Receive love. Give love. Repeat.

周而复始地接受帮助，也帮助他人。

You were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  Philippians 4:10

你们向来就思念我，只是没得机会。-腓立比书4章10节

Marilyn had been ill for many weeks, and many people had encouraged her through this difficult time. How will I ever repay all their kindnesses? she worried. Then one day she read the words of a written prayer: “Pray that [others] will develop humility, allowing them not only to serve, but also to be served.” Marilyn suddenly realized there was no need to balance any scale, but just to be thankful and allow others to experience the joy of serving.

美玲病了好几个星期，在她这段艰困的时期，许多人都来安慰鼓励她。可是她却有点担心：该如何回报他们的爱心呢？直到有一天，美玲读到一段祷文：“求主叫人人能怀有谦卑的心，让我们不仅能服事人，也能被人服事。”这时美玲豁然开朗，明白施与受是不需要讲求平衡的，我们只需心怀感谢地接受，让他人也能经历服事人的喜悦。

In Philippians 4, the apostle Paul expressed his gratitude for all those who shared “in [his] troubles” (v. 14). He depended on people to support him as he preached and taught the gospel. He understood that the gifts provided for him when he was in need were simply an extension of people’s love for God: “[Your gifts] are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” (v. 18).

在腓立比书4章，使徒保罗感谢了所有与他同受患难的人（14节）。他在传讲和教导福音信息时，依赖人们对他的援助。保罗了解自己有需要时所获得的馈送，是人们爱上帝的一种延伸：“因我……受了你们的馈送，当作极美的香气，为上帝所收纳、所喜悦的祭物。”（18节）

It may not be easy to be the one on the receiving end—especially if you’ve usually been the first one to help other people. But with humility, we can allow God to gently care for us by a variety of means when we need help.

要坦然接受他人的好意，或许并不容易，尤其你是那种常常首先对人伸出援手的人。然而只要我们心怀谦卑，就能让上帝在我们需要帮助时，藉由各种方式，温柔和婉地来关怀我们。

Paul wrote, “My God will meet all your needs” (v. 19). It was something he had learned during a life of trials. God is faithful and His provision for us has no limits.

保罗写道：“我的上帝必……使你们一切所需用的都充足”（19节），这是保罗在充满试炼的一生中所学会的功课。上帝是信实的，祂能充足供应我们一切所需。

Dear Lord, thank You for caring for us through Your people. May we graciously give and receive help.

亲爱的主，谢谢祢藉着祢的子民眷顾我们。
愿我们能乐意向他人伸出援手，也接受他人的援助。

Philippians 4:10-19New International Version (NIV)

Thanks for Their Gifts

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

腓立比书 4:10-19Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

无论什么景况都可知足

10 我靠主大大地喜乐，因为你们思念我的心如今又发生；你们向来就思念我，只是没得机会。 11 我并不是因缺乏说这话，我无论在什么景况都可以知足，这是我已经学会了。 12 我知道怎样处卑贱，也知道怎样处丰富，或饱足或饥饿，或有余或缺乏，随事随在，我都得了秘诀。 13 我靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能做。 14 然而，你们和我同受患难原是美事。 15 腓立比人哪，你们也知道我初传福音，离了马其顿的时候，论到授受的事，除了你们以外并没有别的教会供给我。 16 就是我在帖撒罗尼迦，你们也一次两次地打发人供给我的需用。 17 我并不求什么馈送，所求的就是你们的果子渐渐增多，归在你们的账上。 18 但我样样都有，并且有余。我已经充足，因我从以巴弗提受了你们的馈送，当做极美的香气，为神所收纳所喜悦的祭物。 19 我的神必照他荣耀的丰富，在基督耶稣里使你们一切所需用的都充足。

整理：于姊妹