The open hand is blessed, for it gives in abundance even as it receives. 

Biddy Mason

乐意给予的人是有福的，付出虽多，却也收获满盈。–毕蒂·梅森

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

施比受更为有福。-使徒行传20章35节

In 1891, Biddy Mason was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Los Angeles. That wasn’t unusual for a woman born into slavery, but it was remarkable for someone as accomplished as Biddy. After winning her freedom in a court battle in 1856, she combined her nursing skills with wise business decisions to make a small fortune. As she observed the plight of immigrants and prisoners, she reached out to them, investing in charity so frequently that people began lining up at her house for help. In 1872, just sixteen years out of slavery, she and her son-in-law financed the founding of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles.

在1891年，毕蒂·梅森（Biddy Mason）女士长眠于洛杉矶一座无名墓碑之下。对于生来就是奴隶的妇女而言，这实在是稀松平常。但对成就非凡的毕蒂来说，这实在非比寻常。因为早在1856年，毕蒂经过法庭的激辩获得自由之后，她就结合自己的护理技巧和明智的投资累积一笔财富。当她看到移民和囚犯面对的困境，就着手帮助他们。她经常周济穷人，以至人们常在她家门口排队等候援助。1872年，也就是毕蒂脱离奴隶生涯的第十六年，她和女婿在洛杉矶建立了“第一非洲卫理公会”教堂。

Biddy embodied the apostle Paul’s words: “I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). Paul came from privilege, not slavery, yet he chose a life that would lead to his imprisonment and martyrdom so that he could serve Christ and others.

毕蒂体现了使徒保罗的教导：“我凡事给你们作榜样，叫你们知道应当这样劳苦，扶助软弱的人，又当记念主耶稣的话，说：‘施比受更为有福’” (使徒行传20章35节) 。保罗身为尊贵的罗马公民，并非奴隶。但是，他选择不同的人生，甘愿成为阶下囚甚至殉道，为的是服事基督和众人。

In 1988, benefactors unveiled a tombstone for Biddy Mason. In attendance were the mayor of Los Angeles and nearly 3,000 members of the little church that had begun in her home over a century earlier. Biddy once said, “The open hand is blessed, for it gives in abundance even as it receives.” The hand that gave so generously received a rich legacy.

在1988年，有好几位捐赠者为毕蒂·梅森的墓碑举行揭幕典礼。出席盛会的有洛杉矶市长，以及“第一非洲卫理公会”的近三千名会友。谁也没想到，在一百多年前，以她的家为聚会地点的小教会，如今有这么多会友。毕蒂曾说：“乐意给予的人是有福的，付出虽多，却也收获满盈。”慷慨伸出援手的，将获得丰厚的产业。

Who in your life is struggling and could 

use a little help from you? 

How can you reach out to that person or family today?

在你的周围，是否有人落入困苦，
需要你的帮助呢？
今天，你要如何向那人或那个家庭伸出援手呢？

Read:Acts 20:22-35 New International Version (NIV)

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.

32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

整理：于姊妹