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自私自利的基督教
第二日，站在海那边的众人知道那里没有别的船，只有一只小船，又知道耶稣没有同祂的门徒上船，乃是门徒自己去的。然而有几只小船从提比哩亚来，靠近主祝谢后分饼给人吃的地方。众人见耶稣和门徒都不在那里，就上了船，往迦百农去找耶稣。既在海那边找着了，就对祂说：“拉比是几时到这里来的？”耶稣回答说：“我实实在在的告诉你们，你们找我，并不是因见了神迹，乃是因吃饼得饱。不要为那必坏的食物劳力，要为那存到永生的食物劳力，就是人子要赐给你们的，因为人子是父 神所印证的”（约翰福音6:22-27）
亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，哪一个是你更感兴趣的，是耶稣是谁，还是祂能为你做什么？比起要认识主耶稣，恐怕有很多人更关心祂能给我们什么。
其实这并不是什么新鲜事，主耶稣在世上传道时就存在这样的问题。众人经常寻找主耶稣，目的是想让祂为自己做些什么。即使他们的需求合乎常理，但是基督却知道他们的根本动机。
为己私利地试图利用主得到自己想要的，或是谦卑地来到主的跟前，呈上我们的需求和挣扎，这两者本在一线之间。我们让上帝解决一些问题，却又心急迫切地要祂按照我们想要的方式来采取行动，这就变成我们的渴望比甘愿降服于上帝的旨意更为重要。有时，我们所谓的“信心”其实是一个苛求的灵。
我们必须牢记，我们所需要的毕竟都有尽头，但是耶稣基督却是永恒的。如果我们只是为己利而祷告上帝，那么我们就错失了将能用永生来认识这位永恒之主的良机。让我们把时间都投入于追求与基督有亲密的关系上，那么我们就能永远享有与上帝亲密关系所带来的益处。
你与上帝交流，大部分只是为自己的需求吗（即使是合乎常理的需求）？你是否投入你的时间和精力来认识上帝呢？尽管上帝喜悦我们祷告，也告诉我们可以为任何事而向祂祷告，但是祂更希望我们来到祂的跟前，只是因为热爱与祂在一起。
Selfish Christianity
John 6: 22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that JESUS had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither JESUS nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of JESUS.
Jesus the Bread of Life
25 When they found HIM on the other side of the lake, they asked HIM, “Rabbi, when did YOU get here?”
26 JESUS answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for ME, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the SON of MAN will give you. For on HIM GOD the FATHER has placed HIS seal of approval.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Which interests you more—who JESUS is or what HE can do for you? I’m afraid that too many of us are more concerned about what HE can give us than we are about getting to know who HE is.
But this is nothing new—JESUS had this problem when HE walked on earth. The crowds often sought HIM out for what HE could do for them. Even though their needs were quite often legitimate, CHRIST knew their motives.
There is a fine line between selfishly trying to use the LORD to get what we want and humbly coming to HIM with our needs and struggles. Some of the issues we bring to HIM are so pressing and urgent in our minds that our desire for HIM to take action in the way we want becomes greater than our willingness to submit to HIS will. At times, what we call “faith” is really a demanding spirit.
We must remember that our needs will come to an end, but JESUS CHRIST will remain forever. If our prayers have dealt only with presenting our requests to the LORD, we’ve missed a great opportunity to get to know the ONE with whom we’ll spend eternity. Let’s invest time in pursuing intimacy with CHRIST. Then we can enjoy the benefits of that relationship forever.
How much of your communion with GOD is devoted to your needs—even legitimate ones? Are you spending any time getting to know the LORD? Although GOD delights in our prayers and tells us to pray about everything, HE also wants us to come to HIM just because we enjoy being with HIM.
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