3 John 1-2 (NKJV) The Elder, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
In the above Scripture, the Apostle John prayed that Gaius would prosper in “all things.” Biblical prosperity is more than just money; it is holistic and includes having good relationships with people. This is the abundant life that God wants us to enjoy.
Matthew 7:3-5 (NKJV) “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Have you ever tried to change your spouse? Perhaps it is an attempt to change them, or a constant effort to remind them how inadequate they are. This is trying to remove the “speck in the other person’s eye”. Not only is this causing strain in the relationship, unknowingly, we are becoming self-righteous, pharisaic people. Jesus asked us not to do it and to remove the “plank in your own eye”. We should not be judgemental about others’ actions, speech, attitudes, flaws, and weaknesses. Each of us has our own strengths and weaknesses. It is easier to judge others against a perceived standard, yet we fail to apply the same standard to ourselves. Our souls, in both our emotional and spiritual lives, do not prosper if we constantly bicker and judge others, especially our loved ones. We are causing stress for others by being critical of them, and we get all worked up when they do not heed our corrections.
We are not prospering in our souls if we continue to live in this manner. Jesus said we should leave them alone, and instead begin to adjust our own weaknesses and sins. We are to deal with the plank in our own eyes rather than keep looking at others’ faults. Knowing that we, too, are imperfect and have flaws and weaknesses keeps us humble.
Living a consecrated life is a lifelong journey, and we must deal with the work of the flesh until we die. Believers with God’s nature in them are capable of loving, forgiving, extending grace, being merciful, and doing good because God is love and good. Those who do evil will be vindictive, bitter, angry, making life miserable for others. If we want our souls to prosper, we must reign in the flesh, and walk in the Spirit by putting on the “new man” rather than allowing our old selves to dictate our lives.
Sermon Series: Prospering In All Things
在你论断他人之前
约翰三书 1-2 作长老的写信给亲爱的该犹，就是我诚心所爱的。亲爱的兄弟啊，我愿你凡事兴盛，身体健壮，正如你的灵魂兴盛一样。
在上面的经文中，使徒约翰祈祷该犹“凡事”兴盛。圣经所指的兴盛不仅仅是金钱上的兴盛；它是全方位的兴盛，包括与人的良好关系。这就是神希望我们享受的丰盛生活。
马太福音7:3-5 为什么看见你弟兄眼中有刺，却不想自己眼中有梁木呢？你自己眼中有梁木，怎能对你弟兄说‘容我去掉你眼中的刺’呢？你这假冒为善的人！先去掉自己眼中的梁木，然后才能看得清楚，去掉你弟兄眼中的刺。
你可曾试图改变你的配偶？这或许是一次企图改变他们的尝试，或者是一种不断提醒他们是何等不足的长期的努力。这就是试图去除“别人眼中的刺”。这不仅造成了关系的紧张，我们自己也在不知不觉中变成了自义的法利赛人。耶稣要求我们不要这样做，并先移除 “你自己眼中的梁木”。我们不应该论断他人的行为、言语、态度、缺陷和弱点。每个人都有自己的长处和短处。人们轻易地以感知的标准来评判他人，却未能以同样的标准来要求自己。如果我们不断地斗嘴和论断他人—尤其是我们所爱的人，我们的魂–无论在情感方面还是灵命方面—都不能兴盛！我们对他人吹毛求疵，给他们带来压力，当他们不听从我们的指正时，我们不禁火冒三丈。
如果我们继续以这种方式生活，我们的灵魂就不会兴盛。耶稣说，我们应该放手，并且开始纠正我们自己的弱点和罪愆。我们应该处理我们自己眼中的梁木，而非一味地关注别人的错误。知道自己也同样不完美，有缺陷和弱点，这使我们保持谦卑。
过圣洁的生活是个贯穿一生的旅程，我们必须对付血气的冲撞，直到死亡。拥有神性情的信徒是能够爱人、宽恕、施恩、怜悯并行善的，因为神本是爱和善良。那些行恶的人将会怀恨在心、苦毒、愤怒，刁难他人。如果我们希望自己的灵魂兴盛，就必须掌控血气，穿上“新人”行在圣灵中，而不是让我们的旧我主导自己的生命。
讲章系列：凡事兴盛
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