Title: Valuable Work
Contents
Valuable labor (2 Corinthians 4:12-14,)
In Hemingway's 'Old Man's Sea', an old fisherman floats a fishing boat in the Gulf Stream and fishes. However, they cannot catch a single fish for 84 days. But on the 85th day, he finally catches a huge fish. The old man struggles with the giant fish for two days, eventually subduing it and tying the fish to a boat and dragging it to port. But there is a problem. A swarm of sharks comes and attacks the old man's dragged meat. The old man protects the fish with all his might, but when the ship reaches the port, only bare bones remain.
Here, we realize the limits of human power and the futility of human effort.
“I can live as much as I want without God’s help. I can live without God. Jesus, God, I don't need them all.”
A lot of people in the world shout that loud, but what does that loud sound mean? In the end, everything becomes the food of death, the food of death. A large snake in a zoo usually eats two or three chickens a day as a staple food and dozens of mice as a snack. If you put dozens of mice in a room with snakes, the mice dodge and dodge in order not to be eaten by the snakes, but in the end they run away and only one of them is eaten by the snake. People exercise and try hard to live well in this world, but unfortunately, when the time comes, they all become food for death. Just as the old man could not overcome the attack of the man-eating shark, the power of death cannot be overcome by human strength. Humans cannot overcome the power of Satan. No matter how much you study and develop your skills, you cannot win. Neither nuclear nor missiles can kill Satan.
Everyone is like a rat in the snake's chamber. In the end, it will become Satan's food. But only those who believe in Jesus overcome Satan and the power of death through faith. Because of Jesus, you will be protected from Satan and death, and you will live in the kingdom of happiness for eternity.
Because of your sins, you are imprisoned in death, but even if you have sins, if you believe in Jesus, you will be cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus. Because 1 John 1:9 says, “The blood of Jesus, the Son of God, will forgive all sins.”
No matter how great sins, shameful sins, filthy sins, and evil sins you commit, if you believe in Jesus, you will be cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. That is why the apostles risked their lives to preach the gospel. They risk their lives to preach the gospel in order to save even one more soul from those who become the food of Satan and the food of death and perish forever. So, believers are born everywhere, churches are created, and the people who are being saved are multiplying.
It is because the missionaries came and preached the gospel that the church in Korea stood tall and more than 11 million people were saved. In England, America, and Australia, those intellectuals who risked their lives to come to this devastated, poor, and barbaric land, suffered tribulation and persecution, were stoned and martyred, and preached the gospel to save us. it will be received It was the hard work of the servants who gave their lives. How grateful are you?
In the text, the Apostle Paul tells the church in Corinth, “Death works in us, and life works in you” (2 Corinthians 4:12).
It is said that a female roe deer was crossing the road with two young roe deer on the road at night, but the cubs hesitated and could not cross, so they could not cross alone, so the mother roe also died. The mother died because of the babies.
A car crashed on the Olympic road in Seoul. A mother with two children was riding in the back seat of the taxi after the accident. The child's mother was dead. But the two children survived. It turned out that the children were able to survive because the mother pushed the two children under the chair at the moment of the accident and embraced the children with her own body. The mother's sacrifice made it possible for the two children to live.
Death worked for the mother, and life worked for the two children. That's what the text means. It is said that death worked on Paul, and life came to be enjoyed by the church in Corinth.
In 2 Corinthians 1:8, 9 we read, “Brothers and sisters, we want you to know the tribulation we experienced in Asia. We have been so overwhelmed with power that we have finally lost our hope of living.
Many people receive grace, receive salvation, and receive blessings through the hard work of the forefathers of faith.
After the Lord's servants' precious labors and sacrifices, people will hear the gospel and the saints will receive grace and receive blessings.
The Apostle Paul introduces the three people in <Stephana, Bedenathus, and Achagus> as “a family devoted to serving the saints.” At the same time, they praised Paul himself as the people who gave life to the hearts of the Corinthians and said, “You should know these people.”
<Example> In a place, we tested how heavy a sled a horse can pull. The strongest horse pulled 2000 kg, and the next horse pulled 1800 kg. In total, 3,800 kg. However, when these two horses pulled a sled together, they pulled 5500 kg. There was a synergistic effect. What does it tell you? It teaches us that we can accomplish a greater work if we work together than if we work individually. In addition, we believe that we should inherit the church award, knowing that there is a synergistic effect that transcends calculations if we put in valuable efforts.
<Example> An Italian man once won a lottery worth 86 billion won. However, he had to submit the lottery ticket to the insurance company on the designated day, but two days passed because he was busy preparing for his daughter's wedding. Unfortunately, the winning lottery ticket has been invalidated. When he found out, the man fainted and was taken to the hospital. I woke up two hours later, but the lottery was useless. No matter how busy my daughter's wedding preparations were, she should have saved 86 billion won first. You must not miss the opportunity.
There are many things going on in this world while we live. However, there are people who put aside God's work because of these and other things in the world. In fact, even the things that are considered good and precious in the world are insignificant in the sight of God.
Please read Ecclesiastes seriously. You will see how vain the things of the world are. The conclusion of Ecclesiastes is Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Now that you have heard the end of things, fear God and keep his commandments. This is the duty of everyone.” you say
I hope that all of the members of the church will realize this fact clearly and live a wise life by making valuable efforts for the Lord and the church. Valuable labor is to prepare for a future reward for yourself, although it is a blessing to God, beneficial to others, and beneficial to the church.
In Philippians 3:13, 14, Paul said that God would give him a great reward if he worked hard, and he ran to receive the reward of his calling, which is the mark in front of him.
There is a great reward when we do the labor of life and the labor of love for the church. And I hope you believe that victory and blessing also exist on earth. Hallelujah!
<Example> There is an elder named Mary Kim of Brooklyn Vineyard Church in New York, USA. While in Korea, he worked as a professor at Ewha Womans University. I have been a church school teacher since I was 13, and at the age of 83, I am still loyal as a church school teacher. But I still don't know how healthy it is. I asked him the secret of longevity. His answer was church service, prayer life, regular exercise and sleep.
<A certain principal> died after 7 months of retirement. He had a hard time because he lost his motivation because he had no work, but he died after 7 months. Everyone! It's not good to spend time with nothing to do. Everyone! It's good to have work to do. Moreover, I want you to know how happy it is to be able to do the Lord's work in the church, which is directly related to the wonderful reward of the future.
Everyone, you should know this. The church knows that there is no stop until death.... In the church, if you want to, you can continue to sing, pray, and find work to do. So you can continue to do valuable labor and service. In particular, prayer and evangelism can be done until death. It is directly related to the image of heaven.
And even at home, the family members must work hard so that they can receive salvation and live by faith.
Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, made a touching will to her son Lincoln. “Dear Abe (Lincoln's nickname), I am so grateful to be giving you this old Bible that my parents read and I read it as a legacy. I am more than happy to hand over this one Bible to you than to give you 10 acres. If you read this and obey it, God will make you a great person.” “Be a Bible reader rather than trying to be rich or tall.” Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, passed away with this precious will.
Lincoln only attended elementary school for 9 months! He finally became president of the United States. Rather than gaining wisdom from the Word of God in the Bible, he overcame many intellectuals in the United States to become president. And during the Civil War, ministers were anxious, but as president, he looked very calm. Then the ministers asked him. “Sir, how are you at peace in the midst of war?” When asked by the ministers, Lincoln said, "If we are on God's side, we will win, so how can we not be at peace?" However, Lincoln's Union Army, which had an advantage in the war, was in trouble. Still, he was at peace. “Sir, we are having a hard time right now.” “Don’t worry. All things work together for good to those who love God.”
He always spoke the word of faith. believe it to be the case. It must have been the result of his parents' spiritual toil for him. Therefore, everyone, at home, we must put in a valuable effort to have faith in our children as well.
“God helps you. If you sin, our Lord will wash away your sins. Even if you leave God, God will not leave you. So you have no choice but to be good.”
We hope that your valuable labors will continue in the church and at home. As a result, I bless you with the history of many lives and wonderful blessings and rewards.