【双语灵修】你想得到什么？WHAT DO YOU WANT?

雅各书4：1–10

你们中间的争战、斗殴是从哪里来的呢？不是从你们百体中战斗之私欲来的吗？ 你们贪恋，还是得不着；你们杀害嫉妒，又斗殴争战，也不能得。你们得不着，是因为你们不求。 你们求也得不着，是因为你们妄求，要浪费在你们的宴乐中。 你们这些淫乱的人[a]哪，岂不知与世俗为友就是与神为敌吗？所以凡想要与世俗为友的，就是与神为敌了。 你们想经上所说是徒然的吗？神所赐住在我们里面的灵，是恋爱至于嫉妒吗？ 但他赐更多的恩典，所以经上说：“神阻挡骄傲的人，赐恩给谦卑的人。”

故此，你们要顺服神。务要抵挡魔鬼，魔鬼就必离开你们逃跑了。 你们亲近神，神就必亲近你们。有罪的人哪，要洁净你们的手！心怀二意的人哪，要清洁你们的心！ 你们要愁苦、悲哀、哭泣，将喜笑变做悲哀，欢乐变做愁闷。 务要在主面前自卑，主就必叫你们升高。

五月十六日

你想得到什么？

“你们中间的争战斗殴，是从那里来的呢？不是从你们百体中战斗之私欲来的么？”—雅各书4：1

愿望是心中的意念。可悲的是，它们往往都是以一个两岁小孩说话的方式来开始的：“我想要那些东西！”举例说，我们很容易便有这个念头：“我想有一辆那样的汽车（或一间那样的房屋）”，或者说：“我想得到他的那份工作。”我想要、我想要、我想要。

我们的愿望不尽都是坏的，但很多时候却是这样。如果我们想得到属于别人的东西，或者是不惜牺牲别人的利益，来得到想要的东西，一般来说都是错的。娱乐和享受是美好的福份，但如果我们只是为了自私的原因来追求这些福份，也可能是错的。我们很容易便会欺骗自己说：“我应该拥有 …为什么我得不到？”我们的愿望会在我们心里作战。

怎样才知道我们的愿望是对还是错的呢？我们可以在祷告中求问神。如果我们这样想：“我实在不应该求神把这东西赐给我的”这个愿望极有可能是错的了。

不过，我们也可以有很多美好的愿望。我们或许希望子女学业有成；我们可能希望我们的朋友能够挽回他的婚姻；我们会希望我们的教会有增长。神欢喜见到我们以正确的动机来祈求类似上述这些事。

当想到我们的愿望时，让我们集中注意力在那些能够惠及我们的邻舍、家庭和朋友的愿望上。让我们思想什么事情能够拓展神在世界各地的国度。这样的愿望才符合神的愿望。

祷告

主啊，惟愿你是我们心所渴慕的，我们渴望你把你的良善赐给我们和其他人。惟愿我们与人分享和你一起生活的喜乐、好叫他们也能享有这喜乐。阿们。

James 4:1-10

SATURDAY, MAY 16

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? —James 4:1

Desires are thoughts. Sadly, they often begin with the words of our two-year-old selves: “I want that!” We can easily think, for example, “I want a car (or a house) like that.” Or, “I wanted the job he got.” I want, I want, I want.

Not all of our desires are bad, but many are. If we want something that belongs to others or if we want something at the expense of others, that is typically wrong. Pleasure and enjoyment are great blessings, but if we seek such things only for selfish reasons, that can be wrong too. We can easily deceive ourselves into thinking, “I should have that . . . and why shouldn’t I?” Our desires can cause battles within us.

How do we know if what we want is right or wrong? We can take it to God in prayer. And if we think, “I can’t possibly ask God for that,” it is probably a wrongful desire.

We can also have lots of good desires, though. We may want our children to do well in school. We may want our friend’s marriage to be saved. We may want our church to grow. God is pleased when we ask for good things like these with the right motives.

As we think about our desires, let’s focus on those that can bring about good for our neighbors, family, and friends. Let’s think about what can bring growth in God’s kingdom throughout the world. Things like these are in line with the desires of God’s heart.

Lord, may you be our hearts’ desire. May we desire your good for ourselves and for others. May we share the joy of having life with you so that others may enjoy that too. Amen.