Title: Life in Black (James 4:13-17)
Contents
Title: Black Life
Text: James 4:13-17
Jews say that selling goods to those who need it is the third class, selling to those who don't need it is the second class, and selling to those who don't need it is the first class. Although the Jews, who excel at tactics, control 80% of the world economy, they are also afraid of the Korean people. This is because Koreans work without taking care of their bodies. Our nation overcame the ruins with its unique industriousness and revitalized the economy, recording a surplus in 1986 and 1988. However, during the IMF and recently, it is experiencing economic difficulties. In the economy, there must be a surplus. However, the Bible says that faith and life must also have a surplus. In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, the servant who made a profit was praised, but the servant who did not was rebuked.
So, what is the secret to a surplus life? First, remember that life is short and do your best. People eat and enjoy as if to live forever, but life is short. Verse 14 of today's text says, “What is your life? It is a mist that appears for a moment and then disappears.” The book of Job also describes the shortness of life as “one breath” (7:7), “shadow” (8:9), and “fast ship, eagle” (9:26). It is said that they spend 26 years of total sleep in their lifetime, 21 years of work, 6 years of eating, 6 years of anger and 49 days of smiling. Proverbs 27:1 tells us not to boast about tomorrow, because you do not know what will happen in one day. Psalm 90:10,12 prays that life will fly away, teach us to count our days so that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Life goes by so quickly, you have to take advantage of opportunities and do your best to live a surplus life.
Lee Hae-yeon, the current vice president of Dong-A, is 75 years old. He joined the company as a production employee at the age of 33, but worked so hard that even when he retired as a production manager at the age of 55, he did not retire and was promoted to the overseas sales manager. At the retirement age of the overseas sales manager, he was promoted to a director, and at the retirement age of the director, he was promoted to vice president again. He didn't retire because he worked hard every time and got good results. When you live hard without missing out on every opportunity, you become a surplus.
Second, we must put aside false boasting and follow the will of the Lord. Rather than boasting about our plans, we need an attitude of ‘If the Lord allows it, we will do it.’ God's delay is better than man's speed. In Matthew 7:21-23, the disciples boast that they cast out demons, but the Lord says they do not know. Because they lived apart from the Lord. In Proverbs 16:1, it is said that the plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the word comes from the Lord. In Romans 9:19, it is said that God is the potter and we are only vessels. Often, we pray for a request, or pray for the Lord to do it if it is the will of the Lord, or to stop it. But it is right to first seek the will of the Lord and ask for guidance on that path. It is said that there are three characteristics of Korean prayer: following the prayers of others, being conscious of others, or seeking relief. However, believers must have an attitude of seeking after God's grace through stewardship. In 1 Thessalonians 2:1 and below, Paul succeeded in everything he did with the help of God. Psalm 127:1 says that unless the LORD builds the house and guards the city, the toil of those who build it and the watchman's watch are in vain.
Among pastors, those who use shortcuts while rolling their heads seem to succeed at first, but later fail, but those who follow God-centered rules even if it is a bit slow, see things working out in the end. Our lives are under the sovereignty of the Lord. We must acknowledge this and leave it to the Lord to live.
Third, we must live by sharing and giving. Young children do not like to let go of anything they are holding. because it is immature. Verse 17 of today's text says that if you know how to do good and do not do it, it is a sin. Sharing and giving is good. Luke 6:38 says, “Give, and it will be pressed down and shaken so that it overflows.” Ecclesiastes 11:1 says, “Throw your food on the water, and in a few days you will find it back.” Biblical scholars say that “throwing” is a loan to God. If you participate in God's good work with what you have and donate, you will turn into a surplus.
Let's live our only life with a surplus, whether in faith or business. The Lord's life was like a grain of wheat that fell to the ground, but it bore much fruit. Let's remember that a life with the Lord is a life of surplus.