配角 A Supporting Role

December 15, 2011 — by David C. McCasland

(From: Our daily Bread, http://odb.org/ and http://chinese-odb.org/)

罗马书 12章10节 Romans 12:10

「爱弟兄，要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让。」 ”Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.”

读经: 罗马书 12章9－21节 Scripture Reading: Romans12：9－21

在2009年，美国电视名人艾德．麦克曼过世后，有家报纸写了这样的标题：「如果提到谁一直做老二，艾德．麦克曼是第一名。」三十年来，他担任美国脱口秀泰斗强尼．卡森的得力副手，帮助卡森在镁光灯下获得成功。当许多艺人都努力争取排名时，麦克曼却甘做配角。

保罗教导说，我们都是基督的肢体， 应该好好地运用我们的恩赐（罗马书12章3-8节），在这里，他肯定了配角的价值。 一开始，他说到我们应该实际地衡量自己（3节）， 最后，他呼吁我们要有纯洁无私的爱：「爱弟兄，要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让」（10节）。这句话若按英文腓力斯译本， 可翻译为 ：「心甘情愿地将功劳归给他人。」

我们的恩赐和能力来自上帝的恩典， 所以要按着信心的程度运用我们的恩赐（3、6节）， 事奉基督，显明我们对祂的爱，而不是以此来赢得他人的赞赏。

愿上帝赐给我们能力，能满有热忱地做好祂呼召我们扮演的配角。我们最终的目标是为了祂的荣耀，而非我们的虚荣。 DCM

教会是身体，包含各部位，

有生命进展，运作且感人；

当各方委身，齐遵救主愿，

成员皆合一，完成祂目标。 Fitzhugh 

人人参与不观望，教会才能得兴旺。

After the American TV personality Ed McMahon died in 2009, one newspaper headline read, “When it came to being the No. 2 man, he was No. 1.” Best known for his 30-year tenure as Johnny Carson’s late-night sidekick, McMahon excelled at helping Carson succeed in the spotlight. While most entertainers strive for top billing, McMahon was content with a supporting role.

When the apostle Paul gave instructions about how to exercise our gifts as members of the body of Christ (Rom. 12:3-8), he affirmed the value of supporting roles. He began by saying that we should have a realistic opinion of ourselves (v.3), and he concluded with a call to genuine, unselfish love: “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (v.10). Or, as J. B. Phillips translates it, “a willingness to let the other man have the credit.” Our gifts and abilities come to us by God’s grace and are to be used by faith (vv.3,6) in love and service for Christ －not for personal recognition.

May God grant us the ability to embrace with enthusiasm the supporting roles to which He calls us. The ultimate goal is His glory and not our own.

The church, a living body, containing all the parts

It lives, it moves, it functions, and touches many hearts;

When each part is committed to do the Savior’s will,

His members are united, His purpose they fulfill. — Fitzhugh

The church works best when we see ourselves
as participants, not as spectators.