
Look For Character
13-23 “Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.“Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned. “Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’
– Matthew 7:13-23
The Message Version (MSG)
重視品格
13-23 在尋求神的路上,不要走捷徑。坊間充斥著許多成功生活的速成法,供你閒暇時練習。儘管眾人對這些趨之若薇,你卻切莫盲從附和。通往神——生命源頭——的道路,需要時刻微醒、全力以赴。小心堆滿笑容,虛情假意的假傳道。他們會伺機將你擄走。不要受個人的魅力所吸引,要重視品格。傳道者的人品是第一優先,其次才是他們所說的話。一個真正的領導者不會濫用你的情感,也不會奪取你的財物。這些染病的樹與其結出的爛蘋果,將會被砍下和焚燒。「只會說『主啊,主啊』的人,並不會把你帶到我面前。我所要求的是認真的順服——遵行我父的旨意。我現在就能預知,在最後審判的日子,成千上萬站在我面前的人會說:「主啊,我們既傳道,又趕鬼。我們讓每個人都參與支持神的計畫。」而你曉得我會說什麼嗎?『你錯過機會了。你所做的一切,都是在利用我來使你自己出名。我對你一點印象都沒有,所以離開這裡吧。」
— 馬太福音七章 13-23節