Even Just One Title (March 30)
Content span id="writeContents">◆ Main text: Luke 10:38-42
Yesterday we had a wedding ceremony for our butler Myung-soo Ahn's son. Her husband died of tuberculosis 20 years ago, and she had a very difficult life raising three brothers by herself. Occasionally he was drunk and drank alcohol. There were times when I had to get the drink because of the sin of living next door. Why did I throw the wash water on my face when I was angry... As I remembered each day during the wedding ceremony yesterday, I had a new feeling.
One day, he suddenly came to church and became a deacon. Even in the difficult and difficult life, he did not leave the church and overcame it well by living a Christian life. There were many tears and a difficult life, but I raised my sons well. Yesterday, I watched the deacon happy as he married his son at church. Although I was still a little hard on my body, I had the thought that I should officiate as much as I did for this wedding, and I did it even though it was hard to keep that promise.
I asked my husband.
“What made you choose that girl?”
I answered in just one word.
“I like it.”
“What do you like?”
"I do not know. It’s just comfortable.”
Well, my mother is a little uncomfortable.
“I feel at ease.”
"okay. A really good choice.”
It is very precious to say that you feel comfortable in meeting people. I met a lot of people and parted ways. Sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it. Among so many meetings, the most valuable meeting is to feel comfortable with each other. I am comfortable and you are comfortable...
“I’m comfortable, but are you uncomfortable?” Isn't that right?
“You’re comfortable, so why am I uncomfortable?” neither is this.
“I am comfortable and you are comfortable…”
I hope this sermon is comfortable for me as well as for those who listen to it.
When Jesus came to Martha and Mary's family today, something special happened. Her sister Martha was very dear to Jesus. Loved it. “How am I supposed to treat such a precious person?” My heart was busy. They work hard to set things up well and treat Jesus with good food. But Mary, her sister, does not help her and only listens to Jesus. I was angry. ‘Why is Maria doing this when she should treat the precious person who came to our house well?’
complained to Jesus.
“Jesus, I am very busy right now. Talk to Maria so she can help me.”
Then Jesus said so.
“It’s really nice to see Mary listening to my words more than her busy heart and how you are trying to treat me. I don’t know anything else, but that alone makes me so happy.”
“Discern and know what is the perfect will of God.”
You have to please God. It's not good to treat him with my joy.
When I came out of the hospital, I had no appetite, so someone said, “Pastor, I ate yesterday's food and it was so delicious that I thought of you. That's why I'm trying to treat the pastor." I was looking forward to it. If I had to say what he ate so deliciously, it was radish and radish stew. That's what I hate the most. They bring radish soup or steamed radish and tell them to eat it and get stronger, but I feel like I'm going to vomit while eating it. It might be delicious for him, but not for me. He said it's an expression of love, but I don't like the food. If you do something, the focus is wrong. There are many times in our lives when we do such ridiculous things.
If I say that I really love the person I cherish, the person I love, and I really love Jesus, I have to do things that please Jesus. Through these words that Jesus gave us today, we need to know what Jesus is most pleased with. I'm busy with church work, and when I'm busy, I'm the only one who works like this and you guys complain about what you're doing... That's not a good thing. The most important thing in the life of faith is the Word. Everyone, if the Word is alive, you have no choice but to be thankful. Complaints follow with service in which the Word is not alive.
The biggest enemy in our religious life is what we do, what we do best, and what others think we are inferior to. I'm sorry, but even if you can't serve, please do your best to listen to the Word on Sunday. This is what pleases Jesus. Raise your hands and raise your hands when you say Amen... But those who can't raise their hands are really... Hearing the word, the word becomes grace, and doing it according to the word, this is what pleases Jesus. .
While reading the book, I saw something interesting that someone made up. Jesus was thinking about who he would make his disciples from among the many people, and he held a prayer meeting to choose a disciple. When we held a prayer meeting, people from all over the world gathered to pray, and among them, Koreans said the most. Well, all night prayers, fasting prayers... There was a lot of scolding, but our church must have entered the rankings. In less than 30 minutes, they say they are passionate about prayer. Seeing him praying, Jesus said that. “You have the form of prayer, but prayer has no vitality.” I pray hard, but there is no life force. Disappointed.
The second worship service was held. Worship is open and noisy. Worship is grand and glamorous, but it is not a worship service that makes Jesus happy and glorifies God. You were disappointed again. Finally, when we held an educational competition, a program with various ideas was held, but that was not the case.
Disappointed, I went to the beach and watched the ignorant fishermen carefully trim their nets to catch a fish, stare at them, and put all their heart into it.
"okay. That's it. It would be like that You can only believe in that appearance.”
So, it is a funny story that Jesus saw only one thing and chose fishermen to make disciples of Jesus.
What is the center of this story?
“Do at least one thing well.”
The religious life is not busy. Rather than complaining about this and that, the faith to be able to do just one thing well and be thankful is what pleases Jesus.
I met an elementary school classmate yesterday and heard an interesting story. It's been a long time since you graduated from elementary school, right?
“Hey, what happened to the kids who studied well back then?”
“Their placenta either died or failed. There was nothing to see. But the kids who couldn’t study and the kids who were sloppy all did well.”
"okay?"
You didn't get a good response, but when I talked about this during the 2nd service, the children really liked it. Our church has a high chance of success.
In elementary school, I didn't study very well, but I had a friend who was very good at kicking the ball. I didn't do anything and just kicked the ball well. So I wondered, "How's he?" Then he said, “I became the secretary general of the sports club.”
"no. Really?"
"Huh. He kicked the ball well.”
I couldn't study, but I did one thing well and I succeeded.
I saw the students today.
“I can’t study. But do one thing better than others. This is the age of experts, not multi-talented people. Do one thing well. Only one thing…”
So is the church. All you have to do in your life of faith is to do only one thing well. Don't be busy with various things, even just one thing... That's what makes Jesus happy.
Do not live a life of faith that complains while doing various things. Your life of faith should be very simple. You have to live by the word. You need to know what is pleasing to God. What pleases God... We must learn to get rid of the foolishness of thinking, “What pleases me is what pleases you.” The same goes for couples. “I’m happy, but why aren’t you happy?” This is the beginning of a couple fight. “Yeah, I have to do what makes you happy.” I wish my family would say an amen... In this case, I don't say an amen. right? Then nod your head.
What makes me happy is not my satisfaction, but love, you have to learn to be considerate of the other person. What makes that person happy is what matters. Who is the center of your religious life? I'm not the center. Jesus is centered. I need to know what Jesus is pleased with and participate in that joy of Jesus. She was busy with many things, but Martha was rebuked. But Mary was praised for being absorbed in one thing to listen to. If possible, please lead a life of faith that is praised a little. The life of faith must be successful, and the life of faith must be simple yet pleasing to God.
Let's please God. Let my neighbours please. Let my neighbors be comfortable. I'm comfortable and you are comfortable... Well, let's say hello. It's a bit embarrassing to say hello in the morning, but it's okay since I've been wearing makeup well during the day. Let's hold people's hands next to us and confess together.
“I am comfortable and you are comfortable…”
We will pray together.
“Thank you, Father God, today, like Martha and Mary, I see the love between two people. Just as you praised Mary, who loved Jesus centeredly rather than Martha, who loved her with self-centeredness, help us to live with Jesus-centered love, not my-centered love. As people of faith, help us to live our lives that can make others comfortable. I earnestly pray in the name of Jesus. Amen."