7月8日 从自私中得释 Released from Selfishness

7月8日

从自私中得释

Released from Selfishness

他必兴旺，我必衰微。   

—约翰福音3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.     

     —John 3:30

在生活中，使我们痛苦的最根本的原因是以自我为中心的生活。抑郁症，伴随着忧郁和沮丧的一种精神障碍，通常是由自怜和自我为中心造成的。大多数人们都是属灵的近视眼，因为我们常常将利益、爱和精力都集中在自己的身上。主耶稣对他的门徒强调他的命令是无条件的爱而不是自私。对富有的人说：“你若愿意作完全人，可去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上；你还要来跟从我。” 在这里，主耶稣不是要他捐出财物，而是让他从自私中脱离出来，并且摆脱自私对他的人格和生命所造成的毁灭性影响！

Self-centeredness is the basic cause of much of our distress in life. Hypochondria, a mental disorder which is accompanied by melancholy and depression, is often caused by self-pity and self-centeredness. Most of us suffer from spiritual nearsightedness. Our interests, our loves, and our energies are too often focused upon ourselves. Jesus underscored the fact that His disciples were to live outflowingly rather than selfishly. To the rich young ruler He said, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven” (Matthew 19:21). It wasn’t the giving away of his goods that Jesus demanded, particularly, but that he be released from selfishness, and its devastating effect on his personality and life.

今日祷告

教导我来向你完全敞开我的心，以便使我心中没有空隙为自私存留，主，求你洁净我，所有的自私想法和行为。

Prayer for the day

Teach me to so completely open my heart to You that there will be no room for self. Cleanse me, Lord, of all selfish thoughts and deeds.