Seeing parts through the title as a whole
Contents
Title: Looking at the Part through the Whole (Phil. 6)
(Sunday service on June 3, 2007, text: Philippians 1:12-14)
No matter where I live, I like to climb the highest mountain. Because when you stand on the top of the highest mountain in the area, you can see the whole area at a glance. When I was working as an evangelist in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, I often climbed Mt. Gyeongun. Also, when I was in Seoul, I climbed Mt. Gwanak. And, after setting up in Suwon these days, I climb Mt. Gwanggyo.
The biggest mistake we make when judging something is that we judge the whole by the parts. There were blind people. One day they met an elephant. So I started to touch the elephant on my own. And then he started to argue for himself. “Elephants look like poles”, “No, elephants look like ropes”, “No, elephants look like water lakes”
When can you make the best judgment? It is to see the part through the whole. You don't make a mistake by seeing the whole first and then the next part. Sometimes I go to a place with just an address. Then, there is always something to do first. It either searches through an internet map, or checks the place with a traffic atlas. So let's see the whole thing first and then we'll go. That way, you can arrive at the correct destination, and you can judge the parts that you continue to pass through.
Ladies and gentlemen, what does ‘standing at the top and looking at the whole’ mean to Christians? Today, the Apostle Paul saw it as “the progress of the gospel” and “the preaching of the gospel.”
Verse 12, “I want you to know, brethren, that what happened to me has made progress in the gospel.”
For Paul, the greatest concern was ‘the progress of the gospel’ and ‘the spread of the gospel’. He interpreted and looked at every given event from this point of view.
If so, what is the appearance of 'looking at the parts through the whole' that can be found through today's text?
First, the interpretation of suffering.
As we go through life, we often encounter difficulties. So, some have said that life is a series of hardships. You cannot think of life without ignoring the problems of hardship. That is why the interpretation of suffering is very important. Depending on what you see through suffering, that life can be happy or unhappy.
In this conversation, the Buddha tells Phraya: “When I was a child, I was filled with pity when I saw the tragic sights. So now I can understand Praya's pain. Phraya, you may not realize, but your life is all the fruit of the seeds you sow. You were in debt from birth, and you can't get out of debt even when you die. You were born with a half full cup. So, you have to fill the other half in the future. For every word and deed has a price... Phraya, your current moral bankruptcy is due to the way you have lived your life. Obviously this is holding you accountable. You've got another debt on your back. Depending on your choice, you can reduce or pay off that debt. This is called karma (karma). The karma you've built up in your life and your own karma have combined to become a link that weighs you down... But, there's hope. You will live another life, so you can find and use all your actions in the next life just like depositing a deposit in a bank account and then finding it... So, build up good deeds to offset your bad deeds. this is my only hope If you purify your mind, you will be able to control your impure actions and thoughts.”
Buddhism says that all suffering that a human suffers from is the result of his life. That is why he says that in order to get out of it, we must accumulate many good deeds today. Because that way you can live a little better life in the next life.
Paul was a man who suffered the greatest sufferings of all. Paul is currently in prison. 1 year in Jerusalem, 2 years in Rome. He has been living in prison for three years now. At that time, the prison was an underground cave, so it was humid and full of germs. They don't give you proper food. His life was a series of starvation, beatings, abuse, and imprisonment. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, he confesses his suffering as follows. “I was beaten five times by the Jews with a rod less than one forty; three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a day and a night in the depths; I traveled many times in danger from rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from my own people, and strangers. In dangers in the city, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers among false brethren, and toil and toil, many times sleepless, hungry, thirsty, often hungry, cold and naked.”
In the Bible, there are about three reasons for suffering. These are the sufferings suffered because of iniquity, the sufferings of being ambiguous, and the sufferings of doing good. Paul does not think that the suffering he is experiencing today is due to the sins he has committed in the past. Paul had a clear conviction that the suffering he was experiencing now was that he suffered for doing good. That's not all. We are also interpreting the suffering we are experiencing in a new dimension. Look again at Paul's confession. Philippians 1:12-14 (Text)
Paul rejoices that “what happened to him” became “the progress of the gospel.” They say that they are suffering because of their sins and do not suffer from despair or guilt. Moreover, Paul focuses on the consequences of suffering rather than the pain itself. It means that you are free from the causes of suffering and overcome the pain of suffering.
Paul preached the gospel to the bodyguards who were guarding him in the Roman prison. I had the opportunity to share the gospel with many people by meeting them who change every day. This later played a very decisive role in the evangelization of Rome.
Also, when the brothers heard the news that Paul was in prison and suffering with him, they began to preach the gospel more boldly. Therefore, the gospel will be spread more powerfully. Because of this fact, Paul rejoices today. Paul interpreted his sufferings in the big picture of the progress of the gospel and the spread of the gospel. So I could be happy.
What is the happiest news for everyone? That is Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to bear the sins of mankind and rose again on the third day for our new life. To tell Jesus Christ Him, to make them believe in Him, and to make them like Him. So to walk with him, to find joy and hope because of him, and to make him live as the goal of life. This was the most important thing for Paul, the biggest picture, the whole.