《给管家的勉言》是应这项工作广泛的要求而编辑出版的。在过去的年间，预言之灵曾就管理问题发表了大量实用而有益的教训。这些教训记载在期刊和书籍之中。但本书的材料大都为我们的工人和信徒不易获得的。现行的著作中含有许多这一题材的教诲，本书则很少收入。我们很高兴让大家都能得到赐给教会的这册便捷式珍贵勉言。本书系在怀爱伦著作托管委员会指导下，由该委员会办公室负责编辑。
在基督徒的生活和服务中，管理问题占有重要的地位，与每一个基督徒息息相关。对于管理原则的正确理解，包括承认上帝的至高地位，祂对万物的主权，以及祂的恩典赐予我们。随着我们对这些原则认识的提高，我们就会更充分地领悟上帝在我们生活中所施的慈爱和恩惠。
虽然管理的原则涉及物质，但最重要的是它们的属灵性质。侍奉基督乃是现实的。主对我们有所要求是为了帮助我们。按照上帝的旨意遵行这些要求，就把整个管理工作提到了很高的属灵境界。主并不苛刻，也没有提武断的要求，勉强我们侍奉祂，或藉着归还祂赐给我们的东西而承认祂。但祂已经制定了神圣的计划。只要我们在这些事上遵行祂的旨意，祂就会赐给我们丰富的属灵福气。但我们如果不与祂合作执行祂的计划，得不到我们最需要的东西，我们就会失去这些福气。
我们坚信：认真学习本书所阐明的管理原则，会帮助所有研究和实行的人在上帝的事上获得更完美更丰富的经验。以下的话就此作了清楚的说明：
“上帝的所有儿女都应当明白管理的实际意义。……行善能使千万因黑暗而怨叹，在名义上信奉真理的人获得属灵的生命，从自私贪婪的玛门的崇拜者，变成基督忠实可靠的同工，参加拯救罪人的工作”(《证言》卷三387页)。
这种改变的前景既然摆在我们面前，我们就应认真研究本书的勉言。祈愿我们都能获得与主相交更完美更丰富的经验。
J.L 麦克尔哈尼
1940年
THIS VOLUME, "COUNSELS ON STEWARDSHIP," HAS BEEN COMPILED AND IS NOW SENT FORTH IN RESPONSE TO A WIDESPREAD REQUEST FOR SUCH A WORK. A VAST ARRAY OF VERY PRACTICAL AND HELPFUL INSTRUCTION FROM THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY ON STEWARDSHIP HAS APPEARED DURING THE YEARS. THIS HAS BEEN PRINTED IN BOTH PERIODICAL AND BOOK FORM, BUT THIS WORK IS COMPOSED LARGELY OF MATTER NOT NOW READILY AVAILABLE TO OUR WORKERS AND MEMBERS. IN THE CURRENT VOLUMES THERE IS AVAILABLE MUCH ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION ON THE SAME SUBJECT, VERY LITTLE OF WHICH HAS BEEN USED IN THIS BOOK. WE ARE THANKFUL INDEED THAT ALL MAY NOW HAVE ACCESS TO THIS CHOICE INSTRUCTION GIVEN TO THE CHURCH IN THIS CONVENIENT FORM. THIS VOLUME HAS BEEN COMPILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE ELLEN G. WHITE PUBLICATIONS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.[1] IN THE REALM OF CHRISTIAN LIFE AND SERVICE THE QUESTION OF STEWARDSHIP OCCUPIES A LARGE AND VITAL PLACE. EVERY CHRISTIAN BELIEVER IS DEEPLY AND CONTINUOUSLY CONCERNED. OUR RECOGNITION OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD, OF HIS OWNERSHIP OF ALL THINGS, AND OF THE BESTOWAL OF HIS GRACE UPON US, IS INCLUDED IN A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRINCIPLES OF STEWARDSHIP. AS OUR COMPREHENSION OF THESE PRINCIPLES GROWS AND EXPANDS, WE ARE LED INTO A FULLER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WAY GOD'S LOVE AND GRACE OPERATE IN OUR LIVES.[2] WHILE THE PRINCIPLES OF A STEWARDSHIP CONCERN MATERIAL THINGS, THEY ARE, ABOVE ALL, OF A SPIRITUAL CHARACTER. THE SERVICE OF CHRIST IS A REALITY. THE LORD REQUIRES CERTAIN THINGS OF US IN ORDER THAT HE MAY DO CERTAIN THINGS FOR US. THE DOING OF THOSE REQUIRED THINGS IN HARMONY WITH THE DIVINE WILL LIFTS THE WHOLE MATTER OF STEWARDSHIP TO A HIGH SPIRITUAL PLANE. THE LORD IS NOT EXACTING. HE DOES NOT ARBITRARILY DEMAND EITHER THAT WE SERVE HIM OR THAT WE RECOGNIZE HIM BY RETURNING TO HIM OF THOSE THINGS WHICH HE GIVES TO US. BUT HE HAS SO ARRANGED THE DIVINE ECONOMY THAT AS A RESULT OF OUR WORKING IN HARMONY WITH HIM IN THESE THINGS, THERE FLOW BACK TO US GREAT SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS. WE SHALL BE DESTITUTE OF THESE BLESSINGS IF WE FAIL TO COOPERATE WITH HIM IN CARRYING OUT HIS PLANS, AND THEREBY DEPRIVE OURSELVES OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WE NEED MOST.[3] WE ARE VERY CONFIDENT THAT A CAREFUL STUDY OF THE PRINCIPLES OF STEWARDSHIP AS SET FORTH IN THIS VOLUME WILL HELP ALL WHO STUDY AND PRACTICE THEM TO A RICHER AND FULLER EXPERIENCE IN THE THINGS OF GOD. THIS IS CLEARLY INDICATED IN THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT:[4] THE IDEA OF STEWARDSHIP SHOULD HAVE A PRACTICAL BEARING UPON ALL THE PEOPLE OF GOD. . . . PRACTICAL BENEVOLENCE WILL GIVE SPIRITUAL LIFE TO THOUSANDS OF NOMINAL PROFESSORS OF THE TRUTH WHO NOW MOURN OVER THEIR DARKNESS. IT WILL TRANSFORM THEM FROM SELFISH, COVETOUS WORSHIPERS OF MAMMON, TO EARNEST, FAITHFUL COWORKERS WITH CHRIST IN THE SALVATION OF SINNERS.--"TESTIMONIES," VOL. III, P. 387.[5] WITH THE PROSPECT BEFORE US OF SUCH A TRANSFORMATION, ALL SHOULD EARNESTLY STUDY THIS VOLUME, PRAYING THAT WE MAY BE LED INTO A FULLER, RICHER EXPERIENCE WITH THE LORD. J. L. MCELHANY.[6]
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