提 摩 太 前 書 1:12 我 感 謝 那 給 我 力 量 的 我 們 主 基 督 耶 穌 ， 因 他 以 我 有 忠 心 [因為他認為我可信任]， 派 我 服 事 他 。
1 Timothy 1:12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful[NIV: that he considered me trustworthy], appointing me to his service,
保羅被上帝任命為祂服事不是因為他的能力，而是因為“上帝認為他是值得信任的”。 實際上，我們服事神的所有能力和恩賜都來自神，所以重要的是我們是否值得上帝信任。 我們經常看到許多基督徒在得到上帝的祝福後，轉而服事自己而不是服事上帝，或者在遇到許多困難後放棄了為上帝服事。 因此，我們面臨的挑戰不是我們是否自己有能力服事，而是我們是否忠心：上帝是否看到我們值得信任？ 上帝允許撒但傷害約伯，因為上帝知道祂可以相信約伯保持忠誠。 願我們無論在順境或逆境都能被上帝信任去為祂服事！ 因為，我們的能力和力量都來自上帝。 讓我們也記住，我們對上帝的服事始於並包括履行我們作為丈夫或妻子，父母或孩子的角色。”人若不知道管理自己的家，怎能照管 神的教會呢？” (提 前 3:5)
後記：得知神忠心的僕人前新城歸正教會陳永建牧師今早2:17因Covid -19安息主懷, 更提醒我們把握機會忠心服事神！
Paul was appointed by God to serve him not because of his abilities but because “God considered [him] trustworthy.” In fact, all of our abilities and gifts to serve God are from Him, so what matters is that we are trustworthy. Too often we see that many Christians, after receiving God’s blessings, turn back to serving themselves instead of God, or, after encountering many difficulties, give up serving God. So our challenge is not whether we are able to take on a task but whether we are faithful: does God see that we are trustworthy? God allowed Satan to harm Job because God knew that He could trust Job to remain faithful. May we be considered trustworthy by God to serve Him in both good times and bad times! Our ability and strength in any case are from God. Let us remember, too, that our service to God begins with and includes fulfilling our roles as husband or wife, parent or child, “ for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” (1 Tim. 3:5)
