Title: Greater Grace (James 4:1-10)
Contents
When you see a young baby sleeping in an adult's arms, you can see a very calm expression. A little baby can sleep comfortably because everything is entrusted to an adult. He gave everything to himself without any doubt. Adults, on the other hand, fall asleep with problems until the moment they fall asleep. Even when I sleep, I can't enjoy peace. A life that entrusts everything to the Lord is grace and faith. “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).
There is a level that God requires of us. I'm not asking you to do something perfect. What God requires of us is to live by the grace of God, and to live by the strength God gives us. Therefore, we must seek greater grace. “But it is by the grace of God that I am what I am, and his grace that was given to me was not in vain. I labored more than all the apostles, but it was not I, but the grace of God who was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).
It is not important that we do great things, precise things, or many things, it is important that we do it with God's power, not our own. Please ask for more grace. Those who live by the power of the flesh become targets of Satan. We should live by God's grace, but when we try to do it with our own strength instead of God's grace, Satan will break through. In the Old Testament, the Israelites went around the city of Jericho to destroy it. It was God's exclusive grace that the fortress of Jericho, which seemed like a mess, collapsed for the Israelites. However, the Israelites were unable to destroy the insignificant city of Ai and suffered a great defeat. Big is difficult and small is not easy. Without God's help, man cannot win. “Do you think it is futile to say that the Holy Spirit, whom God has made dwelling in us, longs for envy? But he gives more grace, therefore it is said, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James). 4:5-6) How can we receive greater grace?
First, true achievement is not obtained through physical strength, but through prayer to God. “Where do strife and strife among you come, is it not from the lust of fighting among your members? We do not ask” (James 4:1-2) We say that we will somehow get ahead of others and show our abilities to win, but that is not true. Also, even if it was obtained, it is not grace. It should not be won by fighting or quarreling. “The Lord has given them what they asked for, yet he has made their souls numb” (Psalm 106:15). Businesses, husbands, wives, children, and material things must all seek and receive from God. This is grace. Even if you don't get it, if you stay on grace, you win. But even if you get it, if you don't have grace, it's a failure. Why are you telling me to stay awake and pray? It is for the grace of God to remain. God gives greater grace to those who ask.
Second, we must not depend on the world, but on the Holy Spirit within us. “Women who commit adultery, do you not know that friendship with the world is the enemy of God? Therefore, whoever wants to be friends with the world makes himself an enemy of God. Do you think the word is vain?” (James 4:4-5) Relying on the visible world instead of relying on the Holy Spirit is called spiritual adultery. To rely on a world other than God is to ignore God. It is spiritual adultery. When the environment is difficult and difficult, it is God's signal to rely on the Holy Spirit. The opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work has come.
Third, we must overcome pride and be humble. “But he gives more grace; therefore, it is said, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). You do what God will do. Humility means taking my place and making a place for the Lord. We must open up a place for the Lord to work.
In the story of the prodigal son, the real prodigal son is the eldest son who stayed at home. The eldest son was a perfect son, but he was proud. I never asked my father for it. If he asked his father, he would have given him everything, but the eldest son never asked for it. There was pride that didn't open up a place for my father to help. It is easy to make a place for the Lord in difficult times. However, when things go well, first place, and when they are rewarded, they do not make a place for the Lord. So you cannot receive a greater grace.
You can find the story of a wedding feast in Cana in the Bible. At the wedding, Jesus turned water into wine when the wine was running out. The latter was better than the first. Because we had Jesus at the joyous feast of marriage, we were able to receive greater grace. Man-made wine must run out. You can boast that your business is going well now, that you are in college, and that your family is doing well, but you must know that difficulties will come later. Therefore, we should make a place for the Lord when things go well. Please pray for more grace. God gives to those who ask. I pray that you will become saints of Gwangjin who are blessed with greater grace. Hallelujah! (Rev. Min Kyung-seol)