Title: The World's Most Valuable Treasure
Contents
What is the most precious thing in this world?
What do we need to have in our world so that we can live happily ever after without worrying and worrying for the rest of our lives? What do I need to have so that my heart does not shrink and I can live confidently and proudly? How can I live in peace and joy today, tomorrow, and for all the days of the world?
How can I live joyfully and joyfully every day without worry, without worry, without fear, without anger, without anger, without complaining, and with peace of mind?
I found such a person in 2 Corinthians.
He is the apostle Paul. At one time, he was a man who hated Jesus and went on a rampage to persecute those who believed in Jesus until they were completely wiped out from the world. After meeting the resurrected Jesus, he became convinced that Jesus, whom he had only considered as a completely fabricated heresy, is truly the Son of the living God.
In today's text 2 Corinthians 4:7, he says, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that it may be known that exceedingly great power belongs to God and not to us."
The term ‘earthenware’ refers to a vessel made from earth that is easily broken. This refers to the human body. How weak is the human body? The human body is sometimes very strong. In Kang Ho-dong's program called 'Sponge', I saw some people smashing rocks with their fists. A fist like that would be strong enough to defeat even a bear or a lion.
But when a person is weak, he is infinitely weak. It's such a absurd thing that one's life comes to an end. Alexander the Great was a hero who built a great Greek empire by conquering the vast continents from Egypt, Turkey, Arabia, Iran, and India, including Israel at that time. Do you know how such Alexander the Great died? Some say that his death was poisonous, some say he had a fever, but one theory says that he was scratched by his claw while playing with a pet monkey, and then died of an unknown fever. Or it is said that he died of a fever from a malaria mosquito bite. In any case, at times a person may appear to be too great, but at other times he is an infinitely fragile being, like a pottery vessel.
However, we, as weak and lowly as earthen vessels, have enormous treasures (treasures). Therefore, our life is not a life that is insignificant, but a life that is noble and irreplaceable even for the whole world.
Then, what is the “treasure” that the Apostle Paul is talking about?
It says in 2 Corinthians 4:6, “The same God who said, Let there be light out of darkness, has shone in our hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” In other words, the 'treasure' possessed by the fragile earthenware refers to the 'light of knowing the glory of God through Christ'.
What does “the light of knowing the glory of God” mean?
This is 'the knowledge of God' and 'the knowledge of the truth', which refers to the 'knowledge of the gospel leading to salvation (eternal life)'. This is not mere knowledge. This knowledge is the knowledge that will make us, who are about to go to the tragedy of eternal destruction, the people of the eternal glory of God prepared by God, the knowledge that will make us beloved children of God, and will have the life of immortal resurrection like Jesus. It is such an amazing knowledge that can be a noble being.
Therefore, in 2 Corinthians 4:8-11, “We are afflicted on every side, but not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 we are persecuted, but not forsaken; We always carry in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are living are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus may also be made manifest in our mortal flesh.”
The Greek word 'delibomenoi', which means 'to be squeezed in all directions', means 'to press the grapes for the sake of juice', and it shows that Paul's life had hardships that seemed to be crushed inside and out. I mean.
The question is whether we realize how precious the knowledge that leads to salvation (faith) we know and believe is precious.
In Matthew 13:44-46, Jesus compared it to a treasure hidden in a field and a pearl of great price. [A man has found a hidden treasure in the field. The man returned home and bought the field with all his possessions.]
It looks like an ordinary field. It doesn't look any different from other fields. But the field is not an ordinary field, but a field in which great treasures are hidden. Perhaps today, if we actually found a field like this, we would have bought it even with debt. Because after buying a field, you just have to take out the treasure hidden in the field and pay off the debt.
So is the parable of the pearl. [A certain pearl merchant has found a very precious pearl. But the pearl's value was far greater than the one who had it thought. So he sold all he had and bought the pearl. Why? Because that pearl is worth much more than what you own, or what the average person thinks.
How much is this faith in the Lord that we have in our hearts today? When I evangelize a certain child, I say, “I quit that church.” It's like going to church to go to an academy. What kind of club does the church join? Is it just one of many religions in the world?
In Luke 14:26-27, Jesus said, “If anyone who comes to me does not hate his father and mother, wife and wife, brothers and sisters, and above all, even his own life, he cannot become my disciple, 27 and whoever does not take up his cross and follow me You will not be able to be my disciple.” What is more precious than your parents, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even your own life is the gospel of salvation.
How do those who have this gospel live?
For Christians, they live with a different level of hope than those of the world. This is what 2 Corinthians 4:14 says, “I know that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also together with Jesus, so that we may stand before him with you” (2 Corinthians 4:14).
It is to live while looking forward to the eternal glory of God that God has prepared. Our hope is not to be in this world for a while, but to exist in an eternal world beyond death.
Therefore, as 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is for a little while, works for us an exceedingly great and eternal weight of glory. 18 What we pay attention to is not the visible, but the invisible. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18) “If our tent-house on earth is torn down, we know that we have a house made by God, an eternal house in heaven, not made with hands” (2 Corinthians 5). : 1) is what you are saying.
Everything in the world will one day disappear. Money, health, fame, even life will all disappear. When you die, everything is in vain. Everything disappears with death, so what is the most precious and valuable thing in the world?
Jesus said, “Matthew 6:19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves cannot break through and steal.”
What makes your life the most valuable?
It is living for the kingdom of God. In other words, it is to believe in Jesus, to have a bigger, stronger, and more perfect faith, and to share the gospel with more people so that they can have eternal life just like us.
Studying for this, working for this, meeting people for this, spending money for this, using time for this, and working hard are the most precious and beautiful things.
Paul was very proud of what he suffered for the sake of the gospel. Because I knew that there are many rewards to receive in the kingdom of God. That is why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For our light affliction, which is for a little while, works for us an exceedingly great and eternal weight of glory.
It means that you will suffer for a while in the world and receive great glory in the kingdom of God. In other words, no matter how much suffering you suffer in the world, it is nothing compared to the glory you will receive in the kingdom of God. Therefore, if we think of this and live for the Lord and the kingdom of God, all of our lives will be changed into a valuable life.
From now on, we will no longer live for ourselves, but only for the kingdom of God and His glory, so that all our lives become valuable lives... Therefore, whatever you encounter, may you be joyful, grateful, and joyful. Bless you by name. ◎