Title: Formula for Peace/Matthew 6:24
Contents
Most students hate math. Some students say they hate math so much that they hate and hate even the math teacher. Why do students hate math? It's difficult. Why is it difficult? Because they don't know the formula.
A ‘formula’ is a way to solve a problem. Therefore, if you memorize the formula and memorize it, you can solve any problem, no matter how difficult, so that math becomes fun.
Everyone is looking for peace and longing for peace. However, because we do not know the formula for peace, we are living a life weary of struggles, pains, conflicts, tensions, confusion, and worries, contrary to our expectations. That is why they feel inflamed in life, become pessimistic about life, and fall into desperation.
Then, what is the formula and method for humans to achieve peace of mind and enjoy the joy of life?
why there is no peace
“No one can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other; you cannot serve both God and riches.”
The cause of the lack of peace is obvious. Because there are two owners. If there are two masters, there are also two orders. Thus, the two opposing and contradictory commands become endlessly opposed to each other. Therefore, the heart is divided and the divided heart has no choice but to fight. Division is a tragedy.
Our lives are always asked to make a decision, and the decision that is being asked of us is to choose between God and money. You and I, who are standing at the crossroads between God and wealth... Where shall I give my heart? Which one is more important? Which side will be advantageous? There is no peace because they cannot choose one of the two masters, and they are losing their peace due to conflict. Peace cannot dwell in a heart that is not unified. A person who claims to believe in Jesus Christ and does not have true peace is a problematic believer who has two hearts, God and the world, and wanders between them. People who know they have to keep the Sunday but do not do it even though they know that they should tithe, and if something else happens, break it, and there is always a sense of reluctance and anxiety.
The reason why our country is insecure compared to other countries is because the country is divided into two, and the discord in the family is because the wife and husband and parents and children are not united through love. Why is the world not at peace today? Because of the inconsistency of politics, economy, and ideology. However, the fundamental cause of the lack of peace in all human affairs is that we do not have God as our Lord. That is why Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). What if one person had two or three lovers? You cannot catch two rabbits at the same time.
Formula I: Serve One Master
Humans have two minds: the ideal of pursuing a noble life and the pursuit of physical desires. Therefore, Pascal said that “angels and demons coexist” in the human heart, Goethe said “there are two sides of a gentleman and a gangster”, and Paul said “the desire to do good” There is me who wants to follow evil with me.”
On the other hand, Jesus compared God and wealth, and He is giving clear answers to those who are conflicted between the two masters.
In Luke 17, Lot's wife left Sodom according to God's command, but she was dragged by the voice of Sodom and could not proceed to the future life. In other words, she wanted God, but she also wanted wealth. Torn between the two masters, she eventually ended her life as a pillar of salt. How can humans hold the hand of the God of heaven with one hand and hold the earthly treasures with the other?
According to Augustine, evil and sin come because of unrestrained love, which is a confusion of values, and there is nothing happier than enjoying the truth that transcends all things and is unshakable and unchanging.
“God! Order love in me. The righteous one rejoices in you alone. Sin is nothing and a shadow... My God who is my light and my health! I rejoice in you.” Augustine's prayer. The necessary condition to create peace is to decide on God as the master, and to achieve peace is to serve only God as the master.
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth, and the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea was no more” (Revelation 21:1). I need to have only God as the commander of my life. You cannot serve two masters at the same time in the same space with only one body. To one servant, there is only one master.
“… You have one teacher, and you are all brothers... There is one Father, who is in heaven... There is one leader, Christ (Matthew 23:8-10)” The tragedy of life is not listening to the Lord's words, and not living according to His words.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and your hearts will be at rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).
‘Anxiety disease’ is a disease that occurs when things other than Christ are the masters. Let only God be my master. Only be ruled by God. Only obey God's commands. Only receive the guidance of Christ. The first formula for peace is a life of serving and serving God only as our master. “A pure heart is a heart that seeks only one thing.” By Kierkegaard.
Formula II: Follow your master's orders
When Jonah did not go to Nineveh at God's command and fled to Tarshish, there was no peace for Jonah. No, not only was there no peace, but there was a storm and was trapped in the belly of Sheol (Jon 1, 2). He found peace because he repented and was freed from the belly of Sheol and began to act according to the word of God.
There is no one who disobeys the word of God and lives a peaceful life. No matter how difficult things seem, those who obey the Word find peace and happiness. The loss of peace lies in avoiding and not doing what we should be doing. Don't go down into the world with your back on God's commands. Pain and suffering await.
“Father, into your hands I commit my soul” (Luke 23:46). Jesus Christ was able to face his atoning death peacefully on the cross because he obeyed God's command. Even if you are not a Christian, once you have made a decision to believe, you must not hesitate to obey God's command and put it into practice. Israel was rebuked by God because it had traveled back and forth between Baal and God. A Christian is always a Christian. Christians have only Christian time, no off time. Therefore, as Christians, we live a life of waiting, not “What shall I do?” but “What will God do for me?”
If you choose to serve God as your master, you have to follow only God's commands. Decisions must be accompanied by courage to act. Following God's commands is the second formula for peace.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
The heavenly peace that the Lord gives us does not come from turning our backs on or taking off our cross, but from taking up the cross. This is the principle of Christianity. Beloved saints! Do not try to imitate the peace of others, do not pursue outside peace, and go only to God, the source of peace.
The world teaches the false peace of taking off the cross, but the church teaches the true peace of carrying the cross as a burden. Do not be jealous of the peace and happiness of others. The peace of others has nothing to do with me. I must plant peace in me. Enjoy the envy of others by having the peace of the Lord for yourself. And teach me. Please let me know. The peace of heaven is something that I have and others have. True peace is completed by doing the ‘word’ of the cross.
The Lord is willing to give us a peace that the world cannot give. We just need to receive. When the hand of the one who gives peace and the one who receives it touch, the best and best peace will be transferred to my heart. This is where grace and faith meet. Christianity is a religion that acts according to the Word of the living God and leads to the living God.