Being Watchful in Life and Faithful in Service
壹 为着生命，我们需要油，神的灵，甚至祂的充满，使我们能过童女的生活，作主的见证─太二五4、9～10：
I. For life, we need oil, the Spirit of God, even His filling, that we may be en-abled to live the virgin life for the Lord's testimony—Matt. 25:4, 9-10:
一 “那时，诸天的国好比十个童女，拿着她们的灯，出去迎接新郎”─1节：
A. "At that time the kingdom of the heavens will be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom"—v. 1:
1 童女象征信徒生命的一面─林后十一2。
1. Virgins signify the believers viewed from the aspect of life—2 Cor. 11:2.
2 信徒是国度的子民，乃像贞洁的童女，在黑暗的世代里为主作见证（灯），并从世界走出去迎接主；为此，她们不仅需要圣灵的内住，也需要圣灵的充满。
2. Believers, who are the kingdom people, are like chaste virgins, bearing the Lord's testimony (the lamp) in the dark age and going out of the world to meet the Lord; for this they need not only the indwelling but also the filling of the Holy Spirit.
3 灯象征信徒的灵（箴二十27），里面装着神的灵作油（罗八16）：─引用经文
3. Lamps signify the spirit of the believers (Prov. 20:27), which contains the Spirit of God as the oil (Rom. 8:16):
a 信徒从他们的灵里，照耀出神的灵所发的光；为要让神圣的光照进人内里的各部分，神的灵作为油，必须浸润（调和）作为灯芯的人的灵（参16），并与人的灵一同“焚烧”（十二11）。─引用经文
a. The believers shine forth the light of the Spirit of God from within their spirit; in order for the divine light to shine into man's inward parts, God's Spirit as the oil must soak (mingle with) man's spirit as the wick (cf. v. 16) and "burn" to get her with man's spirit (12:11).
b 因此，信徒成了世上的光，如同灯照耀在这黑暗的世代里（太五14～16，腓二15～16），为主作见证，使神得着荣耀。─引用经文
b. Thus, the believers become the light of the world and shine as a lamp in the dark ness of this age (Matt. 5:14-16; Phil. 2:15-16), bearing the testi-mony of the Lord for the glorification of God.
4 精明的童女拿着她们的灯，又在器皿里带着油─太二五4：
4. The prudent virgins took oil in their vessels with their lamps—Matt. 25:4:
a 人是为着神造的器皿（罗九21、23～24），人的个格是在他的魂里；因此，马太二十五章四节里的“器皿”象征信徒的魂。─引用经文
a. Man is a vessel made for God (Rom. 9:21, 23-24), and man's personality is in his soul; hence, vessels in Matthew 25:4 signifies the souls of the be-lievers.
b 五个精明的童女不仅在她们的灯里有油，也在器皿里带着油；灯里有油，表征她们有神的灵住在她们的灵里（罗八9、16）；器皿里带着油，表征她们有神的灵充满，浸透她们的魂（参彼前二25，来十三17）。─引用经文
b. The five prudent virgins not only have oil in their lamps but also take oil in their vessels; that they have oil in their lamps signifies that they have the Spirit of God dwelling in their spirit (Rom. 8:9, 16), and that they take oil in their vessels signifies that they have the Spirit of God filling and saturating their souls (cf. 1 Pet. 2:25; Heb. 13:17).
c 马太二十五章九节里的“买”指明需要付代价；圣灵的充满是要出代价的，就如撇下世界、对付己、爱主胜过一切、因基督将万事看为损失等等；我们今天若不出这代价，到复活之后还是要出─参启三18，林后五10。
c. The word buy in Matthew 25:9 indicates that a price must be paid; hav-ing the filling of the Holy Spirit is at a cost, such as giving up the world, dealing with self, loving the Lord above all, and counting all things loss for Christ; if we do not pay this price today, we will have to pay it after we are resurrected—cf. Rev. 3:18; 2 Cor. 5:10.
d 我们急切的需要，乃是更多得着那灵，就是经过过程之三一神的终极完成，而过一种生活，得以买额外的一分那灵，好浸透我们的全人─太二五9，参但五27。
d. Our urgent need is to gain more of the Spirit as the consummation of the proc essed Triune God, to live a life of buying an extra portion of the Spirit to sat urate our entire being—Matt. 25:9; cf. Dan. 5:27.
二 我们每天需要儆醒，付代价买那灵（就是金油），使我们能用那灵供应众召会，作耶稣的见证，并得主赏赐，有分于羔羊的婚筵─太二五9～10，启三18，亚四6、12～14，士九9：
B. Every day we need to be watchful by paying the price to buy the Spirit as the golden oil so that we may supply the churches with the Spirit for the testimony of Jesus and be rewarded by the Lord to participate in the marriage dinner of the Lamb—Matt. 25:9-10; Rev. 3:18; Zech. 4:6, 12-14; Judg. 9:9:
1 我们需要爱主胜过一切，叫我们的眼睛得以开启，看见祂无上的宝贝─太二二37，腓三8，彼前二4、6～7，一19。
1. We need to love the Lord above all, having our eyes opened to see His supreme pre ciousness—Matt. 22:37; Phil. 3:8; 1 Pet. 2:4, 6-7; 1:19.
2 我们需要因基督将万事看作亏损，为要赢得祂，给人看出在祂里面，并认识祂─腓三7～10。
2. We need to count all things as loss on account of Christ that we may gain Him, be found in Him, and know Him—Phil. 3:7-10.
3 我们需要每日清早在主的话上享受主，使我们每天有新的起头─诗一一九147～148。
3. We need to enjoy the Lord in the Word every day early in the morning to have a new start each day—Psa. 119:147-148.
4 我们需要彻底对付罪─约壹一7、9。
4. We need to deal with sins thoroughly—1 John 1:7, 9.
5 我们需要天天、时时住在与主的交通里─6节，林后十三14。
5. We need to abide in the fellowship with the Lord daily and hourly—v. 6; 2 Cor. 13:14.
6 我们需要赎回光阴，花工夫被神的圣言浸透并泡透─提后三16～17，西三16。
6. We need to redeem our time and spend our energy to be saturated and soaked with God's holy Word—2 Tim. 3:16-17; Col. 3:16.
7 我们需要为我们祷告的生活儆醒，警戒，赎回光阴祷告─弗六18，但六10，西四2。
7. We need to be watchful, on the alert, for our prayer life, redeeming our time to pray—Eph. 6:18; Dan. 6:10; Col. 4:2.
8 在这些邪恶的日子里，我们需要赎回光阴，在灵里被充满，用诗章、颂辞、灵歌，彼此对说，凡事时常感谢主，凭着敬畏基督，彼此服从─弗五14～21。
8. We need to redeem the time in these evil days to be filled in spirit by speak-ing to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, by giving thanks to the Lord at all times for all things, and by being subject to one another in the fear of Christ—Eph. 5:14-21.
9 我们不可说败坏、腐坏（有毒、难听、无价值）的话，乃该说恩典的话，好将恩典供给听见的人─四29～30。
9. We should not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by speaking corrupt, rotten (nox-ious, offensive, or worthless) words; instead, we should speak words of grace to give grace to those who hear—4:29-30.
10 我们不该销灭那灵，乃该常常喜乐，不住地祷告，凡事谢恩；因为这是神在基督耶稣里对我们的旨意─帖前五16～19。
10. We should not quench the Spirit; instead, we should always rejoice, unceas-ingly pray, and in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us—1 Thes. 5:16-19.
11 我们需要照着调和的灵生活、行动、举止、行事并为人─罗八4，林前六17。
11. We need to live, act, behave, do things, and have our being according to the mingled spirit—Rom. 8:4; 1 Cor. 6:17.
12 我们需要被耶稣基督之灵全备的供应（就是基督身体的供应）所充满，而活基督，使基督得显大─腓一19～21上，诗一三三，帖前五25。
12. We need to be filled with the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, as the supply of the Body of Christ, to live Christ for His magnification— Phil. 1:19-21a; Psa. 133; 1 Thes. 5:25.
贰 为着服事、工作，我们需要银子，属灵的恩赐，使我们能装备为良善的奴仆，完成主所要完成的─太二五20～23，参二四45～51：
II. For service, for work, we need the talent, the spiritual gift, that we may be equipped as a good slave to accomplish what the Lord intends to accom-plish—Matt. 25:20-23; cf. 24:45-51:
一 “诸天的国又好比一个人要往外国去，就叫了自己的奴仆来，把他的家业交给他们，按照各人的才干，个别的给了一个五他连得银子，一个二他连得，一个一他连得，就往外国去了”─二五14～15：
A. "The kingdom of the heavens is just like a man about to go abroad, who called his own slaves and delivered to them his possessions.To one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability. And he went abroad"—25:14-15:
1 奴仆象征信徒服事的一面─林前七22～23，彼后一1，罗一1。
1. Slaves signify believers viewed from the aspect of service—1 Cor. 7:22-23; 2 Pet. 1:1; Rom. 1:1.
2 “他的家业”象征召会（弗一18）同所有的信徒，他们乃是神的家人（太二四45）。─引用经文
2. His possessions signifies the church (Eph. 1:18) with all the believers, who constitute God's household (Matt. 24:45).
3 银子象征属灵的恩赐（二五15～23，罗十二6，林前十二4，彼前四10，提后一6～7）；在生命上那灵的充满，是为着我们在服事（工作）上运用属灵的恩赐；在服事上属灵的恩赐，配上在生命上那灵的充满，使我们能成为基督完美的肢体。─引用经文
3. Talents signify spiritual gifts (25:15-23; Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:4; 1 Pet. 4:10; 2 Tim. 1:6-7); the filling of the Spirit in life enables us to use the spiritual gift in service (work), and the spiritual gift in service matches the filling of the Spirit in life, that we may be a perfect member of Christ.
4 “你主人的快乐”表征在要来的国度里对主的享受，作为我们忠信服事祂的赏赐（太二五21、23）；这不是指外面的地位，乃是指里面的满足；有分于主的快乐，乃是最大的赏赐，比国度里的荣耀和地位更好。─引用经文
4. The joy of your master signifies the enjoyment of the Lord in the coming king-dom as a reward for our faithful service to Him (Matt. 25:21, 23); this refers to inward satisfac tion, not to outward position; to participate in the Lord's joy is the greatest reward, better than the glory and position in the coming kingdom.
5 在今世我们必须运用主的恩赐拯救人，并将祂的丰富供应他们─27节。
5. In this age we must use the Lord's gift to save people and to minister His riches to them—v. 27.
二 我们里面服事主的动机，乃是我们对祂的爱─出二一5，启二4～5。
B. Our inward motive for serving the Lord is our love for Him—Exo. 21:5; Rev. 2:4-5.
三 我们服事主，应当总是本于祂这祝福的源头，借着祂作方法和能力，并归于祂，使祂得着荣耀─罗十一36，参民十八1。
C. Our serving the Lord should always proceed out from Him as the source of bless-ing, be through Him as the means and the power, and be unto Him for His glory— Rom. 11:36; cf. Num. 18:1.
四 我们需要照着神的旨意，借着与身体的肢体配搭，用全人服事主─罗十二1～2、11，徒十三36，林前十二14～22。
D. We need to serve the Lord with our whole being according to the counsel of God by coor dinating with the members of the Body—Rom. 12:1-2, 11; Acts 13:36; 1 Cor. 12:14-22.
五 我们需要运用主的恩赐，以基督服事人，将基督当作恩典供应给他们，而建造召会─太二五27，彼前四10，西一7，四12：
E. We need to use the Lord's gift to build up the church by serving others with Christ and ministering Christ as grace to them—Matt. 25:27; 1 Pet. 4:10; Col. 1:7; 4:12:
1 我们需要作神福音勤奋的祭司，拯救罪人，将他们当作可蒙悦纳的祭物献给神，至终把他们在基督里成熟地献上─罗十五16，十二1，西一28。
1. We need to serve as laboring priests of the gospel of God, saving sinners to offer them to God as acceptable sacrifices and eventually present them full-grown in Christ—Rom. 15:16; 12:1; Col. 1:28.
2 我们需要按时把基督当作属灵的粮供应人─太二四45：
2. We need to supply others with Christ as their spiritual food at the proper time—Matt. 24:45:
a 无论得时不得时，我们需要天天对各种人讲说基督─徒五42，八4，提后四2。
a. We need to speak Christ to all kinds of people daily in season and out of season—Acts 5:42; 8:4; 2 Tim. 4:2.
b 我们需要迫切而竭力地建立在任何聚会中说话的习惯─林前十四26、4～5、12、31。
b. We need to desperately endeavor to build up a habit of speaking in any meeting—1 Cor. 14:26, 4-5, 12, 31.
3 我们需要以我们父神爱和赦免的心，并我们救主基督牧养和寻找的灵，照顾人；在我们的所是所作上要建造基督的身体，爱乃是极超越的路─约二一15～17，林前十二31下，十三4～8、13。
3. We need to care for people with the loving and forgiving heart of our Father God and the shepherding and seeking spirit of our Savior Christ; love is the most excellent way for us to be anything and to do anything for the building up of the Body of Christ—John 21:15-17; 1 Cor. 12:31b; 13:4-8, 13.
4 我们不该因批评、审判、暴露，而虐待作我们同伴的信徒，乃该劝戒不守规矩的人，抚慰灰心、“小魂”的人，扶持在灵、魂、体方面软弱的人，或是在信心上软弱的人，又要对众人恒忍─太二四49，帖前五14。
4. We should not mistreat our fellow believers by criticizing, judging, or expos-ing them; instead, we should admonish the disorderly, console the fainthearted, the "little-souled," sustain those who are weak in spirit, soul, or body, or weak in the faith, and be long-suffering toward all—Matt. 24:49; 1 Thes. 5:14.
5 我们不该因着与世界的牵连，而将主的恩赐弃之不用，以属地的借口为掩饰，任其荒废─太二五18～19。
5. Through our involvement in the world, we should not render the Lord's gift useless, letting it lie waste under the cloak of certain earthly excuses—Matt. 25:18-19.
六 我们在福音上为主工作劳苦，不是凭我们天然的生命和才干，乃是凭主复活的生命和大能；复活乃是我们事奉神的永远原则─民十七8，林前十五10、58，十六10：
F. Our work and labor for the Lord in the gospel are not by our natural life and natural ability but by the Lord's resurrection life and power; resurrection is the eternal princi ple in our service to God—Num. 17:8; 1 Cor. 15:10, 58; 16:10:
1 赐生命的灵乃是三一神的实际，复活的实际，以及基督身体的实际─约十六13～15，二十22，林前十五45下，弗四4。
1. The life-giving Spirit is the reality of the Triune God, the reality of resur-rection, and the reality of the Body of Christ—John 16:13-15; 20:22; 1 Cor. 15:45b; Eph. 4:4.
2 所有认识复活的人，都是对自己绝望的人，他们知道自己不能；凡是死的，全是我们的，凡是活的，全是主的─民十七8，林后一8～9，参传九4。
2. All those who know resurrection have given up hope in themselves; they know that they cannot make it; everything that is of death belongs to us, and every thing that is of life belongs to the Lord—Num. 17:8; 2 Cor. 1:8-9; cf. Eccl. 9:4.
3 我们必须承认，我们一无所是，一无所有，并且一无所能；我们必须到了尽头，才相信自己是一无用处─出二14～15，三14～15，路二二32～33，彼前五5～6。
3. We must acknowledge that we are nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing; we must come to the end of ourselves to be convinced of our utter useless-ness—Exo. 2:14-15; 3:14-15; Luke 22:32-33; 1 Pet. 5:5-6.
4 复活的基督作为赐生命的灵，活在我们里面，使我们能作我们在自己里面绝不能作到的事─林前十五10，林后一8～9、12，四7～18。
4. The resurrected Christ as the life-giving Spirit lives in us, enabling us to do what we could never do in our selves—1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 1:8-9, 12; 4:7-18.
七 我们需要常常竭力多作主工，因为知道我们在主复活的生命里，用主复活的大能为祂劳苦，绝不会徒然；其结果必要完成神永远的定旨─林前十五58。
G. We should always abound in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor for the Lord in His resurrection life with His resurrection power will never be in vain but will result in the fulfilling of God's eternal purpose—1 Cor. 15:58.