作者：怀爱伦遗产托管委员

译者：Ran

    圣经章节和怀爱伦的著作都提出了一项神圣的职责，就是要基督徒保护并且供应給他们所爱的人。在信仰上以及行为上，圣经都把照看亲属作为一项首要责任。依照十诫中第五诫的指示，“当孝敬父母……”，使徒保罗深刻强调了这一准则的重要性。（SDALI 4.7）

    他说：“寡妇若有儿女，或有孙儿女，要让儿孙先在自己家中学习行孝，报答亲恩，因为这在神面前是可蒙悦纳的。”（提摩太前书5：4）

    “若有人不照顾亲属，尤其是自己家里的人，就是背弃信仰，还不如不信的人。”（提摩太前书5：8）

    耶稣也主张这一看法，并视之为“上帝的诫命”（马太福音 15：6）（SDALI 5.1）

    怀爱伦不止一次地呼吁要为将来的不时之需做准备。她的建议包括以下几点：（SDALI 5.2）

    “如果你像你该做的那样去理财，今天你也许有足够的财产应对紧急需要，并辅助圣工。每个星期，你工资的一部分应当被存起来，除非有切实的需要或是作为奉献返还给上帝，不然不能去动用它。”

    “你赚得的财产因为没有被合理有效地使用和规划而没有剩余，如果你遭受疾病，失去这仅有的财产，便无法继续养活家人。” —《复临信徒的家庭》The Adventist Home, 396

    “如果你和你的妻子明白上帝寄予你们的使命，克制自己的喜好和欲望，为将来做打算而不是为当下而活，……你的全家都会享受到安逸的生活。”《教会证言》卷2；Testimonies for the Church 2:432

    怀爱伦一生中都在鼓励基督徒履行他们的职责，例如刻苦勤奋，努力工作，高瞻远瞩，自制，以及对圣工的大力支持。她支持购买和维护高品质的货物。她赞成在条件适宜的情况下拥有房产，并认可为应对将来的需要而合理积攒的财富。她认为这类储备不但供应个人所需，还将有利于帮助圣工以及那些非亲非故却有需要的人士。她鼓励在退休后拥有一个不奢华但很舒适的居所，并提及了那些为将来做打算的人在晚年得享的尊严。—《证言》卷7；Testimonies for the Church 7:291, 292 （SDALI 5）

结论

    在寻找圣经以及怀爱伦著作中对人寿保险的探讨时，许多安息日会信徒把目光放在了怀爱伦对保险的警告，而忽略了她同样重要的对将来所需做预备的建议。这样做导致信徒没有享受到他们在合理规划后应当享有的福利。（SDALI 5.4）

    在如今的社会环境中，最关键的问题是：人寿保险的合同上有没有提供符合基督教义的保障未来需求的福利？它是否能够应对工薪阶层因为残疾或死亡而引发的危机，同时又不削减信徒对上帝保守的依赖？在这个到处有危险和意外事故的世界，它是否能帮助我们履行保护无辜受害者的神圣义务？它是否能在如今人际关系惨淡，家庭关系紧张的趋势下，将空缺的那份亲情和关爱填补？（SDALI 5.5）

    一项以全球总会以及怀爱伦遗产组织进行的调查报告于1957年发表，在50页的报告书中详细总结了对人寿保险的研究。报告中阐述的观点，通过仔细核查，被认为是合理有效的建议，应该被纳入做决定前的考虑范围内。以下是报告的几点内容：（SDALI 6.1）

    1.《预言之灵》不断强调基督徒应当为将来的突发事件做准备。我们应当意识到我们的收入可能在未来某个时刻减少或断绝。为了防患于未然，我们应该尽可能地留下一笔适量的储备金做随时的供应，如此就“不需要依赖别人的救济”。

    2.我们有一处安身之所来保障生活的安逸是理所应当的，并且保守的投资理财——银行的存款，或是投资在主的事业上，或是投在其他合理的项目上，都是合理的。

     3.火灾保险以及汽车保险带来的福利和保障对我们都是适宜的。

     4.不论我们为将来做出何种预备，基督徒都应当不忘上帝对他儿女的特殊关怀和照料，并不忘上帝圣工的需要。

     5.家庭和教会在困乏时期以及丧事上对其成员都有照看的责任。基督徒之间应当互相承担重担，免得有一人受苦。

     6. 一个人具体该为将来做何种储备，以及储备的多少，都应当是个人慎重且通过祷告做出的选择，并在决定的过程中将全身心交给上帝。每个人应当有所觉悟，在履行对亲人的义务时，每一步都该符合上帝的旨意。

     7.《预言之灵》在1860年间做出的关于人寿保险的建议，是基于当时的人寿保险处在无纪律无管制的状态，利用人们对“飞来横祸”的担忧，以及激起一些人想要借此“一夜暴富”的投机心理。

     8.虽然在1867到1909年期间《预言之灵》一直不看好人寿保险，但在1906年前的美国，这类保险确实是没有被规划到银行法律的管制下。甚至到了1910年，许多保险公司依然从事着不法可疑的行径。但是在1909年之后，怀爱伦就不再提出任何关于人寿保险的建议。

     9.如今的各种被称为“人寿保险”的投资和保障计划都被法律监管，并且被有关部门审核，这些基本上都是安全有保障的投资，并且比许多其他风险性投资要合宜。

      10.在现今的人寿保险的计划中，其实已经做到了早期储备防患未然以及众人筹款互相分担的准则。受保的人群已经超越了家庭和教会的范畴，更有效地做到了平衡更大群体的损失。

     11.医疗保险是另一种实现群体支出的平衡的计划。当一部分人突然需要支付庞大的费用时，他们的重担得到群体的分担。

     12.葬礼保险是一种通过提前的分期付款来保证葬礼相关的费用得到保障的计划。

     13. 葬礼协会，是一种众人参与付费或者得到死亡评估的组织。通过组织性的管理，成员必须承担的费用得到众人的分担。

     14.社会保障系统是一个教会认可的计划，让雇主和雇工之间协调合作，定期储备，以此应对退休或去世的财务需要。

     15. 这些各种各样的保险计划，事实上都是为了实现预言之灵多年来在安息日会组织中推行的保障组织成员和雇工利益的计划。这个计划就是将工资的一部分定期存放在一个基金里，在受保人退休或者丧失工作能力时分期付发给本人或是他们的亲属配偶，用来支付医疗或者葬礼所需的资金。

     16.基督复临安息日会虽然没有官方性地支持或反对其成员在投资保险上的选择，但在总会和年会上正式宣布认可社会保障系统以及遗属抚恤金计划。

     17.在选择为将来做储备的途径时，我们应当谨慎吸取有经验人士的建议和教训，并认真听取可信赖之人的安全的指引。

     18.不论工薪阶层如何为将来的经济危机或收入骤减做防患措施，他必须小心防止自己陷入对金钱的追求以及对物质的过度依赖而导致与上帝的关系变得薄弱。

     19.  上帝借预言之灵的建议为我们提供了丰富大量的理财之道，也让我们清晰地看到我们对上帝，对教会弟兄，对家人，和对自己负有的责任。这些建议应当被反复学习，应用，最终帮我们在天上积累财富，防止陷入撒旦的网罗。

 （原文）

https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/717.64#64

Provision for the Time of Need

Both the Scriptures and the writingsof Ellen White elevate to a divine mandate the Christian responsibility toprotect and provide for one’s loved ones. In both faith and practice the Bibleassigns prime responsibility for such care upon near relatives. Building on theauthority of the fifth commandment, “Honor thy father and thy mother...,” theapostle Paul stresses the importance of this principle in the strongest ofterms. He wrote: SDALI 4.7

“But if any widow have children ornephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite theirparents; for that is good and acceptable before God....

“But if any provide not for his own,and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and isworse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:4, 8).

Jesus reinforced the same principle,referring to it as the “command of God” (Matthew 15:6). SDALI 5.1

Repeatedly Ellen White stressed theimportance of providing for future needs. Examples of such counsel include thefollowing: SDALI 5.2

“You might today have had a capitalof means to use in case of emergency, and to aid the cause of God, if you hadeconomized as you should. Every week a portion of your wages should bereserved, and in no case touched unless suffering actual want, or to renderback to the Giver in offerings to God.

“The means you have earned have notbeen wisely and economically expended so as to leave a margin, should you besick and your family be deprived of the means... to sustain them.”—The Adventist Home, 396.

“Had you and your wife understood itto be a duty that God enjoined upon you, to deny your taste and your desires,and make provision for the future instead of merely living for thepresent,...your family could have had the comforts of life.”—Testimonies for the Church 2:432.

Throughout her lifetime Ellen Whiteencouraged as Christian duties such practices as diligence, hard work, exerciseof foresight, self-denial, and generous benevolence to the Lord’s cause. Sheencouraged the purchase of quality goods and the care of them. She spoke infavor of home ownership where possible, and approved the accumulation ofreasonable reserves for use in necessity. She conceived of such reserves asavailable not only for personal needs, but also for extending the work of Godand assisting those outside one’s family who experienced need. She lookedfavorably upon the acquisition of a modest but comfortable home for one’sretirement, and spoke of the self-respect that would follow from havingprovided for the future. (See Testimonies for the Church 7:291, 292.) SDALI 5.

Conclusion 

In seeking to understand theteachings of the Scriptures and the writings of Ellen White on life insurance,many Adventists have focused on her warnings against insurance to the neglectof her equally pointed testimony toward making provision for times ofnecessity. The effect has been to deprive members of benefits of the kind thatprudent planning could provide. SDALI 5.4

Under today’s conditions, theultimate questions are: Do life insurance policies offer a method for meetingemergency needs that is compatible with Christian principles? Could they helpmeet the crisis raised by the disability or death of the wage earner withoutweakening one’s faith or commitment to trust in God providence? Could they helpmeet the divinely given responsibility of protecting the innocent survivors oftragedy in a hazardous world? Could they help fill the void created by thediminished role of family ties in the modern world as increased individualismand governmental programs displace the ancient bonds? SDALI 5.5

A study committee of the GeneralConference and the Ellen G. White Estate conducted a thorough study of lifeinsurance, summarized in a 50-page report issued in 1957. Its propositions,based upon careful investigation, provide a sound interpretation of theprinciples concerned and should be taken into account in arriving at adecision. Those principles include the following: SDALI 6.1

1. The Spirit of Prophecy counselsunhesitatingly and definitely teach that the Christian should make provisionfor a “rainy day.” We should recognize that a time will come when there will bereduced or terminated income; and looking ahead, we should, if possible, have areasonable amount of property or money in reserve to meet such needs so that“the charities of others need not be depended upon.”

2. It is proper to have the securityof a modest home of our own and conservative financial investments—money in thebank, invested in the Lord’s work, or in other sound investment.

3. It is proper to avail ourselvesof the protection offered by fire insurance and insurance on the automobile.

4. In whatever provision he makesfor the future, the Christian is to be ever mindful of the special and tenderwatchcare of God over His children and not be forgetful of the needs of thecause of God.

5. The family and the church have aresponsibility to its members in time of need or bereavement. The Christianshould share in his brother’s burdens so that none will suffer.

6. The extent of the provision thatshould be made for the day of need and how it should be made are to be leftwith the individual to settle carefully and prayerfully, with heart fullysurrendered to God, and with the determination that in fulfilling theseresponsibilities, every move will be made in harmony with God’s will.

7. The Spirit of Prophecy counselson life insurance made in the 1860’s were given at a time when life insurancewas uncontrolled and often handled by “fly-by-night” concerns, as a gamblingproposition in a “get-rich-quick” scheme.

8. Although the Spirit of Prophecycounsels in the years between 1867 and 1909 continued to be consistent indiscouraging life insurance, it should be recognized that in the United Statessuch insurance did not come under the control of state banking laws until 1906and onward. Even as late as 1910 some companies were still involved inquestionable and often dishonest practices. However, there were no statementson life insurance made by Ellen White after 1909.

9. Various savings and insuranceplans which are today termed “life insurance,” protected by carefully enactedstate laws, and subject to close inspection of state authorities, are generallyconsidered to be a safe investment and sounder than many other investments.

10. In most so-called life insuranceplans as they are written today, the principle of putting something aside forthe day of need and of sharing one anther’s burdens is actually carried out.The circle reaches out beyond the family or the church to include quite a largenumber of persons, thus equalizing the burden and minimizing the expense.

11. Health care insurance is simplyanother plan for equalizing what maybe an unusual and heavy expense. In thiscase, also, a large number of persons share the burdens of one another.

12. Burial insurance provides ameans whereby the expense now connected with death is provided for in a certainand sure manner through advance payments over a period of years.

13. Burial societies, in which alarge number of persons participate either by specified dues or by assessmentsat the time of the death of a member, are a means of systematically spreadingthe expense in such a way that we bear one another’s burdens. Through awell-organized plan we make proper provision for an expense which must be met.

14. Social Security is recognized bythe church as a plan whereby employer and wage earner unite in systematicallyplacing in reserve that which will be available in time of need, either atretirement or at death.

15. These various plans virtuallyaccomplish for the lay member wage-earner what the denominational retirementplan—called into being through the Spirit of Prophecy has for many yearsprovided for ministers and other employees of the denomination. This is a planby which a regular percentage of the payroll of the various employingorganizations is accumulated in one central fund which is to be disbursed inmonthly payments to retired or incapacitated laborers or their widows, and incase of need, to meet unusual medical and burial expense.

16. The Seventh-day AdventistChurch, although it does not officially encourage or discourage its members inthe matter of insurance of different types, has by actions of the GeneralConference Committee in Annual Council, formally placed its approval on SocialSecurity and Survivor’s Benefit plans.

17. In the choice of the methodemployed in providing “a capital of means to use in an emergency” (The Adventist Home, 396), whatever thatmethod shall be, care should be taken to seek and follow the counsel of thoseof experience who can be depended upon to give safe guidance.

18. Whatever provision the wageearner makes in preparation for the day of financial adversity or lessenedincome, he must guard carefully against a course of action which will lead to alove of money, or the creation with his own hands of something in which heplaces his trust, thus impairing that close connection with his Creator andRedeemer.

19. The Lord, through the Spirit ofProphecy counsels, has given an abundance of instruction and guidance relatingto our responsibility for financial stewardship, making clear our obligationsto God, our family, our fellow church members, and those about us. Thesecounsels should be carefully studied, re-studied, and adhered to, so that wemay lay up treasure in heaven, lest Satan lure us into soul-destroyingentanglements.