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Pastor's Corner

June, 2005

I read the biography of James Hudson Taylor, a man in Christ, a long time ago. The life of this man in Christ has made a tremendous impact on my life, as well as my ministry. Ever since the beginning of this year, somehow I had the urge to read this book again, but it was nowhere to be found on my bookshelves. When I went to attend the OMF Conference last month, I purchased a newer edition. I’m glad I was able to revisit the life of this man of faith who faithfully served the Chinese in the inlands that few missionaries dared to go, rather than in the ports on the coast. He was indeed a Chinese at heart with a Caucasian’s skin color.

One of the stories that stuck in my mind for many years is in the chapter on “A good Investment.” It was about the only “half-crown (British money)” he had. It brought tears to my eyes, reading once again how God answered prayers of this great man of faith. While Hudson Taylor was studying medicine, and working as a physician assistant, he was also seeking affirmation to go China as a missionary. Money was tight, but one day, he found that he had only a single coin left—one half-crown piece. His employer, Dr. Hardey apparently had forgotten to pay him when the quarter’s salary was due. At ten o’clock that evening, someone called him asking him to go pray for his dying wife and mother of their five children. The man’s family wasn’t able to find a priest who was willing to visit and pray with the patient unless he was compensated for his service. The family was poor and the children were starving. Taylor went with the man and said to himself that if he only had two shillings instead of a half-crown, he would gladly give the poor family a shilling. He told the man, “Don’t despair, there’s a kind and loving Father in Heaven.” Something inside rebuked him, ”You hypocrite! Telling these people about a loving God, and not prepared yourself to trust Him without half-a-crown!” It was a struggle, but he gave his only coin to the family. Walking home he said that his heart was “as light as his pocket.”

While eating his last breakfast the next morning (no food left nor money to buy), he received a letter with unfamiliar handwriting, and the postmark was smeared by the landlady’s wet hand. Without knowing where the letter came from or from whom, he opened the letter and found a pair of kids glove and a blank piece of paper. While he was holding them, a gold coin fell on the floor. “Praise the Lord! He exclaimed. “Four hundred percent for twelve hours’ investment.” This boasted his faith!

Time passed, and the money didn’t last. The rent was due the next day and Dr. Hardey continued to “forget” to pay him. He prayed if he should remind the boss. He received his answer, “Wait, My time is best.” At about five o’clock on Saturday afternoon, Taylor was watching some medicine being cooked in the laboratory, and Dr. Hardey was sitting in his chair. Suddenly, the doctor asked, “By the way, Taylor, isn’t your salary due again?” “It has been overdue for some time,” Taylor responded. Dr. Hardey said, “Oh, I’m sorry you didn’t remind me. You know how busy I am. I wish I’d thought of it sooner, because only this afternoon I sent all the money I had to the bank. Otherwise I would pay you at once.” Taylor felt sick! As soon as Dr. Hardey left the room, he poured out his heart in prayer to God. Still, he felt that God wouldn’t fail him. That night, he decided to stay at work till late at night so as to miss his landlady. At ten o’clock at night, just as he was about to go home, he heard Dr. Hardey laughing in the court. He went in to tell Taylor that one of his richest patients just went in to pay his bill in cash! Taylor received his pay. A patient went in to pay his bill on a Saturday night, in cash! What was the chance of that happening?

As you read this story, I’m sure some of you are processing in your mind that Hudson Taylor should have done this or that to remind his boss to pay him or even should have demanded his pay. It may be true that if he asked, he could have received his salary, but that wasn’t how Hudson Taylor reacted to the situation. I’m not suggesting that we should always be passive. I think what separates a “man in Christ” and a nominal Christian is that he uses circumstances to draw him to prayer and obedience to do the right thing—always trusting God. This and many other fascinating stories are written throughout this book. I suggest you get a copy to read it at your leisure. This book may help us to develop a leap of faith, which is dynamic. It may grow if you choose to cultivate obedience in the little things, or it may shrink if you choose not to. I pray that you would make the right choice.

Before I sign off, I would like to wish the fathers a happy Father’s Day. One thing that came to my mind while reading his testimony is that Hudson Taylor left behind a legacy of faith to his children and grandchildren. What are we leaving behind to our children?

Pastor Larry

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牧　者　之　欄

很久以前，我閱讀過戴德生（Hudson Taylor）的生平故事。這個活在神裡面的人的故事，在我生命及事奉都起了一個巨大的衝激。在本年初，我無故的想要再讀這書，但遺憾卻在我的書架上屢尋不獲。在上月當我參加海外基督使團年會時，我終重購得該書的較新版。我感到十分欣喜，我能重溫這位到達少有宣教士能到訪的中國內陸，忠心事奉中國人的宣教士的生命及信心。他雖有著白人的膚色，卻確實有著一棵中國心。

在書內其中一個多年來我倘記得的故事，名為《好的投資》，是一個有關他僅有的半克朗（英磅）的故事。當我再讀到神如何答允這個屬靈偉人的信心禱告時，我不禁眼濕濕。

當戴德生仍在修讀醫藥，及擔當醫生助理工作時，他同時亦正尋求前往中國成為宣教士的確認。生活拮据，一天，他發現他只剩下一個錢幣 – 一個半克朗的錢幣。他的雇主哈德理醫生竟忘了付他那季度的工資。在當晚十時，有一個育有五名孩子的人，要求他去為他快要死去的妻子祈禱。該人家境貧困，孩子已非常飢餓，當時亦找不到一位不收費上門為病人祈禱的牧師。戴德生到訪那家人，心裡卻想，如果他身上有兩個先令而非一個半克朗，他也許會願意給一先令予這個家庭。戴德生向那男子說：『不要愁煩，在天上有一位有恩慈的父親。』但在他心內，卻有聲音叱責他說：『你這個假冒為善的人！告訴別人神是恩慈的，卻沒有預備自己，即便沒了半克朗仍相信祂！』一翻爭扎，他終於把他僅有的半克朗給了這個家庭。在回家的途中，戴德生說他的心如他的錢包一樣輕省。

在第二天的早晨，當他正在享用最後的早餐（因為已沒有錢再買食物）時，他收到一封字蹟陌生，且郵印被女房東的濕手弄糊的信件。他打開這封不知來自何人何地的信件，發現裡面附上一對小孩手襪，及一白紙。戴德生把這些拿出來時，從中卻丟出了一個金幣。他馬上歡呼叫道：『讚美主！這不是12小時有400%增長的投資嗎！』這深深加增了他對神的信心。

時光飛逝，金錢卻一天一天消耗。房租在第二天就到期了，哈德理醫生又再“忘記＂付他的工資。他祈禱求問是否應主動向哈德理醫生要求發工資，但他所收到的答案，卻是『等候，我的時間是最好的。』在周六下午的五時左右，當戴德生在研究室觀察在烹調的藥物時，哈德理醫生坐在他的辦工椅上突然問道：『咦？戴德生，你的發工資日期不是到了嗎？』他回答說：『是的，且已到期了好一陣子了。』哈德理醫生又說：『唉！你怎不提醒我呢？你知道我有多忙碌。如果你早一點提醒我就好了，因為我今早才將所有現金存入銀行，否則我就可以現在給你付工資了。』戴德生頓感錯愕。當哈德理醫生離開了，他馬上就向神傾心吐意地禱求，但他仍感到，神不會落差。在當晚，他決定留夜工作，好使他不用碰見他的女東主。晚上十時，正當他準備回家時，他聽見哈德理醫生在庭院的笑聲，哈德理醫生告訴他，其中一位最富有的病人，剛以現金交付了大筆診金！戴德生終於獲發工資了。一個病人在周六的晚上拿著現金來繳診金！這難道是巧合嗎？

當你讀到這故事時，我肯定你會想，若果戴德生一早向哈德理醫生追討薪金，也許就不必如此了。的確，若果他一早詢問，他可能早就獲得他的薪金，但他卻選擇不一樣的處事方法。我並不是要鼓勵我們要經常處於被動。我想，這就是活在神裡面的人與平常信徒的分別，就是他使用他的處境去引導自己向神禱告，並順從地作適當的事 – 就是常信靠神。在這書內，類似這樣更多的美妙故事都有記戴著。我建議你空閒時亦能閱讀該書。這本書或許可以幫助我們去建立流動的信心。若你選擇在小事上培養順服，你的信心就必增長；相反，你的信心則有可能減少。我祈望你能作出適當的選擇。

在我擱筆前，我祝望每位父親都有一快樂的父親節。當我讀到戴德生這段見證時，我想像他給他的孫兒留下了信心的遺產。我們留給我們下一代的又是什麼呢？

唐若愚牧師

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