Title Philippians 4:4-8
It is often said that there are three kinds of people among people. The first is a person who must exist, the second is a person who is enough even if there is none, and the third is a person who should not be. It is important to think for a moment to which of the three we each fall. Of course, no one would disagree that it is desirable to belong to the first class, and at least not to the third. When Jesus said, “You are the salt of the world” and “You are the light of the world,” these words must be taken as commands that we must be in this world. We shouldn't be who we are, even if we don't, and it's even worse that we shouldn't be.
Then, what is the standard to differentiate between those who must be and those who are not enough and those who are not? It could be said to be beneficial, as are the properties of salt and light. That is, whether a person's existence is beneficial to others or to society as a whole. Another way to express it is to say, “Do you make others happy or not?”
Today's text gives a very appropriate answer to the question of how we can make others happy. First, in verse 4, “Rejoice in the Lord always, I say again, rejoice. A person who is always in joy can make others happy. A person who is always frowning and always complaining and complaining when he opens his mouth cannot make others happy. Also, you can make people happy when the reason for your joy is clear and you are not selfish. If you lose the rest of your money and are happy that you made a lot of money by yourself, can that joy really make others happy? Our joy should always be grounded in the Lord. Even though we are in the same difficult situation as others, or even more difficult, those who always rejoice because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and our gratitude for His grace can make others happy. That's why "rejoice in the Lord always".
Verse 5 says, “Let your generosity be made known to all.” The original word translated "tolerance" here is one of the most difficult words for scholars to translate in the entire New Testament. It refers to "justice and something better than justice." Tolerance can be mistaken for generosity at the expense of justice. But tolerance here refers to the wisdom and power that does not sacrifice justice and makes it not sacrifice or hurt anyone. How happy would you be if you could show forgiveness and love without giving up on justice? This is hard work, but it is required of us Christians. Since it is a must-have for all Christians, he said, "Let your generosity be made known to all."
Verse 6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything.” A person who is not concerned reassures and makes others happy. A person who brings up all sorts of worries and concerns that he doesn't always ask when he meets them makes others tired, depressed, and irritable. Even if you don't, it's a difficult world to live in, but if you have to listen to other people's concerns, your desire to be happy will subside. However, even in the face of things or situations to be concerned about, a person who is immature and easygoing also makes others uneasy and thus makes them unhappy. It is not because we have nothing to worry about, nor because we are immature, but because we cast all our worries on God. That is why the Apostle Paul said, "Do not be anxious about anything" and then "In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." A person who is free from worries can make others happy with a prayer that reveals everything to God and asks him to solve it.
However, in verse 6, we are told to pray, “with thanksgiving.” Praying with thanksgiving means firstly to pray with thanksgiving for being able to trust and entrust to God and to know everything, and secondly to pray with the assurance that God will hear everything you pray and ask for. When we pray like that, we can enjoy amazing peace of mind. Verse 7 says this: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Such peace of mind and thoughts is what has the power to make others happy.
Verse 8 gives us several secrets at once to make others happy: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are godly, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are praiseworthy. And if there is any virtue, if there is any praise, think of these things.” That is, whatever is true, what is godly, what is right, what is pure, what is lovable, what is praiseworthy, what is virtuous, what is praiseworthy, think hard and do it.
First of all, "anything is true," which means being faithful and therefore trustworthy. How happy does it make us to know and have someone who is faithful and trustworthy in everything we do?
The word translated "reverent" from the phrase "reverent in all things" is a word for respectable, dignified, worthy, and noble seriousness. A man who is always admirable, dignified, noble, and serious about everything, makes us happy just to look at it.
“Anything is right” to “right” means doing your part in your relationships with people. A person who strives to have a right relationship with God and does his or her duty in all relationships with people cannot help but make others happy.
“Everything is clean”, which means pure here. It is pure enough to allow access to God and reflect the image of God, and is pure enough to be used by God. Finding someone who is flawless and innocent can be happiness in itself.
And "anything is worthy of love." It refers to the heart and being a person who can win the hearts of others. A person who can't help falling in love just by looking at him really makes everyone happy just looking at him.
He also said, "Anything worthy of praise." A person who does everything he does to earn a good reputation also makes people happy.
And again, “whatever virtue there may be,” he said, referring to all kinds of excellence and praiseworthy things.
All the members of Saemoonan Church, who set the church's motto this year, "Let's act like children of light," said, "Just because there is someone like you, this world is a world worth living in." "Just because there is a church like Saemoonan Church, Also, our society still has hope.” We need to create a day where the entire Saemoonan Church is happy just by having each of us inside, and Korea is happy just by having Saemoonan Church outside. So, how much glory to God and reward to us would one day be if the word "Saemoonan" appears in the Korean dictionary and the word "make others happy" appears as one of its meanings? It will be a proof to our future generations that the saints in Saemoonan today lived and acted like children of light in this world. "People who make others happy", I hope this is not a midday dream, but a goal of our life in 2002 and a code of practice of our faith.