談真價值（箴23章）

你當買真理．就是智慧、訓誨、和聰明、也都不可賣。（箴 23：23）

買賣，就是買家願意付出某個代價，取得他心中覺得比所付出的代價，更有價值之物的過程。所以，當我們以一千元買得一件物品時，是因為在我們心中認定：這件物品價值「超過」一千元，我願意犧牲一千元去換它。若只是等值、甚至這物品不值得這個價值，這個買賣就不存在任何意義，也不需進行。

「買真理」是需要付出代價的，這代價就是時間。讀聖經、禱告求明白，都是要花時間的。今年3月11-23日前往新加坡各教會分享，直落古樓教會鄭執事（今年88歲）跟我說：「講道者的台上一分鐘的真理分享，真的需要台下十年工的預備。」是啊！不願意花費時間思想、查考真理，怎麼會有源源不絕的東西可以按時分糧？

從原文看來，作者要我們願意去付出代價來追求真理，也就是「智慧、訓誨、和聰明」這些寶貝。當付出代價擁有之後，也「不可賣」。為何得著「智慧、訓誨、和聰明」這些「真理」後，還會有人要把她賣掉？

會賣智慧的，就是那些不知真理無價的人。

約翰福音十二章中有一段記載：當耶穌在受難前六日，來到伯大尼，有人為祂預備宴席時，拉撒路的姊姊馬利亞來到耶穌跟前，靜靜地、沒有任何客套話，將那原本為自己結婚要用的「極珍貴」的、填裝在玉所製作成的密封瓶子裡的真拿達香膏，打破了。霎時香味四溢，也驚呼眾人：「她要做什麼？那瓶香膏我知道，這價值一年的工資啊！打破了，就沒了。她要做什麼？」當下或許所有在場的人都靜默了，因為這舉動不尋常。

然後，馬利亞將這瓶香膏，整瓶（約寶特瓶的容量）抹在耶穌的腳，還用她最珍貴的頭髮，擦拭：

馬利亞就拿着一斤極貴的真哪噠香膏、抹耶穌的腳、又用自己頭髮去擦．屋裏就滿了膏的香氣。（約 12：3)

當下，耶穌不言語，靜靜地接受她的服事。馬利亞為何願意將這麼貴的香膏付出？因為在她心目中，這位耶穌，除了使他弟弟拉撒路死裡復活的大恩之外，還有對他們這一家的特別關愛，並在她身上的救贖之恩，這一切的一切，遠遠超過這瓶小小的香膏。

對比於猶大，在猶大心目中，他的這位老師耶穌，就「不值得」這瓶香膏。這香膏獻在主身上，在他認為是浪費。

有一個門徒、就是那將要賣耶穌的加略人猶大、說：「這香膏為甚麼不賣三十兩銀子賙濟窮人呢？」他說這話、並不是掛念窮人、乃因他是個賊、又帶着錢囊、常取其中所存的。（約 12：4-6）

這位口口聲聲說應該拿去幫助窮人的猶大，作者約翰卻旁白說「他是個賊」。猶大是個沽名釣譽、假冒為善，卻也是名列耶穌寶貴的十二個門徒之一，真是令人諷刺。他也像今天會譏笑傳道者、譏笑為主拼命做工的人不值得，認為何必為教會如此賣命？

但是，我們當思想：主耶穌在我們心中的價值，難道不值得我們持之以恆、每天花個幾分鐘讀經、禱告嗎？不值得我們犧牲休息時間去為祂傳揚福音嗎？馬利亞這位年輕姐妹，她已經把她要結婚用的、本來存在玉瓶中的真拿達香膏、全然打破，一滴不剩地用在主身上，而且，在她認為，任何擦拭用的布，都不配用在我主身上，只有獻上自己，也就是年輕少女那最美麗的頭髮，事奉、擦拭我主的腳。

正如許多傳道人，願意將他一生最好的生命，在年輕時就獻身成為傳道、獻給神。就像馬利亞的長髮、像所打破的香膏，打破本該是完整珍貴玉瓶般的自己，然後毫無保留、完全獻給神。

耶穌說：「由他罷！為甚麼難為他呢？他在我身上作的是一件美事。因為常有窮人和你們同在、要向他們行善、隨時都可以．只是你們不常有我。他所作的、是盡他所能的．他是為我安葬的事、把香膏預先澆在我身上。我實在告訴你們、普天之下、無論在甚麼地方傳這福音、也要述說這女人所作的以為記念。」（可 14：6-9）

所蒙的恩有多大，行事為人就該與所蒙的恩相稱。所以，我們還在計較為主付出的比別人多嗎？為何我必須比別人格外勞苦？為何我必須為主東奔西跑？但是想想：主耶穌在我身上的救贖之恩的價值，難道廉價嗎？不值得我用一生的生命去換得嗎？

我為主被囚的勸你們、既然蒙召、行事為人就當與蒙召的恩相稱．凡事謙虛、溫柔、忍耐、用愛心互相寬容、用和平彼此聯絡、竭力保守聖靈所賜合而為一的心。（弗 4：1-3）

By Isaiah Kao

On True Value (Proverbs 23)

“Buy truth, and do not sell it,

Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23, NASB 2020)

Buying and selling is a process in which a buyer is willing to pay a certain price to obtain something they consider more valuable than what they give up. So when we spend one thousand dollars to buy an item, it is because in our hearts we believe that this item is worth more than one thousand dollars—we are willing to give up the money to gain it. If the value is only equal, or even less than the price, then the transaction has no real meaning and need not take place.

“Buying truth” requires a price. That price is time. Reading the Bible and praying for understanding both require time. From March 11 to 23 this year, I visited churches in Singapore to share. An 88-year-old Deacon Cheng at Telok Kurau Church once said to me: “One minute of sharing truth on the pulpit requires ten years of preparation off the pulpit.” Indeed, without spending time to reflect on and study the truth, how can there be a constant supply to feed others in due time?

From the original meaning, the writer urges us to be willing to pay the price to pursue truth,"namely wisdom, instruction, and understanding". And after obtaining them, we are told not to sell them. 

But why would anyone sell such treasures?

Who would sell wisdom? Those who do not know that truth is priceless.

In John chapter 12, there is an account: six days before Jesus’ crucifixion, He came to Bethany, where a dinner was prepared for Him. Lazarus’ sister Mary came quietly before Jesus, without any formal words, and broke open a sealed alabaster jar containing very costly pure nard—something originally prepared for her own marriage. At once, the fragrance filled the room, and people were astonished: “What is she doing? That perfume is worth a year’s wages! Once broken, it is gone!” Perhaps everyone fell silent, because this act was so unusual.

Then Mary poured the entire jar—about the size of a bottle—on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair:

“Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12:3, NASB 2020)

Jesus said nothing but quietly accepted her service. Why was Mary willing to give up something so costly? Because in her heart, this Jesus—who raised her brother Lazarus from the dead, who showed special love to her family, and who brought her redemption—was worth far more than that small jar of perfume.

In contrast, Judas did not consider Jesus worthy of such an offering. To him, it was a waste.

“But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, the one who intended to betray Him, said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to poor people?’ Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.” (John 12:4–6, NASB 2020)

Judas, who spoke as if he cared for the poor, was described by John as a thief. He sought reputation while being hypocritical, yet he was also one of the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus—how ironic. He is like those today who mock preachers or those who devote themselves fully to the Lord, saying, “Why go so far? Why give so much to the church?”

But we should ask ourselves: Is the Lord Jesus not worthy, in our hearts, of a few minutes each day for Bible reading and prayer? Is He not worthy of us giving up some rest to share the gospel? Mary, a young woman, broke the jar of perfume meant for her future marriage and poured it out completely on the Lord—not a drop held back. And in her eyes, even a cloth was not worthy to wipe the Lord’s feet; she offered her own hair—her most precious adornment—to serve Him.

Likewise, many preachers offer the best years of their lives to God while still young. Like Mary’s hair, like the broken jar of perfume, they break themselves,once whole and precious, and give everything to God without reservation.

Jesus said:

“Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a good deed to Me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want you can do good for them; but you do not always have Me. She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” (Mark 14:6–9, NASB 2020)

The greater the grace we have received, the more our lives should reflect it. Are we still comparing how much we give for the Lord with others? Why must I labor more? Why must I run about for Him? But consider: Is the redemption of the Lord Jesus in my life of little value? Is it not worth exchanging my whole life for it?

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1–3, NASB 2020)