d always emphasized the importance of education, there was something more valuable than her children doing well in school and taking care of themselves.
Her sentiments remind me of Proverbs 22:6: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” While this isn’t a promise but more a wise principle, and many children do wander from God for at least a season of life, she and my father had strived to raise us to humbly, reverently love God (v. 4)—primarily through example. Now, by His grace, they were able to see us grow older and benefit from a personal relationship with Him. As verse 2 says, God is “the Maker of . . . all.” And although some children will respond to loving instruction in Christ, others might take longer perhaps to hear His voice. For those precious children, we continue to pray and rest in God’s timing.
Mom’s humble thanksgiving points to what’s most important in life. Reverently loving God yields spiritual riches for this life and beyond (v. 4). And while we can’t control what children will choose to do, we can rest in the hope that God will lovingly continue to work in their hearts.
Reflect & Pray How have you been shown the love of God? How do you reverently love Him?
Dear God, please help me to love and disciple others well.
By Katara Patton
教养孩童，使他走当行的道，就是到老他也不偏离。（箴言 22:6）
今日经文：箴言 22:1-6
今日洞见：收集或撰写《箴言》中大部分格言的人（所罗门王）也被认为是《传道书》的作者，这真是令人着迷。箴言的核心是：这样做，就会得到那样的结果。行智慧的事，就会有好报；行愚昧的事，就会付出代价。然而，所罗门在《传道书》中写道：“多有智慧，就多有愁烦”（1:18）。不过，他在《箴言》中又说：“要得智慧，即使倾尽所有，也要得聪明”（4:7）。《传道书》向我们揭示了没有上帝的生活是徒劳的；《箴言》则教导我们如何以及为何要智慧地生活。因此，我们奉行箴言的智慧：“美名胜过大财”（箴言22:1）。“敬畏耶和华心存谦卑，就得富足、尊荣和生命为赏赐”（箴言22:4）。这个真理将在永世完全实现。
今日灵修：我在感恩节打电话回家问候父母。通话中，我问妈妈她最感恩的是什么。她激动地说，她最感恩的是“我的三个孩子都知道求告耶和华的名”。对于一向强调学习重要性的母亲来说，她心里还有比孩子们在学校取得好成绩、照顾好自己更重要的事。她的话让我想起箴言22:6：“教养孩童，使他走当行的道，就是到老他也不偏离。”这并非是一项承诺，而是一项智慧的原则。许多孩子在人生的某个阶段确实会远离神，但我的母亲和我的父亲一直努力教导我们存着谦卑和敬畏之心爱神（第4节），主要通过言传身教。如今，蒙神的恩典，他们能够见证，我们长大成人后，都从与上帝建立的个人关系中获益。正如第2节所说，神是“万物的创造者”。虽然有些孩子会回应基督里充满爱的教导，但有些孩子可能需要更长时间才能听到神的声音。对于这些宝贵的孩子，我们继续祷告，并在神的安排中安息。
我母亲谦卑的感恩指向了生命中最重要的事情。以敬畏的心爱上帝，会带来今生和来世的属灵财富（第4节）。虽然我们无法控制孩子们会做出怎样的选择，但我们可以安息在盼望中，相信上帝会继续以慈爱在他们的心中动工。
反思与祷告 你曾经如何感受到上帝的爱？你如何以敬畏之心爱上帝？ 亲爱的上帝，请帮助我更好地爱人并带领他人成为耶稣基督的门徒。 卡塔拉·帕顿