Title: What Loyalty?
Contents
(1 Corinthians 4:1-13) “Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God, who gives the growth. ).
The Bible speaks of loyalty in several places.
Nehemiah 9:8 "the Lord saw that Abraham's heart was faithful, and made a covenant with him", 1 Timothy 1:12 "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he counted me faithful, and entrusted me with his ministry", Hebrews 2 : 17 "That he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, that he might make atonement for the sins of the people."
Hebrews 3:2 “He was faithful to him who appointed him, Moses was faithful as a servant in all the house of God, and Christ was faithful as the son of his household.” Revelation 2:10 “Be faithful to death, and I will I will give you the crown of life.” And in verses 1 and 2 of the text, “Let men ought to consider us servants of Christ and entrusters of the mystery of God.
A 'worker' also depends on the worker. Depending on whose 'worker' it is, the quality of it changes.
Even the military driver cannot be the driver of the 1st car and the driver of the 2nd or 3rd cars.
In the text, the Apostle Paul is said to be a 'worker of Christ'. The worker entrusted the secret. It was said that the 'workers of Christ' were entrusted with the 'mystery of God'.
Right now, the National Assembly is scolding me to find that an important defense-related document is missing. The worker in charge of the secret must have a heavy mouth above all else. A lot of the time I keep quiet.
That is why, in the text, it is said, “What we must ask of those entrusted to us is fidelity.” Based on the words in verse 2 of today's text, I would like to think about 'what kind of loyalty?' in the following ways.
1. True loyalty.
The Greek word for loyalty is 'pistos', which means 'truth'. When the former Yonsei University president Park Dae-sun recommended the graduates, he said, "I believe in this young man, Jesus. But it's true."
It is because we cannot say that everything is 'truth' just because we believe in Jesus. In Luke 12:42, he asked, 'Who is a wise and sincere steward, who will take charge of his master's servants and distribute food in due season?' There is loyalty in the popular gangster world these days, there is loyalty in the thief society, there is a hierarchy in the barracks, and there is a clear hierarchical order in the iron cage prison.
A sincere hymn has spiritual emotion, a sincere prayer has an answer, a sincere sermon has a spiritual influence, and a spiritual offering is acceptable.
2. Loyalty in small things.
In Luke 16:10, Jesus said, "He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much, and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much." We often neglect things that are small things.
For example, there are many people who think that it is very trivial to teach three or four children in kindergarten at a church school or to hold a local worship service for two or three members of the church.
On the other hand, it is small things such as attending the worship service late, not attending church meetings, men and women evangelism meetings, and monthly meetings, but if these things accumulate and accumulate, you will eventually become abandoned even after believing in Jesus.
I think it was when I was in the 3rd grade of elementary school when I was young, but my homeroom teacher ordered me an errand, and I couldn't be happier. I fell while running in a hurry and had a slight wound on my knee, but it didn't seem to hurt. Even if I ran errands like that 10 times, I felt good.
A few days ago, at a church revival meeting, some gangsters from the neighborhood attended and sat in the back, and when a guy, the boss, wanted to leave, they said 'Wow-' and left at once and came in at once and made a fuss, blurring the atmosphere of the worship service. Please take good care of it until the end.”
It is said that the boss put the hat on his lap and did his best to keep it from anyone who touched it. If you are faithful in small things, first of all, your heart overflows with joy. And he will repay you with great things.
3. Unchanging loyalty.
True loyalty means unchanging loyalty. David's servant Shimei joined Absalom's side when Absalom rebelled, but after Absalom's death, he returned to David.
That is why Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Ephesians 6:24 also says, “Grace be to all who have an abiding love for our Lord Jesus Christ.”
He demands loyalty 'constantly', 'constantly', 'constantly' and 'continuously', whether at the beginning or the end of time. At first, Judas Iscariot was also very loyal, so he would have entrusted him with the money transfer, but he was not loyal until later, and eventually became a traitor. Unchanging loyalty requires 'patience'.
When we can't stand it any longer and when we get to the point where we feel like we're about to burst, if we completely rely on the Lord, saying, "This is the moment when the devil makes his last move, let's get over this hurdle." Then the devil will overthrow and we will win together with the Lord. will do
Again, obviously the devil has no patience.
4. It is being faithful with what you have received from God.
In fact, what do we have that we do not receive from God? All of our health, wealth, honor, time, gifts, and positions we have received from God.
Therefore, it is to be faithful with the health you have already received. It means to be faithful with the material you have already received. It means to be faithful with the talents and gifts you have already received.
But many people forget this and complain about it. "Like anyone else, if I have enough money, I'll give as much as I want to work." "Like anyone else, I'll serve as long as I'm healthy." do.
But the correct attitude of a Christian worker is to be faithful with what he has already received. Since it is a free gift, everything must be the grace of God.
Abandon covetousness and do your best, give up greed and do your best, give up complaining and put all your heart into it. Even if you can't fight a little, you forgive quickly. Let's be faithful even though our advancement is a little slow. Even if you can't lie, tell the truth.
(1994. 1. 16)