牧者心聲
讓別人與己同行
周曉暉牧師
2025 年 3 月 15 日 /16 日
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疲倦是我們常有的狀況，也習慣了與之共存。每當有人說：「你看起來很疲倦啊。」你也許亦會慣常地回話：「是啊，最近真的很忙。」若不是身體出現問題，或是心情持續低落、對任何事情都提不起勁，還以為自己可以撐得住、可以繼續衝下去。
出埃及記以「疲憊」這個用詞，很傳神地形容摩西這個大忙人：「你和這些百姓必都疲憊；因為這事太重，你獨自一人辦理不了。」（出十八18）在原本的文字，「疲憊」就是形容花與葉「枯乾」和「凋殘」的狀態：「他要像一棵樹栽在溪水旁，按時候結果子，葉子也不枯乾」（詩一3）；「花必凋殘」（賽四十7）。其中「枯乾」、「凋殘」與「疲憊」是同一個字詞。嫩葉青綠舒展，活力盎然，葉綠素轉化陽光為能量。但一再運轉，終會使葉綠素分解，葉色轉為金黃或橙紅，水分漸失，枯乾凋零，當風拂過，葉片就落下。疲憊就像這樣的過程，人的心力在不斷忙碌中終必會耗盡。
眼見摩西的工作與事奉忙過不停，他的岳父直指：「你這做的不好」（出十八17）。17節的「不好」和第18節的「獨自一人」是互相呼應，這兩組字詞可合成一句：「獨自一人不好」，巧妙地聆聽聖經的子民，必聯想到創世記二章18節：「耶和華神說：『那人獨居不好，我要為他造一個配偶幫助他。』」
上帝創造人類時，並非只造亞當一個人，也造了女人幫助他，他們還要繁衍後代，生養眾多。在上帝的創造秩序中，人不能離群獨行，需要群體一同承擔上帝賜人管理大地的使命。即使是神僕摩西，他一人決斷所有事務，也是「不好」，百姓找摩西斷案，要大排長龍，他獨自一人，怎可能應接得來？
獨自承擔會導致人不堪負荷、身心俱疲，現在我們通常稱這狀況為「倦怠」（burnout）。在你的家庭、團契或教會群體中，是否只有一人或少數人承擔責任和打點一切？我們有時候以為，只要意志堅定、有才能或與上帝關係良好，便能撐住一切。但上帝的創造秩序並非如此。
小心，長此下去，不但會讓自己疲憊，很多時也會倒過來令他人都感到疲憊！真摯同行，就是不要等到有人一直付出而心力枯竭或面容凋殘，才知道要一起分擔家事。同時，擔起責任的人，更要讓別人與己同行，避免「倦怠」，如此大家才走得遠。
Fatigue is a condition we frequently experience and have grown accustomed to living with. When someone says, "You look very tired," we often instinctively reply, "Yes, I've been really busy lately." Unless we experience physical ailments, persistent low moods, or a loss of motivation in everything, we tend to assume that we can keep pushing forward and enduring on our own.
The Book of Exodus vividly describes Moses' exhaustion using the expression "wear out": "You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone." (Exodus 18:18). In the original language, the expression "wear out" is also used to describe the falling and withering of flowers and leaves, as in "That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither" (Psalm 1:3) and "the flowers fall" (Isaiah 40:7). The words "wither," "fall," and "wear out" all stem from the same word. A leaf, when green and full of life, would turn sunlight into energy with its chlorophyll. However, through continuous use, the chlorophyll eventually breaks down, the leaf turns golden or reddish orange, loses moisture, and dries up. When the wind blows, the withered leaf falls. This is how fatigue works. After constant laboring, the heart and spirit will eventually be depleted.
Seeing how tirelessly Moses worked and served, his father-in-law pointedly told him: "What you are doing is not good" (Exodus 18:17). The phrase "not good" in v.17 corresponds directly with "alone" in v.18. When combined, they mean "It is not good to be alone." God's people who listen to the Bible carefully will certainly find a striking parallel to Genesis 2:18: "The LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"
When God created humanity, He did not make Adam alone. He also created Eve to be his helper. Furthermore, they were to multiply and fill the earth. In God's creation order, men are never meant to live in isolation. We need a community to share in God's mandate for us to steward the earth. Even for God's servant Moses, having to handle everything alone was "not good." When people went to Moses to resolve cases, there was a long queue. How could he handle everything alone?
Carrying everything alone leads to exhaustion – both physically and mentally. Today, we commonly refer to this as "burnout." In your family, fellowship, or church community, is there just one person or a few taking responsibility and taking care of everything? Sometimes, we may think that those who are determined, talented, or have good relationship with God can shoulder everything. However, this does not align with God's creation order.
Be careful that if this continues, not only will you become exhausted, but others around you will feel drained as well! To journey together in genuine fellowship means not waiting until someone has given so much that they become completely drained and worn down in spirit and appearance before realizing the need to share the burden in the family. Those who bear responsibilities must also let others walk with them to avoid "burnout." This way, everyone could journey farther together.
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