作工福祉
As people get to the end of their work week, it’s not uncommon to people pray. Even people that don’t pray any other time – seem to find room to thank God that Friday has finally come. You’ve heard the prayer. Perhaps you’ve said the prayer: “Thank God, it’s Friday.”
当⼈们临近⼀周的⼯作结束时，以祷告来结束⼀周的⼯作是很常⻅的。即使是那些在其他任何时候都不祷告的⼈，似乎也有机会感谢上帝，因为星期五终于来了。你已经听到这个祷告了。也许你已经这样祷告过了:“感谢上帝，星期五到来了。”
Many of us think it’s an appropriate prayer. After all, work is a necessary evil, isn’t it?
我们中的许多⼈认为这是⼀个恰当的祷告。毕竟，⼯作是个不可避免的不幸，不是吗?
Isn’t the weekend when we can really get to enjoy life?
Isn’t all the work we do before the weekend simply providing us the income to enjoy some freedom?!
The more we wrangle out of work the better, isn’t it?
周末不就是我们真正享受⽣活的时候吗?
我们在周末之前做的所有⼯作不就是给我们提供了享受⾃由的收⼊吗?
我们从⼯作中争取到的东⻄越多越好，不是吗?
Perhaps it’s no wonder that every petrol station, café, and workplace seems to be looking for people to work right now. Perhaps we’re all just trying to get away from having to work!!
也许这并不奇怪，每个加油站，café和⼯作场所似乎都在招员⼯。也许我们只是想逃避⼯作!!
A lot of marketing plays on this. The Lotto ads certainly paint a dream to us of a life without work.
Win lotto and you will be independently wealthy. You can retire early and live the ultimate dream that involves NO MORE WORK! You will be on a perpetual holiday. Driving that car of your dreams.
Drinking cocktails by the pool. What could be better?!
很多营销都在利⽤这⼀点。乐透彩票的⼴告⽆疑为我们描绘了⼀幅不⼯作的⽣活的梦。中了乐透，你就会独⽴致富。你可以提前退休，过上不⽤再⼯作的终极梦想!你将享有永久的假期。
开着你梦寐以求的⻋。在泳池边喝鸡尾酒。还有⽐这更好的吗?
But, the Bible has a very different stance about work. God says that if we are going to experience wellbeing, we actually need to work. It brings up the idea that we can and should find enjoyment and fulfilment in work.
但是，圣经对⼯作有⼀个⾮常不同的⽴场。上帝说，如果我们想要体验幸福，我们实际上需要⼯作。它提出了这样⼀个观点:我们可以也应该在⼯作中找到乐趣和成就感。
Today, we’re continuing our wellbeing series, looking at vocational wellbeing.
今天，我们继续我们的福祉系列，我们来学习⼯作的福祉（幸福感）。
The English word for vocation comes from the latin word vocatio – meaning to be called or to have a calling. Vocation / vocatio / “to be called”
英⽂单词vocation（职业，⼯作，使命）出⾃拉丁⽂vocatio这个词—意思是被呼召或者是有使命。
Did you know that we all have a calling? Central to our life purpose is this concept of ‘calling.’
God has a purpose for each one of us.
你知道我们都有使命吗？我们⽣命⽬的的中⼼就是这个“使命”的概念。
上帝对我们每个⼈都有祂的旨意。
Author Paul Stevens in his book ‘The other six days’ talks about three vocations. I find this a helpful grid to think about what the Bible has to say about vocation:
作家保罗·史蒂⽂斯在他的《另外六天》⼀书中谈到了三种使命。我发现这对于思考圣经对⼯作的看法很有帮助：
- He says, the first vocation is a Human vocation:
A macro/common call that is true for all people. This would include what God has to say about creation care, compassion, and justice.
These apply to everyone.
- 他说，第⼀个使命是⼈类的使命:
⼀个对所有⼈都适⽤的宏观/共同的召唤。这包括上帝对创造、关怀、同情和正义的看法。这些适⽤于所有⼈。
- The second vocation is a Christian vocation:
This is a call that is true for followers of Jesus. This would include things like the great commission where Jesus says to his followers: ‘go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
- 第⼆个使命感是基督徒的使命:
这是对耶稣追随者的真实的呼召。这包括像最⼤的使命，耶稣对他的信徒说:“你们要去，使万⺠作我的⻔徒，给他们施洗，我所吩咐你们的，都教导他们遵守。”
- He says the third vocation is a Personal vocation:
A micro call that is specific and personalised to each individual Christian. So, the Spirit of God gives spiritual gifts to an individual designed that they can serve God and others in a particular way. On top of that, will be the realisation that the place you have in life affects how you personally express your call in the relationships and areas where you live, work, and play.
- 他说第三个使命感是个⼈的使命:
对每个基督徒都是具体的、个⼈化的微呼召。所以，神的灵赐给每个⼈属灵的恩赐，使他们能以⼀种特殊的⽅式侍奉神和他⼈。最重要的是，你会意识到，你在⽣活中所处的位置会影响你在⽣活、⼯作和娱乐的⼈际关系和领域中如何表达⾃⼰的使命。
When we step into all three of these vocations/calls, we will find ourselves living with purpose.
当我们同时⾛进这三种使命/呼召时，我们会发现⾃⼰活得有⽬标。
The Japanese word to talk about this idea is ikigai – translated as ‘our reason for being’
⽤⽇语的词来讲这个概念是ikigai，翻译过来就是“我们存在的理由”。
ikigai /(Japanese) = ‘our reason for being’
ikigai /(⽇语)=“我们存在的理由”
It’s the reason for which you wake up in the morning. Being clear on our ikigai or life purpose is crucial for our wellbeing.
它是你早上醒来的理由。明确我们的ikigai或⽣活⽬标对我们的福祉（幸福感）⾄关重要。
Studies have shown:
研究表明:
1) purposeless increases the risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, poor social relationships, substance and alcohol abuse
漫⽆⽬的会增加抑郁、⾃杀念头、不良社会关系、滥⽤药物和酒精的⻛险
2) A strong sense of purpose increases physical and mental wellbeing.
强烈的使命感能增进身⼼健康。
Central to our life purpose is the concept of ‘calling.’
我们⼈⽣⽬标的核⼼是“使命”的概念。
If you’re not a Christian and you’re connecting with us today – we’re glad you’re here. Some of what we talk about today will be true for you whether you are a Christian or not. Some of what we will talk about taps into a bigger subject of purpose that we believe is only to be experienced when you engage in a relationship with Jesus.
如果你不是基督徒，⽽你今天来到我们这⾥，我们很⾼兴你来到这⾥。不管你是不是基督徒，我们今天所谈论的有些东⻄对你来说都是真实的。我们将要谈论的⼀些内容涉及到⼀个更⼤的⽬标主题，我们相信只有当你与耶稣建⽴关系时才能体验到。
In his best-selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren writes:
⾥克·沃伦在他的畅销书《⽬标驱动的⼈⽣》中写道:
“If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose…until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end.” / Rick Warren (with photo)
“如果你想知道你为什么被安置在这个星球上，你必须从上帝开始。你因他的⽬的⽽⽣，为了他的⽬的⽽⽣，除⾮你明⽩这⼀点，否则⽣活将永远没有意义。只有在上帝⾥，我们才能发现⾃⼰的起源、身份、价值、⽬的、意义和命运。其他的路都是死路⼀条。/⾥克·沃伦
The reality is that you will spend roughly one-third of your life at work. And because your work will consume 8-10 hours each day, every weekday of your life, your experience on the job will either add significant levels of joy and fulfilment to your life, or it will create a misery index that will be tough to overcome with the remaining hours of the day. It’s vital to connect vocation/call to our work.
现实情况是，你⼀⽣中⼤约三分之⼀的时间都在⼯作。因为你的⼯作每天要消耗8-10个⼩时，在你⽣活的每个⼯作⽇，你的⼯作经历要么会给你的⽣活带来显著的喜乐和成就感，要么会创造⼀个痛苦指数，让你在剩下的时间⾥难以克服。把使命/呼召与我们的⼯作联系起来是很重要的。
BTW, when I mention work, we tend to think of paid employment. Interestingly when the Bible talks about work, it doesn’t just have in mind paid employment. It has the idea of expending energy in the service of others. This does relate to employment contexts – but also to the stay at home parent… to the student…(many of you are about to begin exams)… to the person working in a volunteer role… or to the gold-card holders among you in that space society calls ‘retirement.’ The thing is we all expend energy. We do things.
顺便说⼀下，当我提到⼯作时，我们倾向于想到有偿⼯作。有趣的是，当圣经谈到⼯作时，它并不只是指有偿⼯作。它的理念是把精⼒花在服事他⼈上。这确实与就业背景有关——但也与呆在家⾥的⽗⺟、学⽣(你们中的许多⼈即将开始考试)、做义⼯的⼈、或在空间社会学称为“退休”的持有⾦卡的⼈有关。“问题是我们都会消耗能量。我们都在⼯作。
The question I want to put to us today about our work/ the energy we expend is – ‘what’s our experience of work meant to be?’
关于我们的⼯作/消耗的精⼒，我今天想问⼤家的问题是:“我们的⼯作经历应该是怎样的?””
My short answer is this: Work is a necessary component to a life of flourishing. It can bring joy and meaning and significance.
我的简短回答是:⼯作是富⾜⽣活的必要组成部分。它能带来喜乐、价值和意义。
For some of you – this is a stretch. Internally you’re groaning – ‘JD, if you only knew where I work and what it’s like.’ But, I want to first elevate your perspective of work so that you can head there tomorrow morning – and find joy in your job.
对你们中的⼀些⼈来说，这是⼀个延伸。你内⼼在抱怨——“JD，如果你知道我在哪⾥⼯作，知道那⾥是什么样⼦就好了。”“但是，我想⾸先提升你对⼯作的看法，这样你明天早上就可以去上班——并从⼯作中找到乐趣。”
At the same time, I want to clarify our expectations of what we should about work and look at some practical realities for a way forward.
同时，我想澄清我们对⼯作的应有的期望，并从⼀些实际情况中寻找前进的道路。
To do that, I want to give you the story of work from the Bible. We all like stories. The story of the Bible begins with the very first chapter in Genesis. There we see that…
为此，我想给你们讲⼀个圣经中关于⼯作的故事。我们都喜欢故事。圣经的故事从《创世纪》的第⼀章开始。我们看到…
#1 Work is a wonderful thing that began with God.
#1 ⼯作是⼀件奇妙的事情，它始于上帝。
The story of work begins with creation – that you and I were created to partner with God in the ongoing work of creation in helping life flourish on this planet in the way he created it.
⼯作的故事始于创造——你我被创造出来是为了与上帝合作，继续进⾏创造的⼯作，以他创造这个星球的⽅式帮助⽣命在它上⾯蓬勃发展。
In the very beginning of the Bible, in its first chapter of the first book of Genesis, we read that God worked.
在圣经的开头，在第⼀卷书《创世纪》的第⼀章，我们读到上帝做⼯。
The word ‘work’ is a normal word for work. It’s a physical labour word. It’s the picture of God rolling up his sleeves and getting right into a good days work
“做⼯”这个词是⼯作的正常表达。这是⼀个体⼒劳动的词。这是上帝卷起袖⼦，开始⼀天的⼯作的画⾯
The very first week is really an account of work – God’s work! Each day God forms and fills and creates and sustains. He did something. He made something.
第⼀个星期是神的⼯作。上帝每天都在塑造、填满、创造和维持。他做了些什么。他造了⼀些什么。
What He did wasn’t shoddy or poorly done.
他所做的不是粗制滥造或做得不好。
In fact, we read that God looked back over his working week…
事实上，我们读到上帝回顾他的⼯作的⼀周…
“Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!….” / Genesis 1:31 (NLT)
上帝看⼀切所造的，看哪，都⾮常好..../创世纪1:31 (NLT)
You get the idea that God is satisfied – chuffed - in his work!
你知道神对他的⼯作是满意的。
I get that feeling when I’ve been out gardening… and it looks good. I sit back and enjoy it.
当我在外⾯种花的时候，我就有这种感觉，它看起来很好。我坐下来享受。
God’s work didn’t stop in Genesis. Throughout the Bible, the way God continues to work is described as a shepherd, potter/craftworker, builder and architect, weaver, gardener, farmer, musician, artist, and parent.
上帝的⼯作并没有在创世纪中停⽌。在圣经中，神继续⼯作的⽅式被描述为牧者、陶⼯/⼿⼯业者、建造者和建筑师、织⼯、园丁、农⺠、⾳乐家、艺术家和⽗⺟。
God works! That should already tell us that work is not a bad thing.
上帝在做⼯!这应该已经告诉我们，⼯作不是⼀件坏事。
In fact, even this idea of God working is utterly unique to Christianity. In other religions, we find a God who orders people to do something but doesn’t work. The Christian God works!
事实上，即使是上帝⼯作的观点，也是基督教独有的。在其他宗教中，我们会发现上帝命令⼈们做⼀些事情，但并不奏效。基督的神在作⼯!
Then, on the sixth day when God creates people, we read this:
然后，在第六天上帝创造了⼈，我们读到:
So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them./ Genesis 1:27
上帝就照着他的形像创造⼈，照着上帝的形像创造他们；他创造了他们，有男有⼥。(创世记1:27)
We’re told that we are made in the image of God. Applying that to work, we know God is a worker. So work and activity is something that should be natural for you and me, something our loving Creator intends for our good. Work is not evil, nor is it a side effect of sin.
我们被告知我们是按照上帝的形象造的。把这⼀点应⽤到⼯作中，我们就知道神是⼀个⼯作者。所以⼯作和活动对你我来说应该是⾃然的，是我们慈爱的造物主为我们的益处所打算的。⼯作不是不幸，也不是罪的副⾯影响。
This should explain why a lot of people love what they do. It’s part of why early on in a conversation we tend to ask ‘so, what do you for a living?’ It’s important to us. It goes right back to the way we were created to work.
这应该可以解释为什么很多⼈热爱他们所做的事情。这也是为什么谈话中⼀开始我们会问“你是做什么的?”“这对我们很重要。这⼜回到了我们被创造⽽去⼯作的⽅式。
God didn't create us to sit around and enjoy life without work. One of the first things God said to the first couple is to give them a job description:
上帝创造我们不是让我们闲坐着享受⽣活⽽不⼯作。上帝对第⼀对夫妻说的第⼀件事就是给他们⼀个⼯作的描述:
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”/ Genesis 1:28 (NLT)
上帝赐福给他们，上帝对他们说：“要⽣养众多，遍满这地，治理它；要管理海⾥的⻥、天空的⻦和地上各样活动的⽣物。” (创世记1:28 )
He says:
祂说:
1) Fill the earth. Just as God formed and filled, he invites his people to fill the earth. It’s not just about procreation! I think it relates to civilization. God is not looking just for individuals but society. He gives us a job of branching out and filling the spaces.
遍满这地。就像上帝创造和充满⼀样，他邀请他的⼦⺠充满⼤地。这不仅仅是⽣育的问题!我认为这与⽂明有关。上帝不仅仅在寻找个⼈，也在寻找社会。他给我们的⼯作是拓展和填补空间。
2) Reign /govern: God owns the world but places it under our care to cultivate it.
统治/管理:上帝拥有世界，但把它交给我们保管耕作它。
The next chapter, in Genesis 2 we read more about work, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” / Genesis 2:15
下⼀章，在《创世纪》第2章，我们读到更多关于⼯作的内容，耶和华上帝把那⼈安置在伊甸园，让他耕耘看管。 (创世记2:15)
There are two words that stand out “to work” and “to take care.” Interestingly, in the first five books of the Bible – which form what’s called the Pentateuch - wherever else those terms ‘work’ and ‘take care of’ are seen – each time they are used to describe what priests do. That’s a profound observation.
有两个词很突出，“to work”和“to take care”。有趣的是，在《圣经》的前五卷书中，也就是所谓的《摩⻄五经》中，“word”和“take care of”这两个词出现的地⽅，每次都被⽤来描述祭司的⼯作。这是⼀个深刻的观察。
It gives us the idea that what Adam is doing in the garden is worship. He is a priest. His role is to guard the garden from anything that should not be there (I guess like serpents!). He is both gardener and guardian. This work has a priestly role, even though it is working and taking care of the garden.
它告诉我们，亚当在花园⾥所做的是敬拜神。他是⼀名祭司。他的⻆⾊是看守花园不让任何不应该在那⾥的东⻄进⼊(我猜像蛇!)他既是园丁⼜是监护⼈。这项⼯作有⼀个祭司的⻆⾊，即使它是耕耘和看管花园。
Work can and should be part of your worship. What you do in your job is way bigger than getting paid!
⼯作可以⽽且应该是你敬拜神的⼀部分。你在⼯作中做的事⽐拿⼯资重要得多!
Effectively, Adam does what God did in the first chapter. Everything was formless and empty. That first chapter is about God bringing form and filling. God brings shape and order and colour and texture.
Our work – whatever it is – is part of his purposes for us to be his hands and his feet in bringing form and filling to the world around us.
事实上，亚当做了上帝在第⼀章中所做的事。⼀切都是空虚混沌的。第⼀章是关于上帝带来创造和充满。上帝带来了形状、秩序、⾊彩和质地。我们的⼯作——⽆论它是什么——是祂的⽬的的⼀部分，让我们成为他的⼿和脚，为我们周围的世界带来创造和充满。
Author Timothy Keller actually defines work this way:
作家Timothy Keller实际上是这样定义⼯作的:
“Work is rearranging the raw material of God’s creation in such a way that it helps the world in
general and people in particular, thrive and flourish.”/ Timothy Keller
“⼯作是对上帝创造的原材料进⾏重新整理，以帮助整个世界，特别是⼈类，繁荣昌盛。”/ Timothy Keller
So, how does your job help people flourish?
那么，你的⼯作是如何帮助⼈类繁荣昌盛的呢?
Unless your job is a drug dealer or criminal – I believe it can rearrange the raw material of God’s creation to renew people and places.
除⾮你的⼯作是毒贩或罪犯——我相信它可以重新整理上帝创造的原材料，使⼈和地⽅焕然⼀新。
Let me illustrate it this way. I asked a few people this week to let me know a little about their jobs and what they would be doing this time tomorrow:
让我这样来诠释。本周，我问了⼀些⼈，让我了解⼀下他们的⼯作以及明天这个时候他们在做什么:
So, here is… Lydia Batts is an artist.
所以…Lydia Batts是位艺术家
Creative work –
创造性⼯作
Lydia Batts/ Artist “On Monday 14th Nov, l will be editing images for my website.”
Lydia Batts/艺术家“11⽉14⽇星期⼀，我将为我的⽹站编辑图⽚。”
Lydia is part of Gracecity. She is an artist. I asked her ‘what will you be doing this time tomorrow?’ She said …
Lydia是我们Gracecity教会的⼀员。她是⼀位艺术家。我问她“明天这个时候你在做什么?”
“她说……
Perhaps your work is much like X. And therefore much like our Heavenly Father who creates. See, if you are a musician, writer, graphic designer, interior designer, carpenter, urban planner or architect – you are doing God’s creative work – fashioning the world, revealing his glory through it.
也许你的⼯作很像Lydia，因此也很像我们创造的天⽗。如果你是⾳乐家、作家、平⾯设计师、室内设计师、⽊匠、城市规划师或建筑师，你就是在做上帝的创造性⼯作——塑造这个世界，通过它彰显他的荣耀。
Providential work –
护理之⼯-
Jimmy Ng/ Commercial and Residential Lawyer “On Monday, I’ll be working on my desktop, staring at
the computer (haha). Just say working on the computer on a client's case.”
Jimmy Ng/商业和住宅律师“周⼀，我会在我的桌⾯上⼯作，盯着电脑(哈哈)。⽐如在电脑上为
客户的案⼦⼯作。”
Chris Rose. / Engineer. “I will be doing a structural design for a house at 10.30am on Monday.”
Chris Rose。/⼯程师。 “我将在周⼀上午10点半做⼀个房⼦的结构设计。”
This is Jimmy Ng and Chris Rose.
这是Jimmy Ng和Chris Rose。
Jimmy is a residential and commercial lawyer. …‘On Monday, he'll be working on his desktop, staring at the computer (haha). Just say working on the computer on a client's case.”
Jimmy是⼀名住宅和商业律师。周⼀，他会在⾃⼰的桌⾯上⼯作，盯着电脑(哈哈)。⽐如在电脑上为客户的案⼦⼯作。”
Chris is an engineer. “I will be doing a structural design for a house at 10.30am on Monday.”
克⾥斯是⼀位⼯程师。 “我将在周⼀上午10点半做⼀个房⼦的结构设计。”
Perhaps your work is much like X in the way you allow the providential work of God to occur through retail, repairs and maintenance, IT, engineering, or transport.
也许你的⼯作很像Jimmy和Chris，你允许上帝的护理之⼯通过零售、维修和维护、IT、⼯程或运输发⽣。
Justice work –
司法⼯作
This is Simon Greening / “I am an employment lawyer. I will be based in the offices of one my clients, Blind Low Vision, assisting managers with various employment issues. In this context faith at work for me means helping people resolve issues in working relationships.”
这是Simon greening/“我是⼀名就业律师。我将在我的⼀个客户Blind Low Vision的办公室，，协助经理处理各种就业问题。在这种背景下，对我来说，⼯作中的信仰意味着帮助⼈们解决⼯作关系中的问题。”
Perhaps you are involved in God’s work of maintaining justice.
也许你参与了上帝维护正义的⼯作。
Revelatory work –
启示性⼯作
Haylee Erasmus / Filmmaker “ “On Monday morning , I'll be in the edit suite completing the trailer for my first short film.”
Haylee Erasmus“周⼀早上，我会在剪辑室完成我的第⼀部短⽚的预告⽚。”
This is Haylee Erasmus, also part of Gracecity. She is a filmmaker and is right now in the final weeks of finishing a short movie with her team.
这是Haylee Erasmus，也是我们Gracecity教会的⼀员。她是⼀名电影制作⼈，现在正与她的团队在最后⼏周完成⼀部短⽚。
In the same way, if you are a teacher, scientist, scholars, preachers, film makers, journalists – are all involved in this sort of work – like X – you are in some way showing God’s truth to people.
同样地，如果你是⼀名教师、科学家、学者、传教⼠、电影制作⼈、记者——所有⼈都参与到这类⼯作中——就像Haylee——你在某种程度上是在向⼈们展示上帝的真理。
Community work –
社区⼯作
Amos Ling / Real Estate Agent: “I would expect to be ringing back clients from the weekend open homes but this could spontaneously be replaced by a viewing request, purchaser/vendor appointment, team meeting etc.”
Amos Ling/
房地产经纪⼈:“我预计要给周末去参观开放家庭的客户回电话，但这可能会⾃然⽽然地被参观请求、买⽅/卖⽅预约、团队会议等取代。”
If you too are involved in hospitality, civic work, or real estate – you are doing God’s work of connecting people together.
如果你也参与服务业、市政⼯作或房地产——你正在做神的⼯作，把⼈们联系在⼀起。
Compassionate work
富有同情⼼的⼯作
Harley Aish/GP “I will be seeing a patient, listening, examining, making a diagnosis, , partnering to create a plan.”
Litea Vadiga/ Centre Manager, Christians Against Poverty [photo sent] “I will be meeting with a CAP family on Monday morning.”
Harley Aish)/全科医⽣:“我会去看病⼈，听病⼈说话，检查病⼈，做出诊断，然后和病⼈⼀起制定治疗计划。”
Litea Vadiga/中⼼经理，基督徒反贫困组织[图⽚发送]“我将在周⼀上午与⼀个CAP家庭会⾯。”
(BTW – see all those community awards behind her – she is amazing in her work bringing release to families in debt as well as seeing them come to know Jesus!)
(顺便说⼀下——看看她身后的那些社区奖项吧——她的⼯作让负债的家庭得到了解脱，也让他们认识了耶稣!)
In the same way if you a social worker, doctor or nurse, counsellor, pharmacist, community worker, non-for-profit director, carer for the disabled or aging – you reflect this aspect of God’s labour.
同样地，如果你是社会⼯作者、医⽣或护⼠、顾问、药剂师、社区⼯作者、⾮盈利机构的主管、残疾⼈或⽼年⼈的护理员，你就反映了上帝这⽅⾯的⼯作。
Redemptive work –
救赎性⼯作
“Tomorrow morning, I will be preparing to MC the Auckland Prayer Breakfast at Eden Park later in the week.”
“明天早上，我将准备本周晚些时候在伊甸公园主持奥克兰祷告早餐会。”
That’s a good looking guy! This is part of my work as a pastor , seeking to help people experience redemption in their personal relationship with God, their relationships with each other, and that all of life can be redeemed.
他⻓得真帅!这是我作为⼀个牧师⼯作的⼀部分，寻求帮助⼈们在他们与上帝的个⼈关系中，在他们与他⼈的关系中体验救赎，让所有的⽣命都可以被救赎。
Unless our job is a drug dealer or criminal, there will be something in your work that God has and does do. This should bring great dignity and purpose to our work. God cares about our ordinary jobs and is accomplishing his purposes through it. Work is a wonderful thing that began with God.
除⾮我们的⼯作是毒贩或罪犯，否则在你的⼯作中就会有上帝所拥有和所做的事情。这应该给我们的⼯作带来极⼤的尊严和⽬标。神关⼼我们平常的⼯作，并通过它来实现他的⽬的。⼯作是⼀件奇妙的事，它始于上帝。
As we say around Gracecity, we want to be a community that doesn’t say ‘thank God, it’s Friday.’
Instead, we want to be people who bold;y declare: ‘thank God, it’s Monday.’ I get to worship at work.
就像我们在我们Gracecity教会所说的，我们希望成为⼀个不会说“感谢上帝，今天是星期五”的群体。相反，我们想成为勇敢的⼈，敢于宣称:“感谢上帝，今天是星期⼀。”“我可以在⼯作时敬拜神。
But, there is another part of the story of work. It’s this next chapter that explains the reason why people do say ‘thank God, it’s Friday.’ After all, there are elements in work that aren't good. This leads to the next idea.
但是，⼯作的故事还有另⼀部分。正是下⼀章解释了为什么⼈们会说“感谢上帝，今天是星期五”。“毕竟，⼯作中也有不好的地⽅。这就引出了下⼀个观点。
In the first two chapters of the Bible, we read that work is a wonderful thing that began with God…but we get to the third chapter, and see that…
在圣经的前两章中，我们读到⼯作是⼀件奇妙的事情，它始于上帝，但我们读到第三章，看到……
#2 Work is (now) also full of frustration and pain.
2 .⼯作(现在)也充满了沮丧和痛苦。
Everything good that God in chapters 1 and 2 now becomes tainted by sin.
神在第⼀章和第⼆章中所说的⼀切的好的事情，现在都被罪玷污了。
If you been around church for a while, you know the story -- Adam and Eve are told to trust God about a particular tree. But, they ignored what God said and decided for themselves what was right and wrong for them to do. They do what each one of us has also done when we think we know best and we don’t have to listen to what God says.
如果你在教会⾥呆过⼀段时间，你就会知道这个故事——亚当和夏娃被告知对⼀棵特定的树要相信上帝。但是，他们⽆视上帝的话，⾃⼰决定该做什么是对的，什么是错的。他们做我们每个⼈也做过的事，当我们认为⾃⼰知道的最好，我们不需要听上帝的话。
That decision had a profound and lasting effect on four relationships, that all affect the experience we have with work.
这个决定对四种关系产⽣了深远⽽持久的影响，它们都影响了我们的⼯作的经历。
#1 Our relationship with God was damaged
#1 我们与上帝的关系被破坏了
Prior to this, Adam and Eve enjoyed walking the garden with God. Their tasks were full of value and dignity. They worked as partners with God. Everything in life was sacred because everything had something of the touch of God on it. Nothing was disconnected.
在此之前，亚当和夏娃喜欢与上帝在花园⾥散步。他们的任务充满了价值和尊严。他们是神的伙伴。⽣命中的每件事都是神圣的，因为每件事都有上帝的印记。没有东⻄是断开的。
Since the Fall, we struggle to discover the connection (and therefore the significance) between God and the work we have been commissioned to do. We have therefore created this rift between the spiritual and the secular, Sunday and Monday.
⾃堕落以来，我们努⼒去发现上帝和我们被委托去做的⼯作之间的联系(意义)。因此，我们在属灵的和世俗的、星期天和星期⼀之间制造了裂痕。
#2 Our relationship with ourselves was damaged
#2我们和⾃⼰的关系被破坏了
In the early days of creation Adam and Eve were at peace with themselves, confident in the roles entrusted to them. But following the Fall, our struggle now is to discover where we 'fit'. Tasks don't easily fit our unique mix of motivations, gifting’s and temperament.
在创世之初，亚当和夏娃内⼼平静，对赋予他们的⻆⾊充满信⼼。但随着堕落，我们现在的挣扎是发现我们“适合”的地⽅。⼯作并不容易符合我们独特的动⼒，恩赐和性情。
Not only that, but we struggle with work and become either a work-a-holic, or a sloth. We can oscillate between these two extremes, desperately looking to find some work-life balance.
不仅如此，我们还在⼯作中挣扎，要么成为⼯作狂，要么成为懒⼈。我们可以在这两个极端之间摇摆，拼命寻找⼯作与⽣活的平衡。
#3 Our relationship with others
#3我们与他⼈的关系
Honesty, authenticity, care and compassion were all marks of relationships before the Fall. However, since then blame-shifting, deceit, dishonesty, selfishness, power struggles. Relationships in our work have been deeply affected - particularly by the lack of trust between people.
诚实、真实、关⼼和同情都是堕落之前⼈际关系的标志。然⽽，从那以后，变成了推卸责任，欺骗，不诚实，⾃私，权⼒⽃争。我们⼯作中的⼈际关系受到了严重影响，特别是⼈与⼈之间缺乏信任。
#4 Our relationship with the rest of creation
#4我们与其他被造物的关系
The creation story speaks of a world where harmony was the norm. There was care for the natural resources. But that equilibrium was disturbed with the fall. Now we’ve struggled to conserve and cultivate, without also abusing and exploiting.
创世故事讲述了⼀个以和谐为准则的世界。这个世界会关⼼⾃然资源。但这种平衡随着堕落⽽被打破。现在我们挣扎于在不滥⽤和开采的同时保护和耕作。
This is why the writer of Ecclesiastes – another book in the Bible – can say this about work:
这就是为什么圣经中的另⼀本书《传道书》的作者会这样评价⼯作:
So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is so troubling. Everything is futile [habel]—like chasing the wind. I came to hate all my hard work here on earth…” – Ecclesiastes 2:17-18
于是我恨恶⽣命，因为在⽇光之下所发⽣的事我都以为烦恼，全是虚空，全是捕⻛。我恨恶⼀切的劳碌，就是我在⽇光之下所劳碌的，因为我所得的必须留给我以后的⼈。(传道书2:17-18)
Last year at Gracecity, we went through a series on Ecclesiastes called Smoke and Mirrors. We saw that that Hebrew word ‘habel’ is a word picture of a vapour or breath (blow). The idea is that it’s so fleeting, seems so futile at times. Apparently, work can be like that.
去年在Gracecity，我们讲了⼀个关于传道书的系列叫做烟与镜。我们看到希伯来语单词“habel”是⼀个蒸汽或呼吸(吹)的单词图⽚。意思是它是如此短暂，有时看起来如此徒劳。显然，⼯作就是这样。
That’s why you can have moments when work is so fruitful and enjoyable (the first point). Then,
moments when it is frustrating.
这就是为什么你会有⼯作是如此富有成效和愉快的时刻(第⼀点)。然后是令⼈沮丧的时刻。
If you remember in that series – that equivalent of that same word Hebel is used in Romans 8 where we read that all creation is subject to frustration. It groans – waiting for God to redeem all things. It’s habel. So frustrating!
如果你还记得在那个系列中，在罗⻢书第8章中使⽤了与“hebel”⼀词相同的词，在那⾥我们读到所有的受造之物都屈服在虚空之下。它在呻吟，等待神救赎万物。它是虚空徒劳的。⾮常令⼈沮丧!
This doesn’t mean it’s all bad. It’s like relationships. I love being married. It doesn’t mean you have to
be married to enjoy life. But, if you are married, you will also know that it takes hard work. It has
moments of habel/ moments of frustration. You have to clarify expectations and work through the
difficulties in order to experience marriage as a wonderful gift God has made.
这并不意味着⼀切都是坏事。这就像⼈际关系。我喜欢结婚。这并不意味着你必须结婚才能享
受⽣活。但是，如果你结婚了，你也会知道这需要努⼒。它有令⼈沮丧的时刻。你必须明确你
的期望，克服困难，才能体验到婚姻是上帝给你的美好礼物。
I sense that when it comes to work, some of you are about to give up. You need to raise your perspective to see that work is a wonderful thing that God has made. Perhaps some of you might have unrealistic perspective of what can happen in your workplace. You need to realise that the very best place to work will still be full of frustration. But, that doesn’t mean you give up and throw in the towel. Rather, you keep working well.
我感觉到，当谈到⼯作的时候，你们中的⼀些⼈就要放弃了。你需要提⾼你的视⻆，看到⼯作是上帝创造的美好事物。也许你们中的⼀些⼈对⼯作场所可能发⽣的事情有不切实际的看法。你需要意识到，即使是最好的⼯作场所也会是有沮丧的。但是，这并不意味着你要放弃并认输。相反，你会⼀直⼯作得很好。
Earlier this week, I was reading this week in the letter of Colossians – in the NT of the Bible. Theauthor, Paul, says:
这周早些时候，我读了《歌罗⻄书》——在圣经的新约。作者保罗说:
Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”/ Colossians 4:17
你们要对亚基布说：“务要完成你从主所领受的职分。”(歌罗⻄书4:17)
I have no idea who Archippus was. But, scholars say whoever he was, he was likely about to throw in the towel. I think many of us can relate to Archippus. People like Paul who wrote the letter are once in a generation type of leaders. Paul is like some Avenger rejoicing when he is in a ship wreck or in prison. He can be a bit hard to relate to. But, But Archippus – he’s like many of us. Ready to give up.
我不知道亚基布是谁。但是，学者们表示，不管他是谁，他很可能要认输了。我想我们很多⼈都和亚基布有共鸣。像写这封信的保罗这样的⼈是⼀代⼈中只出⼀次的领导者。保罗就像⼀个在沉船或在监狱⾥喜悦的申冤者。他可能有点难相处。但是，但是亚基布，他和我们很多⼈⼀样。准备放弃。
I sense some of you are in this boat right now. For your own wellbeing, you need to step into your calling/into your vocation. That includes what you do in your workplace as you seek to fulfill that human vocation, Christian vocation, and personal vocation.
我感觉你们中的⼀些⼈现在就在这条船上。为了你⾃⼰的幸福感，你需要投身于你的呼召/你的使命。这包括当你寻求实现⼈类使命、基督徒使命和个⼈使命时在你的⼯作场所所做的事。
As we do this, we need to remember that we live in these two poles:
当我们这样做的时候，我们需要记住我们⽣活在这两个极端:
work is a wonderful thing that began with God, AND
⼯作是⼀件奇妙的事情，它始于上帝，并且
work is (now) also full of frustration and pain
⼯作(现在)也充满了沮丧和痛苦
In other words, we elevate our perspective of work. AND, we have realistic expectations that we will also experience some frustration.
换句话说，我们提升了对⼯作的看法。⽽且，我们有切实的预期，我们也会经历⼀些沮丧挫折。
So, what are some practical ways we can embrace our sense of work as vocation/ calling this week?
那么，有哪些切实可⾏的⽅法可以让我们在本周将⼯作视为使命/呼召呢?
Let me wrap this up with five comments. My encouragement is to pick one of these to step into this week:
让我⽤五个评论来结束这段对话。我⿎励你在本周内选择其中⼀项:
Influence the work environment to give equal opportunity and dignified treatment to all workers, since all are made in the image of God.
影响⼯作环境，给所有⼯⼈以平等的机会和有尊严的待遇，因为所有⼈都是按照上帝的形象创造的。
You don't have to wait to be some leader/manager to do this. Any of us can do this in the way we treat others. How do we ask people for help. How do we treat them in the staff room. How do we talk about them to colleagues and clients. How do we treat people behind the counter – whichever side of the counter you find yourself on.
你不必等到成为领导或经理后才去做这件事。我们任何⼈都可以这样对待他⼈。我们如何向别⼈寻求帮助。我们在员⼯休息室怎么对待他们。我们如何与同事和客户谈论他们?我们如何对待柜台后⾯的⼈——不管你在柜台的哪⼀边。
Use your gifts to make your workplace better.
⽤你的恩赐让你的⼯作环境变得更好。
If you’re a follower of Jesus, God has gifted you a particular spiritual gift that helps you serve Him and others. Perhaps you have thought of these gifts as just a Sunday thing. That’s not the way it works.
These gifts will affect what you do and the way you do it throughout each day of the week.
如果你是耶稣的追随者，神给了你特别的属灵恩赐，帮助你事奉祂和别⼈。也许你认为这些恩赐只是星期天才有的东⻄。事情不是这样的。这些恩赐会影响你⼀周中的每⼀天所做的事情和做事的⽅式。
Your gift might be encouragement. So, why not pray about who God is wanting you to encourage today – in your workplace?
你的恩赐可能是⿎励。所以，为什么不为今天上帝希望你在⼯作中⿎励的⼈祷告呢?
Your gift might be the gift to teaching – the ability to take complex things and make them simple. You can do this in your workplace.
你的恩赐可能是教导的恩赐——把复杂的事情简单化的能⼒。你可以在⼯作场所这样做。
Your gift might be generosity. Why not be the one to bring the donuts to the workplace simply to say ‘thank you.’
你的恩赐可能是慷慨。为什么不把甜甜圈带到⼯作场所，只是为了说声“谢谢”呢?
Choose integrity always – even when the right thing to do is costly.
永远选择正直——即使正确的事情代价⾼昂。
“live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1
⾏事为⼈就要与你们所蒙的呼召相称。 (以弗所书4:1)
Dishonesty of any kind hurts relationships and adds to the hurt we all experience.
任何形式的不诚实都会伤害⼈际关系，增加我们所经历的伤害。
Some of you this week will find yourself in a situation where you will face a significant choose around integrity. Choose integrity always.
本周，你们中的⼀些⼈会发现⾃⼰将⾯临⼀个关于诚信的重⼤选择。永远选择诚信。
Encourage a perspective that sees the ultimate bottom line as not simply maximising profits but contributing to the common good.
⿎励这样⼀种观点:最终的底线不只是利润最⼤化，⽽是为共同利益做出贡献。
How might you contribute to social flourishing? Environmental flourishing?
你将如何为社会繁荣，环境繁荣做出贡献？
When you do this, you are doing what God does – renewing people and places in all we do and say.
当你这样做的时候，你就是在做神所做的事——在我们所做和所说的⼀切中更新⼈和地⽅。
Finally…
最后……
Do our own work as if God is our boss realising that we represent Him when we are on the job.
做我们⾃⼰的⼯作，就像上帝是我们的⽼板⼀样，意识到我们在⼯作时代表他。
“Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. / Ephesians 6:7
⽢⼼服侍，好像服侍主，不像服侍⼈， (以弗所书6:7 和合本)
God doesn’t want the world left in frustration and pain. He invites you to partner with what he is doing in the world. As we do this, we find a sense of purpose. It increases our overall wellbeing.
上帝不想让这个世界留在沮丧和痛苦中。他邀请你和他⼀起在这个世界上做什么。当我们这样做的时候，我们会找到⼀种⽬标感。它能提⾼我们的整体幸福感。
So, tomorrow morning when you wake up and remove the sleep from your eyes, May the first words on your lips be ‘thank you God that it’s Monday. I get to worship you through the way I work today.’
所以，明天早上当你醒来，从你的睡眼中醒来，愿你嘴边的第⼀句话是“感谢上帝，今天是星期⼀。”我通过今天的⼯作⽅式来敬拜你。”
Friends, work is not a necessary evil. Rather, work is a necessary component to a life of flourishing.
朋友们，⼯作并不是⼀种不可避免的不幸。相反，⼯作是富⾜⽣活的必要组成部分。
So, work with purpose. Work with realistic expectations. And work to bring renewal to people and
places in whatever you do and wherever you find yourself.
所以，要有⽬标地⼯作。抱着切实的期望⼯作。⽆论你做什么，⽆论你身处何地，都要努⼒为
⼈们和地⽅带来新⽣。
PRAYER
祷告
Father, thank you for modelling to us the beauty of work. Whether we get our dream job or the one
we cant stand right now, we ask that you help us to serve you well in life wherever we are and
whatever we do. / Amen.
天⽗，感谢您给我们塑造了⼯作之美。⽆论我们得到了理想的⼯作，还是现在⽆法忍受的⼯
作，我们请求您帮助我们在⽣活中服事您，⽆论我们在哪⾥，⽆论我们做什么。/阿们
