When my family and I visited Paris, we were fascinated by its museums and art galleries, delicious foods, fashion and luxury brands. The list goes on. I was so excited and energetic. What I had prayed for the most was good weather, smooth travels and for everything to go as planned. Later in our journey, I reflected that while the trip was enjoyable, my itinerary was so full that I had lost focus on God, and I felt distant from Him.
今年初我和家人到訪巴黎，這個城市生氣勃勃，巴黎人的衣著品味出眾，我們到處尋找美食，遊景點打卡。我看見一幅又一幅的名畫，無法盡收眼底。我每天都非常有精神和體力，由早晨外出到晚上。我察覺到自己只掛著遊玩，把行程排得滿滿的，忽略了與神安靜的時間，我的禱告全都是跟旅程暢順好玩有關，只顧自己沒有內涵。
The truth is, I am easily blinded by all the fun and glamour before my eyes. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16) This means that when we are living life dominated by our senses, desiring what we see, and believing in self-sufficiency with a longing for status, human recognition and applause, love for our Father God is not in us. We cannot love God while loving the world just as much!
我很容易被當前的玩樂和享受衝昏頭腦，約翰一書2章提及「不要愛世界和世界上的事。人若愛世界， 愛父的心就不在他裡面了。因為凡世界上的事，就像肉體的情慾，眼目的情慾，並今生的驕傲，都不是從父來的，乃是從世界來的。這世界和其上的情慾都要過去，惟獨遵行神旨意的，是永遠常存。」（15-17節）當我們被自己的感官主導，被眼見的慾望所勝，靠自己而不倚靠神，偏重於受人的景仰、認可和擁戴等，都是愛世界的表現，而愛神的心就遠離了。
I reminded myself not to be carried away by my own desires, and refocus on the purpose of my trip. It was to make memories with my family and friends, to be grateful for regaining health, to pray for the locals, and to appreciate God’s work in another part of the world.
當時我提醒自己要重新注目在神身上，思考這趟旅行的意義為何。這趟旅行給了我機會跟家人和當地的朋友製造回憶，亦記錄了我自生病以來第一次去長途旅行，讓我更加了解當地的環境好讓我知道如何為他們禱告，以及讓我欣賞當地歷史文化、思想神在這城市的位置和工作。
King Solomon, son of King David, was a wise man who examined different aspects of life. He dressed in splendor and enjoyed all luxury. Yet in his last days, he advised that we could enjoy life but know that God will judge us for our actions, whether good or evil. He asked us to remember God our Creator in the days of your youth and follow His commandments.
大衛的兒子所羅門王是有位智者，察驗人生百態，多作教導。他一生雖享盡榮華富貴，晚年得出的結論卻是，沒錯我們可以享受美物，但我們當趁著年輕敬畏耶和華，遵守祂的誡命。因為我們作的每事，或善或惡，祂都必審問我們。
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Allen, David. “‘The Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life’ – 1 John 2:16.” Dr. David Allen, 11 Jan. 2020, drdavidlallen.com/the-lust-of-the-flesh-the-lust-of-the-eyes-and-the-pride-of-life-1-john-216/.
Beautiful :)
blessings from HK Stephen