登陆注册
5201500000091

第91章

The apostle adjured the Corinthians, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Should they become boastful and self-confident, neglecting to watch and pray, they would fall into grievous sin, calling down upon themselves the wrath of God.Yet Paul would not have them yield to despondency or discouragement.He gave them the assurance: "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it."Paul urged his brethren to ask themselves what influence their words and deeds would have upon others and to do nothing, however innocent in itself, that would seem to sanction idolatry or offend the scruples of those who might be weak in the faith."Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God."The apostle's words of warning to the Corinthian church are applicable to all time and are especially adapted to our day.By idolatry he meant not only the worship of idols, but self-serving, love of ease, the gratification of appetite and passion.A mere profession of faith in Christ, a boastful knowledge of the truth, does not make a man a Christian.A religion that seeks only to gratify the eye, the ear, and the taste, or that sanctions self-indulgence, is not the religion of Christ.

By a comparison of the church with the human body, the apostle aptly illustrated the close and harmonious relationship that should exist among all members of the church of Christ."By one Spirit," he wrote, "are well all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.For the body is not one member, but many.If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.And if they were all one member, where were the body?

But now are they many members, yet but one body.And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you....God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."And then, in words which from that day to this have been to men and women a source of inspiration and encouragement, Paul set forth the importance of that love which should be cherished by the followers of Christ: "Though Ispeak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though Ihave all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though Igive my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."No matter how high the profession, he whose heart is not filled with love for God and his fellow men is not a true disciple of Christ.Though he should possess great faith and have power even to work miracles, yet without love his faith would be worthless.He might display great liberality; but should he, from some other motive than genuine love, bestow all his goods to feed the poor, the act would not commend him to the favor of God.In his zeal he might even meet a martyr's death, yet if not actuated by love, he would be regarded by God as a deluded enthusiast or an ambitious hypocrite.

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up." The purest joy springs from the deepest humiliation.The strongest and noblest characters are built on the foundation of patience, love, and submission to God's will.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 重临大地

    重临大地

    当梦境可化为现实,当幻想亦可成真!当异常降临,我们如何看待这个世界,究竟是幻想化作现实,还是所谓的现实早已残缺?!新旧的交替,混乱的起点,时代的大幕早已悄然揭开。(温馨提示,本书为半无敌文)
  • 无法同行

    无法同行

    根据动漫《劲爆战士》第一部衍生的同人文,向童年致敬,为国漫产粮!
  • 冰火法神

    冰火法神

    欢迎来到安菲利欧,一个神秘的类网游世界。在这里,你可以获取经验,升级专长,学习技能,狩猎魔物;在这里,你可以组建旅团,挑战秘境,寻找宝藏,祈求灵佑;在这里,你可以参加联赛,绽放光芒,争夺冠冕,成为王者。但……请记住!这里是类网游,不是真网游!这是一个真实的世界!若是你以游戏的心态进来,那请做好准备——做好迎接死亡,滚回地球的准备!——来自某个玩冰弄火的法师,给新人的忠告。
  • 泡沫之夏(全三册)

    泡沫之夏(全三册)

    同名电视剧由黄圣池、张雪迎、秦俊杰主演,2018年5月8日起在浙江卫视、爱奇艺上映播出。夏沫和洛熙都是孤儿,少年的他们在养父母家相识,因为童年留在内心的阴影,他们彼此充满戒备和防范。洛熙在夏沫和弟弟参加电视歌唱大赛遇到尴尬状况下为他们解围,两个孩子中间的坚冰在逐渐融化,而深爱夏沫的富家少爷欧辰为了分开两人,把洛熙送到英国留学……五年后的洛熙成了拥有无数FANS的天皇巨星,而夏沫作为唱片公司的新晋艺人与他再次相遇,欧辰失忆了,三大主角再度登场,爱恨纠葛,他们之间将会发生怎样的一段故事……
  • 城南知玖

    城南知玖

    顾玖,一个励志成为一名翻译的编导实习生,悠悠哉哉,好像对世事不管不顾的样子,但其实,内心早已做好了一切的计划。程南,一个为了躲避老爷子的“追杀”而跑去选秀的富家大少爷,看似混蛋不羁却算盘打好,人称南爷。两条平行线的相交究竟会擦出怎样的火花呢?顾玖面对这个打破她内心计划的混蛋又是如何“处置”呢?城南没有旧事,欢迎你的收看!(刚开始写,请多多包涵,剧情值得关注。)
  • 《西游记》原来是本这么好看的管理书

    《西游记》原来是本这么好看的管理书

    本书以古典演义和现代管理相结合的方式,全新解读古典名著《西游记》,帮助企业获取管理的真经。西游团队从组建到取得真经的历程,就像一个企业从建立到发展,从执行到实现目标的全过程。从中,我们学习到团队运营、领导艺术、员工激励等管理之道。全书幽默不失灼见,浅显却富有深意。因此本书既是管理者修炼的必备手册,也是员工提升自我的指南书。
  • 烽火红棉

    烽火红棉

    一段阴谋,将几个孩子牵扯进了历史的漩涡之中,儿女情长,家国之痛,别后重逢,戏梦人生。如何学着在乱世中生存,如何做出正确的选择,如何冲破命运的桎梏,如何学着去爱与被爱,几个主人公在故事中成长与领悟......
  • 11月25创建云起测试作品

    11月25创建云起测试作品

    11月25创建云起测试作品11月25创建云起测试作品11月25创建云起测试作品
  • 腹黑总裁二手妻

    腹黑总裁二手妻

    袁叶遭遇丈夫出轨沦落为弃妇。正当她改变心性时,富二代林沫出现。他们相遇相厌。袁叶爱上了林沫的好友时代医家的吴孝素,自己的两个闺蜜也卷入其中,让本来复杂的情感更加的纠葛,他们在友情,爱情面前该如何选择。
  • 格子衬衫上的仲夏已逝

    格子衬衫上的仲夏已逝

    麻娑,麻娑。我们是红蚁的后族,做我的王后。我们要一起穿越那片金黄的麦田,爬到卡克布齐的向日葵上进行我们的婚礼,听说那的日落是世界上最美的。