2018年10月18日 星期四

好管家?好主人

這星期與學生分享《馬太福音》中非常有名的一個比喻故事: Matthew 25: 14-29 The Parable of the Talents,維基百科翻譯成「按才幹受責任的比喻」,這個比喻是經濟學與社會學中「馬太效應」一詞典故出處,除此之外比喻中意義深遠、多重,值得三思。
這比喻給我最大的啟示是關於天賦(talents)與努力的問題,讓我反思人應該善用老天爺給我們的任何能力與才華,這些都是白白得來的「恩典」,應該心存感恩並與他人分享。

這星期有位學生問我如何看待比喻中的主人,特別是第三個僕人頂嘴時說的話:

— And he who had had the one talent came and said, Lord, I had knowledge that you are a hard man, getting in grain where you have not put seed, and making profits for which you have done no work: And I was in fear, and went away, and put your talent in the earth: here is what is yours.

重新思考這段話,原來我們常常都屬於第三個僕人這類型,人都是有惰性,不做事也都可以找千百個藉口,還有,我們對我們的「主人」、老闆、上司….也常常持有類似的心態。

這個僕人眼中主人像是一個剝削雇工的資本家,但是,僕人不會檢討自己拿了主人給他的資源,卻甚麼事也不做,這個僕人連把錢拿去銀行存或世借人都不肯。早期羅馬帝國的合法利息是八分,但高利貸有十二分、二十四分甚至四十八分的。比喻中的主人確實自資本雄厚,但卻沒有剝削勞工,因為主人信任僕人、並樂意把資源和僕人分享。

這個僕人定義主人在資本家,其實是矮化自己的價值與意義;他計較利益,但未曾思考更高的發揮空間。也就是說,一個人怎麼定義「主人」等於一個人的視角(scope)。

這個僕人還很皮的頂嘴:getting in grain where you have not put seed, and making profits for which you have done no work

試想一個小孩不寫功課被爸媽罵,還頂嘴,「你們也沒寫功課,就可以看電視、不必背書就都會…..」

當一個人說別人可以「不勞而獲」,是投射他期待不勞而獲的心態。

此外,故事中的「主人」是甚麼都不缺的上帝、老天爺。這位僕人認為主人給他是理所當然,驕傲反而變成一個人偷懶的原因。


Matthew 25: 14-29
25:14
「天國又好比一個人要往外國去,就叫了僕人來,把他的家業交給他們,
For it is as when a man, about to take a journey, got his servants together, and gave them his property.
25:15
按著各人的才幹給他們銀子:一個給了五千,一個給了二千,一個給了一千,就往外國去了。
And to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to everyone as he was able; and he went on his journey.
25:16
那領五千的隨即拿去做買賣,另外賺了五千。
Straight away he who had been given the five talents went and did trade with them, and made five more.
25:17
那領二千的也照樣另賺了二千。
In the same way he who had been given the two got two more.
25:18
但那領一千的去掘開地,把主人的銀子埋藏了。
But he who was given the one went away and put it in a hole in the earth, and kept his lord's money in a secret place.
25:19
過了許久,那些僕人的主人來了,和他們算帳。
Now after a long time the lord of those servants comes, and makes up his account with them.
25:20
那領五千銀子的又帶著那另外的五千來,說:『主啊,你交給我五千銀子。請看,我又賺了五千。』
And he who had the five talents came with his other five talents, saying, Lord, you gave into my care five talents: see, I have got five more.
25:21
主人說:『好,你這又良善又忠心的僕人,你在不多的事上有忠心,我要把許多事派你管理;可以進來享受你主人的快樂。』
His lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord.
25:22
那領二千的也來,說:『主啊,你交給我二千銀子。請看,我又賺了二千。』
And he who had the two talents came and said, Lord, you gave into my care two talents: see, I have got two more.
25:23
主人說:『好,你這又良善又忠心的僕人,你在不多的事上有忠心,我要把許多事派你管理;可以進來享受你主人的快樂。』
His lord said to him, Well done, good and true servant: you have been true in a small thing, I will give you control over great things: take your part in the joy of your lord.
25:24
那領一千的也來,說:『主啊,我知道你是忍心的人,沒有種的地方要收割,沒有散的地方要聚斂,
And he who had had the one talent came and said, Lord, I had knowledge that you are a hard man, getting in grain where you have not put seed, and making profits for which you have done no work:
25:25
我就害怕,去把你的一千銀子埋藏在地裡。請看,你的原銀子在這裡。』
And I was in fear, and went away, and put your talent in the earth: here is what is yours.
25:26
主人回答說:『你這又惡又懶的僕人,你既知道我沒有種的地方要收割,沒有散的地方要聚斂,
But his lord in answer said to him, You are a bad and unready servant; if you had knowledge that I get in grain where I did not put seed, and make profits for which I have done no work,
25:27
就當把我的銀子放給兌換銀錢的人,到我來的時候,可以連本帶利收回。
Why, then, did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I would have got back what is mine with interest?
25:28
奪過他這一千來,給那有一萬的。
Take away, then, his talent and give it to him who has the ten talents.
25:29
因為凡有的,還要加給他,叫他有餘;沒有的,連他所有的也要奪過來。
For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have more: but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.