Title: What to look for first
Contents
What did our Lord teach us on these issues? Let's listen to the teachings of the Lord that we use nature as our textbook in the classroom called Nature. the Lord
the eagle soaring high
Those sparrows flying low in swarms,
That reed that blows even in the weak wind
The beautifully made-up lily
Abundant grape berries as if hugging each other
Those lush fig leaves
By looking at it, he finds the will of God in it and enlightens us.
First, the Lord reminds us that there is the value of the original (root) to be pursued first in life and the value of the branch (branch) to be realized later. Both life and food are necessary, but the value of food is for the value of life. Considering the relationship between the body and clothes, it is clear that a person who is a human being wears clothes for the body. A foolish man desires clothes more than his body, food more than his life. It is this greed that causes anxiety and worry. The Lord has admonished us not to have these same concerns. The Lord goes one step further and reminds us that when we cling to the branches more than the roots, we fall into something less than nature. Because birds and flowers don't care what they eat or wear. In other words, I am not concerned at the branch level. So what's the escape from stupidity like this?
The Lord revealed that the first value that human beings should seek is the righteousness of God. This is the second lesson you will receive. He emphasized that we should seek the righteousness of God first, then the problems of life and body, and then pay attention to the problems of clothes and food. So, what is God's righteousness? It is the highest value that God first requires of us. In a nutshell, it is about achieving justice and peace through love, and it is a life of practicing faith and hope based on love.
Third, the Lord gives us a new realization of the efficacy of love. Justice without love is the definition of the scales of the Roman goddess. It's a court of law. It is a bloody definition of 'this is the tooth, the eye is the eye'. But justice based on love is the power to distribute a certain share more generously, despite the one who broke my teeth. It is precisely because of this power that justice of love can stop the vicious cycle of violence. It also breeds peace. Therefore, the definition of love is not the definition of the scales, but the definition of the cross. God's righteousness will blossom in full bloom on the cross.
The efficacy of love is also shown in faith and hope. You don't love because you believe. You can also trust 敵. But if you love someone, you cannot learn without trusting them. You can't help but hope for your loved ones. Here the righteousness of God is revealed.
Fourth, nature is protected under God's control where God's righteousness is realized. Because God feeds and clothes the birds, the grasses, and the flowers like children. Nature is also a child of God. He even takes care of the wild grass that is there today and enters the furnace tomorrow. But how can we humans abuse nature?
God not only protects nature, but also places nature on a higher level than human greed by saying that lilies are more beautiful than King Solomon, who was taken prisoner of clothing, food, and power. Here comes the meaning of saving the environment.
Finally, we must not forget that under God's control, even metaphysical needs can be satisfied. The Lord has never turned away from the hunger and needy people's need for survival. However, he taught that such desires will follow if you first dedicate yourself to the righteousness of God. Therefore, Christians must first seek the kingdom of God and its righteousness. Then you will add more metaphysical needs.
The problem is that the Korean churches place too much emphasis on the belief in blessings (祈福信仰) and mislead them to seek the value of 末 (branch) first. Interest in 末 inevitably turns into useless concern. This kind of concern makes us do it today and tomorrow as well. But the Lord clearly taught this.
Seeking God's righteousness first is a healthy concern, so it is never anxieties or worries. The painstaking efforts to achieve love, justice and peace must continue today and tomorrow. But worrying and worrying about my body, my life, my clothes, my food, and my house alone is worrying and worrying. The Lord has reminded us not to do the same foolish thing to do tomorrow with the same worries.
Rather than worrying only about our own interests tomorrow, we should be more zealous in pursuing God's righteousness today and tomorrow. When we do this, we humans, nature, society, and history will all become healthy and peacefully bright.