撒但的致命武器:妒忌
但以理書六章1至9節
1大利烏隨心所願,立一百二十個總督,治理通國。
2又在他們以上立總長三人(但以理在其中),使總督在他們三人面前回覆事務,免得王受虧損。
3因這但以理有美好的靈性,所以顯然超乎其餘的總長和總督,王又想立他治理通國。
4那時,總長和總督尋找但以理誤國的把柄,為要參他;只是找不著他的錯誤過失,因他忠心辦事,毫無錯誤過失。
5那些人便說:我們要找參這但以理的把柄,除非在他神的律法中就尋不著。
6於是,總長和總督紛紛聚集來見王,說:願大利烏王萬歲!
7國中的總長、欽差、總督、謀士,和巡撫彼此商議,要立一條堅定的禁令(或譯:求王下旨要立一條……),三十日內,不拘何人,若在王以外,或向神或向人求甚麼,就必扔在獅子坑中。
8王啊,現在求你立這禁令,加蓋玉璽,使禁令決不更改;照瑪代和波斯人的例是不可更改的。
9於是大利烏王立這禁令,加蓋玉璽。
信息分享
他們心存妒忌,所以不肯承認但以理過人的才華。如今最令他們頭痛的是,怎樣才可以在但以理這個正人君子身上找到過錯,而且是該受死罪的大錯呢?他們終於想出一個詭計,就是要以大利烏王取代但以理的神,只許單單敬拜他,否則便要處以死刑。
大利烏王被他們的吹捧弄得飄飄然,沒有考慮後果便爽然答應。他為甚麼不問:「但以理呢?他有甚麼意見?」在阿諛奉承之下,王絲毫看不見他們的虛偽和妒忌;到他看清楚他們的真面目時,已經為時太晚了。
撒但其中一件最致命的武器,就是使我們對人產生妒忌。即使是基督徒,有時也難免對別人產生妒忌。若教會失卻儆醒,不單一些美事會遭到扭曲,信徒彼此的關係也會破壞。
妒忌能夠拆散家庭。舊約和新約l裡都有許多的例子。例如,判耶穌釘十架的彼拉多,也知道猶太領袖是出於妒忌,才將耶穌押到他的面前受審(太二十七18)。舊約裡的約瑟,也是因為兄長妒忌,才被賣到埃及作奴隸。
保羅對哥林多的信徒說,由於他們當中有嫉妒和紛爭,所以才出現分裂,他們各人亦不能在基督裡成長。他在加拉太書五章21節列出一連串屬肉體的惡行,當中便包括了忌恨。因此,無論在任何時刻,我們都切不可讓妒忌在我們的心中滋長。
倘若你發現自己確有妒忌之心,就要趕快祈求聖靈的幫助除去此惡行,並讓祂在你心中結出聖靈的果子。請記著,聖靈所結的第一個果子就是仁愛;只要心中滿載真愛,內心便會感到滿足。一個真正愛神愛人的信徒,妒忌將無法進入他的內心。
JEALOUSY, SATAN'S DEADLY WEAPON
Daniel 6:1-9
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom;
2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.
3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.
4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”
6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever!
7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”
9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.
Message
Jealousy made them blind to Daniel's outstanding abilities. They had a problem however. How could they find a fault worthy of death in a godly man like Daniel? Their plan was to substitute Darius for Daniel's God and make it compulsory to worship no one else, or face the penalty of death.
Darius was so carried away with the whole idea that he never thought of its consequences. Why didn't he ask, "Where's Daniel? Does he know about this?" He did not see beyond their flattery, their insincerity and their jealousy until it was too late.
Jealousy is one of Satan's deadliest weapons. It can show its head in a Christian's heart and mind, suddenly and unexpectedly. If let loose in a church it can destroy friendships and distort even the best of motives.
Jealousy can divide families. It is often mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, where it is usually described as envy. Pilate knew it was because of envy that the Jewish leaders had brought Christ before him (Mt 27:18). It was also because of envy that Joseph was sold by his brothers into Egypt.
Paul told the Corinthian church it was because of jealousy and quarrelling that they were divided and had not grown in Christ. He listed jealousy among the terrible sins of the flesh in Galatians 5:21. It must never be allowed to take over our mind and heart at any time.
If jealousy is a problem for you, ask the Holy Spirit to deal with it. In its place He can produce the fruit of the Spirit. The first piece of fruit in that beautiful bunch is love, remember. Where there is true love, there can only be contentment. Jealousy has no place in the heart of a true believer.

