Title People with you/(Colossians 4:7-11)
Contents
When evaluating people in our country, a lot of people say is "Korean people don't get along well".
However, it must have been that our nation was not like that from the beginning, but changed as the industry developed and became that way.
Foreigners hate it, but they put a bowl of stew in the middle of the table and put a spoon in their mouth and eat it. Some even stir it around with the spoon. However, this hansotbap culture speaks volumes about the communal characteristics of our people. It is Western style that the stage and the audience are separated by a distance. We are a "yard play" where everyone breathes together in the yard. Even though the West uses the word “I” and uses the word “we” a lot, our people have never been a nation with a weak sense of community.
Our Christian community is made up of a spirit of community. When this spirit of living together is disturbed and broken, the church does not become a light to the world, but rather harms and confuses it. Also, pseudo-religion arose and heretical activities// came like poisonous mushrooms when the church was unable to fulfill its function, role, and mission as it stood properly.
The early church was really weak in that number. But they changed the world back then. It wasn't through their ability to speak a different dialect, or their great knowledge of the Bible, or any position or battle, but the spirit of community that changed the world. Of course, changing the world does not mean that the entire world has become believers in Jesus Christ. It is said that once the gospel was preached to the people of the world, when they heard the gospel, even if they did not believe in Jesus, their culture and way of life were changed by the Christian spirit.
A famous German economist named Max Weber developed the following theory: Without the spirit of Christianity, modern capitalism would have become a huge monster. Capitalism is the spirit of living for one's own profit based on the competition for survival. But thanks to the control and adjustment of this capitalism by the Christian spirit, it was able to develop well for the better. So, it was said that the West was able to develop society and the community into democracy compared to the East, which had been developed by other religions or ideologies.
If you meditate on what Paul says about his co-workers in the text, you can learn how to restore this spirit of community.
First, we learn that we need to learn to serve together. The representative person who showed this aspect is the man named Tychicus in verse 7. However, there is nothing in the Bible that says that Tychicus preached a great sermon or performed miracles. In other words, I am an ordinary believer. But in verse 7 Paul says this about Tychicus: “Tychicus will make known to you all my circumstances, a beloved brother, a faithful servant, and a fellow servant in the Lord.”
Tychicus was tasked with informing the church of the Colossians about Paul's condition in a Roman prison. Tychicus was sent to the Church of Colossae, where heresy has entered and is in danger of being divided. Tychicus delivered the earnest letter Paul wrote while in Roman prison to the church in Ephesus as well as Colossae. Thus, we can see that Tychicus was Paul's trusted messenger. “Are you just running Paul’s errands?” someone may have said the scratching of Tychicus. But what if Tychicus had not had a reliable and sincere messenger?
When the church in Ephesus or Colossae was in trouble and lost its way, we received appropriate comfort, encouragement, and instruction from Paul.
It would not have been possible to overcome difficulties easily. Small things that are difficult, annoying, and insignificant to others
As a result, it has become truly precious and precious in the sight of God. This is what serving is.
People in our country seem to have a particular inferiority complex about small things because they live in a small country. So I like the big ones. In foreign countries, it is a mid-size car, but we call it a large car. From the name of Korea, it is Korea. The highest political person is called the president, and the best schools and hagwons are universities and graduate schools. Officials going abroad are ambassadors. Most street names are daero (Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-daero), and all bridges are called “Daegyo”. There may be many causes among the problems that our society is experiencing, but the most important of them will be sincerity and sincerity in small things. The kingdom of God will be expanded and built up by those who are faithful in small things.
Next, we learn that we suffered together.
In verse 10, we see a man who suffered with Paul, "Aristus". There is no record that this person also did any great or revealing work. However, in the book of Acts, when Paul was in trouble, he was always by his side. Aristarchus was with him when he was stoned by the mob in Ephesus and his life was at risk, while Paul was a prisoner and was taken to Rome, and on the way he met a storm called Euraculo and wandered around the sea for 14 days. together (chapters 19 and 27). And in today's text, we are with Paul, who is still in prison. Paul introduces such an Aristarchus as "Archchus the prisoner with me." Of course, Aristarchus was not imprisoned with Paul. However, he lived a life of caring for and helping Paul every day, just like he himself was imprisoned.
Listen to the testimony Paul gives in verse 11.
"These are my comfort" What does this mean?
those who suffer together,
This was the power of the early church and the power of Paul.
A letter from a man named Pliny, governor of Bitunira, a region in Asia Minor, to 'Trian', the Roman emperor at that time, is still preserved today. The emperor seems to have given him a special order to investigate the movements of Christians.
In the tomb of Dongguk underground, where the Christians of the early church hid, an inscription was found that read, "We experience heaven by loving each other." Even in an underground cemetery where sunlight cannot be seen, we experienced heaven by loving each other. When there are loving people who share suffering, the spirit of community will be restored.
You will learn that you have worked together.
In verse 11, a man named Justus appears. It is not easy for people with different personalities and backgrounds and abilities to work together with one mind. However, in verse 11, the secret to overcoming this difficulty and working together is found.
“Working together for the kingdom of God,” he said. We can work together if we give our attention, strength, and everything for the kingdom of God. However, if I work for my self-esteem, my honor, or my personal feelings and emotions, I cannot become a co-worker.
We say no, but if we look closely and deeply, we are really interested in our own kingdom, not the kingdom of God in many parts. The impact the church has on the world will be great if we are truly devoted to the expansion of God's kingdom beyond our individuality and personality.
This was when the famous composer Haydn's oratorio came to England to be performed for the first time. After the performance, the audience applauded the conductor and choir. In return for the cheers of the audience, the conductor suddenly pointed to one side of the second floor. Everyone's eyes turned to it. It was there that Haydn was sitting. "I just played Mr. Haydn's song," the conductor shouted. "All the glory goes to Mr. Haydn." Then the audience stood up in unison, looked at Haydn, and applauded.
Haydn rose from his seat and made a strange gesture to the applauding crowd, which for a while became fashionable in the Church of England. They first raised their hands toward the sky, and then they reached out toward the choir and the conductor. It was this message. "God must be glorified. And you choir did this. Not me. God and you did it." Isn't this the spirit of the cross?
The cross is self-denial and self-denial. We have shared the beautiful reason why the early church community, that small community, was able to change the world. I pray that our Lord will guide you as well as you as we move toward this community.