Title: Living Together
life together
Text: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
“Two are better than one, for their hard work has a good reward. If they fall, the one will catch his companion and raise him up; but woe to him who is alone and falls and there is no one to lift him up. But how can one be warm? One will be defeated, but two can fight it. A three-fold cord is not easily broken.”
A landmark in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge is famous for its beauty and grandeur as the first suspension bridge. The strength that holds this long, heavy bridge with a 6-lane-wide bridge stretching 2,825 meters in length lies in the “together” of the wires. The 1-meter-thick iron wire attached to the 227-meter pylon is not a single piece of iron. It contains 27,000 strands of wire number 1, slightly thicker than our hair, twisted together. Each strand is weak enough to break with bare hands, but when the 27,000 are glued together, they have the strength to hold the leg of that enormous load.
Also, just north of San Francisco, Oregon begins. When you get there, you will be deeply impressed by the redwood forest that soars into the sky. Unfortunately, its geology is a granite bedrock with very thin topsoil. It is very similar to the reality of our life. Because of this bedrock, redwoods cannot be deeply rooted. And yet, the redwoods stand tall like a huge forest of buildings. The largest is said to be 90 meters high and over 20 meters in circumference. How can they achieve such a forest in that barren environment? The answer is surprisingly simple. Roots hold each other together with roots. So should we. Only together can we overcome the barren reality and gain the strength to blossom in the midst of it.
“Only live worthy of the gospel of Christ, that even though I go to you and am away, you stand with one mind and work together for the faith of the gospel in one accord” (Philippians 1:27)
I read a book that explains why geese fly in a V shape. Because geese fly in groups, they can fly up to 70% more than if they were moving individually. This is because the waves of air that occur when the bird in front moves its wings makes the flight of the birds that follow it easier.
Also, when the goose in the lead gets tired, it moves to the very end of the V shape and another goose takes the lead. And the geese in the back make a sound to encourage and give strength to the geese in front. Unity is a way for each other.
It happened during a meeting at a Korean church in San Francisco, USA. The road from the hotel to the church was blocked by vehicles. However, there were very few vehicles on the first lane. Occasionally a passing car drove at high speed. Only vehicles with two or more people were allowed on the carpool line. Our group went that route. It took 20 minutes for a single car to travel a distance that would have taken an hour. In America, riding is your foot. Most of the time, I drive to and from work by myself. However, a vehicle riding alone has no choice but to move slowly in a traffic jam. The same is true of the spiritual world. Rather than praying alone, there is a quicker answer to the prayer that two people ask for together, and miracles happen when all members of the church pray together. It is better to do evangelism in pairs rather than alone. Christians must be of the same mind, of the same mind, of the same will. The Lord will accompany you along the way. The life of faith is the way to go with the Lord.
Last Chuseok, I had the pleasure of walking with my wife on an autumn road after a long time. At the World Cup Stadium, it took almost 3 hours to walk around Haneul Park before returning home.
And a few days ago, I went to Mr. Kim's villa in Yangpyeong with ten brothers of faith and had a bulgogi party and had a leisurely walk on the back mountain road. People around the age of 60 went up the mountain, sang 10 hymns together, and prayed for each one of them. It was a different pleasure from fellowshipping in church. Then we went back to the villa and had a party.
Thank you for two things. One was that there were people walking together, and the other was that there was a place to return to. I wrote a story about a walk on the road during the autumn holidays on the Internet, and a saint gave me encouraging words. ‘Lion of Light, it was so moving that it touched my heart.’ Just walking with my wife brought tears to my eyes, so we all want to walk together. And I thought I was living with my hometown in my heart. And suddenly, I remembered the people I had walked with even for a short time in the past. They are precious people.
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep… If it is possible, as far as it is possible for you to be at peace with all” (Romans 12:15-18)
Have you ever heard of a poem called 'Cold Heart'?
“Often, on a cold and bleak day, six people met by chance/ Everyone had a wand/ When the lights went out and they needed firewood, the first person hid his wand/ Because there was one black man in the crowd. / The next person found a person who did not live in his neighborhood,/ and did not offer his wand as firewood...<omitted>...they didn't die because of the cold weather/ they died because of a cold heart."
The Bible speaks of the importance of cooperation.
“How good and beautiful it is for brothers to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1).
'When people came to Jesus, carrying a paralyzed man with four people, they could not take him to Jesus because of the crowds, so they tore a hole in the roof of the place where he was, and lowered the table on which the paralytic was lying. He said to him, “Son, your sins are forgiven you” (Mark 2:3-5).
Out of sight, out of mind. In order to live a life of living together, we must strive to gather together.
“Let us look out for one another, encouraging love and good deeds, and not giving up meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging each other, and all the more as we see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
The vitality of the early church started from being together. The word “together” appears three times in Acts 2:44-46. Because of their oneness together, the early church was able to experience the dramatic and great work of God. Let's all live a life of faith together.
This is a very chaotic and difficult time. Many people live in a hurry without knowing the direction of life and without hope. However, the gospel is the true light to illuminate this age and the power of God to give hope and salvation to all who believe. To make this good news known to mankind, God established a community of faith. And God calls and nurtures His people through the community of faith. The Galilean community was also established for this mission. The Galilean community that wishes to become the light and salt of the world invites you. Following Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, let us build a community overflowing with righteousness, peace, joy and love in the Holy Spirit. And let us work together as partners in carrying out the mission He has entrusted to us.
* Prayer: Loving Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing us to meet. May we associate abundantly with those whom God has prepared for us at the proper time, help each other, and enjoy true joy in Christ. May we strive to gather together and become the children of the Lord who can be patient and give thanks, believing that You will fill us abundantly. I pray in Jesus name. Amen