Cheryl was in for a surprise as she pulled up to deliver her next pizza. Expecting to arrive at a home, she instead found herself outside a church. Cheryl confusedly carried the pepperoni pizza inside, where she was met by the pastor.

雪莉是披萨外送员，一天，当她外送披萨时，意外地发现自己不是到了民宅，而是在一间教堂外面。雪莉带着疑惑把披萨送进去时，一位牧师出来迎接她。

“Is it fair to say life hasn’t been easy for you?” the pastor asked her. Cheryl agreed it hadn’t. With that, he brought out two offering plates that church members had filled with money. The pastor then poured over $750 into Cheryl’s delivery bag as a tip! Unbeknownst to Cheryl, the pastor had asked the pizza shop to send their most financially strapped driver over. Cheryl was stunned. She could now pay some bills.

“妳的生活一直都很艰辛，对吗？”牧师这样问她。雪莉承认事实的确如此，于是牧师拿出两个奉献袋，里面装满教会会友奉献的金钱，牧师便把全部的钱都给了雪莉作为小费，共750美元！原来，牧师早已和披萨店谈好，要他们派出生活最拮据的员工负责这次的外送。雪莉心中的感动难以言喻，现在她终于可以付清一些帐单了。

When the first Christians in Jerusalem faced poverty, it was a church that rushed to their aid. Though in need themselves, the Macedonian Christians gave sacrificially, considering it a privilege to do so (2 Cor. 8:1–4). Paul cited their generosity as an example for the Corinthians, and us, to follow. When we use our plenty to supply another’s need, we reflect Jesus, who gave away His riches to meet our own spiritual poverty (v. 9).

当耶路撒冷的初代信徒陷入贫困时，也有教会及时伸出援手。虽然这些马其顿的信徒也有缺乏，但他们却无私地给予，把奉献视为一种殊荣（哥林多后书8章1-4节）。保罗以他们的慷慨为榜样，敦促哥林多教会和你我去效法他们。当我们愿用自己的富足供应别人的需要时，我们便反映了耶稣的形象，祂以自己的丰盛，供应我们属灵生命的贫乏（9节）。

Cheryl told all her customers about the church’s kindness that day, and, following its example, donated the rest of the day’s tips to others in need. An act of generosity multiplied. And Christ was glorified.

那一天，雪莉把那间教会对她的善举，告诉了她所有的顾客，并且她也以那间教会为榜样，将当天所收到的其他小费都捐助给贫穷人。一个慷慨的举动带来了涟漪效应，让基督得到了荣耀！

Lord, You meet our needs in surprising ways sometimes. Use us to do that for others as well.

2 Corinthians 8:1-9New International Version (NIV)

The Collection for the Lord’s People

8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the graceof our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

整理：于姊妹