(箴言 16:26)
“勞力人的胃口，使他勞力，因為他的口腹催逼他。”
這節經文在希伯來文的語境中，描繪了一種生動的畫面，彷彿背後有一個督工在不斷催促著我們前行。而這個督工，其實就是我們的胃口。因為我們需要飲食、需要生活，所以必須努力工作賺錢，聖經也肯定了這種勤奮工作的價值，提醒我們不可懶惰。
然而，這節經文還有更深層的屬靈意義。既然我們為了生存會感到飢餓並付諸行動，那我們在靈性上也應當如此渴慕上帝。我們應該被這種對神的渴望所驅使，主動去親近祂、讀經、禱告並參與教會生活。我們不該只為了三餐溫飽而耗盡生命，因為物質的需求只是暫時的，唯有與神的關係才是永恆。
(Proverbs 16:26)
“He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.”
In the context of the original Hebrew, this verse paints a vivid picture, as if there were a taskmaster behind us constantly urging us forward. This taskmaster is, in fact, our appetite. Because we need food and a livelihood, we must work hard to earn a living. The Bible also affirms the value of such diligent work, reminding us not to be lazy.
However, this verse holds a deeper spiritual meaning. Since we feel hunger and take action for the sake of survival, we should likewise thirst for God in our spiritual lives. We ought to be driven by this longing for God, taking the initiative to draw near to Him, read the Scriptures, pray, and participate in church life. We should not exhaust our lives merely for the sake of physical sustenance, for material needs are only temporary, while our relationship with God is eternal.
