(Essay) How will you live 24 hours a day?

In Luke 19, we read Jesus' parable of the ten minas.

A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. "Put this money to work," he said, "until I come back."

The first one put one mina to work and made ten more. Likewise, the second earned five more. 

But another servant kept the money laid away in a piece of cloth. He did nothing. After coming back, the master was disappointed and called him a wicked servant.

What does this mina parable mean to us? If one mina for each servant is something that we all have equally, I think it could be 24 hours of a day.

Anyone receives 24 hours a day. There is no exception to that.

When starting a day, we all stand at the same start line. As soon as the signal rings, we run off into 24 hours of a day, no matter who we are.

If so, what will bring us five, ten more minas or bad names of 'you wicked servant!'

In my opinion, the parable is about relationships, not about diligence. The problem of the wicked servant was not laziness. His trouble came from a misunderstanding. 

The servant was afraid of the master. He thought the master was a hard man, taking out what he did not put in and reaping what he did not sow.

I presume he was possibly in a bad relationship with the master. His knowledge of him was wrong and distorted.

We could also make the same mistake. As we know, the master in the parable is indicating Jesus. 

How's my relationship with Jesus? Whether or not we are wicked servants depend on the answer.

God is omnipotent and can do everything by himself. At this point, the third servant was right. 

But the important thing we need to remember is, nevertheless, God doesn't work that way typically.

He likes to do his work through our hands. That's about relationships. God wants to grow up mutual intimacy through the mandate.

People work hard every day. Can we guess how many of them work in an intimate relationship with God?

If anyone works only for himself, he is self-centered. The motive is wicked before God. 

How about me? I am a bus driver. What brings me to the street every single day? If I drive for the glory of God, God will surely provide me with all necessaries.  

Am I focusing on Jesus at all times? What is Jesus to me? Looking back on the past days, I ask myself. 

If I can say that he is everything to me, Jesus will call me "you faithful servant!"

(Essay) The very moment we were called Christians

Acts 11:20-21 tells us a very touching story. It’s about the history of the name of Christians.

Following Stephen’s death, there was persecution against Jesus’ disciples. They left Jerusalem for as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch.

Even though they escaped to other cities, the disciples were not silent, sharing the Gospel. At first, they spread the Words only among Jews. But some of them, from Cyprus and Cyrene, also began to speak to Greeks.

This remarkable challenge was made in Antioch. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. (Acts 11:21) How could this occur?

We need to remember the Cornelius case in Acts 10. Let me make a long story short.

Cornelius was a Roman centurion. Nevertheless, the apostle Peter preached to Cornelius and his family members. The Holy Spirit came on them. God accepted them as Jesus’ disciples. 

But after that, Peter had to explain his action to church leaders in Jerusalem. They criticized Peter, saying, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” (Acts 11:3)

Peter tried to persuade them and resulted in success. They had no further objections and praised God.

The issue of spreading the Gospel to Gentile was not easy for both Peter and Jerusalem church leaders. By the way, some anonymous disciples made it in Antioch. They must have been full of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit led them to speak to Greeks.

Hearing the news, the Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to Antioch. Why Barnabas? Presumably, because Barnabas was from Cyprus, where some of the Antioch people were from. They might have already known each other. Barnabas must have been the best person to serve as a bridge between Jerusalem and Antioch. 

Barnabas brought Paul from Tarsus to Antioch. Both taught there a whole year, and the disciples were first called Christians. (Acts11:26)

Think about Paul. This ministry was a remarkable opportunity for Paul. Jesus called Paul as the apostle for Gentiles, but Paul hadn’t had a chance to do his role until then. His mission could begin from the time.

Isn’t it marvelous? It was only some anonymous disciples. They opened the door of mission towards Gentiles. Through their seed minister, Paul could officially become a church minister. Afterwards, the Antioch church sent Paul and Barnabas as missionaries.

Likewise, the unknown believers were kernels of wheat, which died and produced many seeds. (John 12:24) Thanks to their commitment, we are now called Christians.

We got a worldly saying, “When tigers die, they leave their leathers behind. When people die, they leave their names behind.”

But the saying of the Bible is different. 1Kings 19:18 tells us the delight of God for seven thousand people leaving no names behind.

God was so proud to tell Elijah, “I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

Are we are not as famous as Elijah or Paul? We don’t have to care about that. If God is proud of us, is the grace not sufficient?    

Let us not worry about our names left behind us. Even if all people but God forget our names, God alone is more than enough. For, God is everything.

(Bus Episode) Learning the Cross on the road

The Cross of Jesus is totally on the other side of the worldly-wise lifestyle. Losing is not the end. It’s the entrance to the real victory instead.

When Jesus died on the Cross, everyone would have thought he was defeated. But he made a victory, rising back three days later.

A few days ago, I got trouble with another bus driver at a bus stop in the city. It was a hectic time. Every driver was struggling to secure a parking place to get passengers aboard at a bus stop.

I was managing to park there, but the driver swore at me. He seemed to think he had lost his parking place because of me.

But, I didn’t do wrong. I just moved faster than the driver. I felt his attitude was rude and absurd. I also yelled against him, of course, it was not swearing. I believed my response was righteous anger.

But, shortly after, one verse of the Scriptures came into my mind. "Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires."(James 1:20)

I came to realize something had gone wrong with me. Regret flooded in my mind. Why did I not give way to him? Why did I lose my temper? 

I learned I had to change my way of living, looking up the Cross. On the Cross, Jesus didn't struggle to defeat others. He won by losing. 

Life is not building up my success above others' failures. 1Corinthians 10:24 says, "Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others."

I need to grow the give-way character while driving on the road. Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Act 20:35)

Even if somebody swears at me, I'd rather not react at all. When a bus passenger makes a complaint to me, just saying "I am sorry," is very enough instead of arguing. Suppose another driver is trying to get into my lane, I need to be willing to accept it.

Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."(Luke 9:23)
To take up my cross, I need to keep practicing the life of losing rather than winning. The life of the Cross starts from the moment to decide to lose.

(Book Review) “A little Princess” by Frances Hodgson Burnett

1. Introduction

A Little Princess was published in 1888 by Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett, a British-born American novelist.

A Little Princess, Little Lord Fauntleroy, and The Secret Garden are the three children’s novels of Burnett

This novel gives readers an important question regarding our life. How will we live regardless of whether we are either rich or poor? Do we have unchanging love and kindness in any circumstances?

Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever! Let us pray that his everlasting character may become ours.

2. Summary 

Sara Crewe is the leading role of this novel. Captain Ralph Crewe, Sara’s father, raised Sara by himself in India since his French wife had died.

Ralph started a new business to mine diamonds with his friend, where he invested all his money. Ralph sent his daughter Sara to London to study. Sara went to a strict boarding school run by Miss Minchin, a greedy woman.

Sara was kind to everyone. People there liked her. There was a maid named Becky in Minchin school. All but Sara looked down upon her. Sara and Becky became bosom friends.

One day, Mincin held a big birthday party for Sara. During the party, Mincin heard that Sara’s father had died and was bankrupt.

She immediately stopped the birthday party, threw the orphan Sara out into the attic, and treated her like a maid. Sara had to experience hardships. Sarah was still kind even to mice in the attic.

A man named Carrisford moved into the next door to the school. He had been a close friend and a business partner of Sara’s father, Captain Ralph Crew.

Carrisford had suggested Ralph would invest in a diamond mine. But, Carrisford ran away when the business had failed. He was so sorry to hear that Ralph had died because of him.

He restarted his business and made a big fortune. He was looking for his friend’s daughter, that is, Sara.

Carrisford had an Indian servant named Ram Dass. One day the servant’s monkey went into Sara’s attic. The occasion brought Ram Dass to know Sara.

Ram Dass served food for Sara, even decorated her room. Thanks to the fellowship between Ram Dass and Sara, Carrisford finally learned that Sara was the girl he was longing to find. 

Sara took over her father’s immense inheritance. Sara left Minchin School with Becky. They lived happy lives together.

3. ‎Lessons

(1) What kind of person am I?

Sara did not lose her kindness, even when she fell into trouble. Think about the reason Sara met up with Carrisford. It was from her kindness for the monkey of Ram Dass, the servant of Carrisford.

But, Minchin was the opposite. She got a different attitude, depending on whether someone was rich or poor.

Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

It means that our kindness should be not depending on who they are. If we are kind only for our profit like a merchant, we cannot say the kindness is our nature. 

Do not lose my goodness, even if it gives me losses. That’s my first prayer from A Little Princess. 

(2) Isn’t your church like Minchin school? 

We hear about some churches operating like Minchin school. They welcome the rich and look down on the poor. Their priority seems to be money, not the Gospel.

Read Mark 12:41-44. It is about a poor widow’s offering. Jesus said, “This poor widow has given more than all the others...she has given everything she had to live on.”

Sara’s kindness reminds me of the poor widow. Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”(Luke 6:20)

If churches stay away from the poor, they will be staying away from Jesus. Let’s pray for our hearts to be open towards the poor. May my heart be not the heart of Minchin, but the heart of the Lord!

(Book Review) “Aladdin and His Magic Lamp”

1. Introduction

The story is one of the Arabian Nights, the book of One Thousand and One Nights.

The story gives us a serious question regarding the lordship. Do we believe in Jesus as our Lord? Is the reason for my belief in Jesus not because I need another Aladdin’s Genie?

2. Summary

There lived a poor boy called Aladdin.  One day, a sorcerer visited Aladdin, deceiving himself as his late dad’s brother. 

He asked Aladdin to bring out a lamp in a cave under the ground. He put a magic ring on Aladdin’s finger to protect him. 

When Aladdin grabbed the lamp, he learned of the sorcerer’s scheme to kill him. He didn’t pass it on. The sorcerer closed the cave with a rock.

With the help of the magic ring, Aladdin was able to get out of the cave with the lamp. When he was rubbing the lamp by chance, the genie of the lamp turned up. The genie said he would do whatever Aladdin gave an order. 

Five years later, Aladdin happened to see a princess on the street. He fell in love with her. He wanted to meet the king for a proposal to her.

Aladdin ordered the genie to prepare for forty slaves and lots of jewels. The king accepted Aladdin as his son-in-law.  Aladdin finally married the princess.

The sorcerer began to revenge against Aladdin. He pretended to be a lamp seller, who was exchanging old lamps with brand new ones. 

The princess brought the Aladdin’s lamp to the sorcerer for a new one. The sorcerer summoned the genie of the lamp and ordered him to take the princess away.

Aladdin came to know what happened later. He lost the lamp but still kept the magic ring. The genie of the ring took Aladdin to the place where the princess was captive.

Aladdin got the princess back. With the wisdom of the princess, Aladdin was able to kill the sorcerer. Times had passed. The king passed away, and Aladdin succeeded to the throne. 

3. Lessons 

(1) Who’s the Lord, and who’s the servant?

The genie of the lamp can do everything, but he is only Aladdin’s servant. The owner was Aladdin.

It is not a Christian faith. God is not just a power. The faith is associated with the question of who’s the Lord and who’s the servant. 

Romans 10:9 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’.....you will be saved.”

Don’t expect God to work for us like the genie. Think about prayer. Our prayer to God is not like rubbing our hands on a magic lamp. 

If our prayers are beyond what God wants, God will refuse to answer them. That’s the sovereignty of God.  

Remember! I am the servant: God is the Lord.

(2) If I believe in Jesus, can I expect prosperity in my lifetime?   

The genie of the lamp provides Aladdin with everything he needs. 

But the Bible places more value on eternity. 2Corinthians 4:18 says, ”So we fix our eyes.....on what is unseen.....but what is unseen is eternal.”

The cost of eternity could be hardship in our life. But Apostle Paul encourages us to pass through all that. The glory is waiting for us.

Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

(3) Are there any ethics in Aladdin’s magic lamp?

The genie solves any problem no matter what the lamp owner orders. He doesn’t care whether it is ethical or not.

Aladdin made a fortune with no effort, thanks to the genie. It’s just like winning the lotto.

Even if he didn’t have any political philosophy, he became a king. He would continue to rely on the magic power of the genie for his ruling. Do we want such a leader?     

Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)

The law in the Bible is the foundation of our life. Even after Jesus was crucified, the law was not abolished. Rather, it’s been fulfilled.

Aladdin’s genie is not something our Christians dream. Instead, it would be something we take warning. 

  

(Book Review) worship through “Snow White”

1. Introduction

“Snow White” is a 19th-century German fairy tale. She reminds us of a Christian justified by God. 

If Snow White is a Christian, then, who is the Queen and the Prince? Let's find it out.

<Summary> 

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Snow White. The queen of the kingdom was her stepmother.

The queen had a magic mirror. She asked the mirror every morning, “Mirror, who is the prettiest in the land?” Then, the mirror always replied, “My queen, you are the prettiest in the land.” 

But, it had changed as Snow White grew up. When the queen asked the same question, the mirror answered that Snow White was the fairest. The queen was so angry. She called a hunter and ordered him to kill Snow White in the deepest woods.

The huntsman took Snow White into the forest. But he found himself unable to kill her. He told her to flee as far away from the kingdom as possible. After wandering through the woods, Snow White discovered a tiny cottage belonging to seven dwarfs. The dwarfs took pity on her and let her stay with them. 

Meanwhile, the queen asked her mirror once again, “Mirror, mirror! who is the fairest in the land?” The mirror replied, “My queen, Snow White at the Seven Dwarfs is a thousand times more beautiful than you.”

The queen was horrified to learn that Snow White was still alive. She made plans to kill Snow White. The queen disguised herself as an old peddler at first and a comb seller next time, and finally, a farmer's wife. 

After all, Snow White took a bite of a poisoned apple and fell into a permanent sleep. The dwarfs placed her in a glass casket.

A prince was traveling through the land. He came across Snow White in the coffin at the Seven Dwarfs. Instantly he fell in love with her. 

The moment he lifted the coffin to carry it away, the piece of poisoned apple fell from between her lips. Snow White was alive again! The prince kissed her and declared the wedding plan.

They invited Snow White's stepmother to come to their wedding party. The queen arrived at the wedding and saw that the bride was Snow White. She was frozen with fear. She was forced to put on the red-hot iron slippers and kept dancing to death.

<Lessons> 

(1) Who's the Queen? 

The queen is always anxious to make sure she is the most beautiful in the land. Satan, in the Bible,  is the same as the queen. Ezekiel 28:17 says, “Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty.” 

Although Satan was just a creature, he wanted to ascend above the tops of the clouds and make himself like the Most High. (Isaiah 14:14) 

Yes, Satan is the pride itself. But our tragedy lies in the fact that the sin of pride is not only Satan's but also ours.

We could blame the queen, reading Snow White. But if we realize that the queen is my portrait, we will be getting into repentance. 

(2) Who is Snow White? 

While I was reading Snow White, she reminded me of Christians who had been justified by God. God makes us righteous through our faith in Jesus, and he says that we are the most beautiful in the world, like Snow White.

Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

(3) And finally, who is the prince? 

If Snow White is a Christian, the prince is necessarily Jesus, the groom of the church. Just like Snow White rose again by the love of the prince, we were dead and alive back by the love of Jesus.

The prince punished the queen by the red-hot slippers at the end of the novel. Likewise, Jesus will judge Satan by fire and sulfur at the end of the world. (Revelation 20:10)

Let's proclaim Revelation 17:14. “The Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

                                     

(Book Review) “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell

                      
1.Introduction 

“Gone with the Wind” is a novel published in 1936 by Margaret Mitchell of America. The book is all about the life of Scarlett O’Hara during the American Civil War (1861 - 1865).

Scarlett had never given up hope for the future. “Tomorrow is another day!” It was her famous quote. Can we Christians find any lessons from her story? 

2. Summary

Scarlett was the daughter of Gerald O’Hara, who owned the Tara Plantation in Georgia state.

Scarlett was cheerful and charming. She loved Ashley Wilkes, but she didn’t have a chance to confess it to him.

One day, she heard the terrible news. Ashley was going to marry her cousin Melanie Hamilton. She rushed to Ashley, but it was too late to get it right.

Scarlett went crazy. In anger, she got married to Charles Hamilton, Melanie’s brother.

The Civil War broke out. Charles joined the army of the South, but he died of pneumonia before he got into a battlefield.

‎Scarlett still loved Ashley and went to Atlanta, where he lived. Melanie’s giving birth offered Scarlett an excellent reason to stay there.

The army of the north invaded Atlanta. Scarlett tried to escape together with Melanie. She went to Tara, her hometown, with the help of Rhett Butler.

Rhett was good at making money. During the Civil War, he made a massive fortune from smuggling.

In Tara, Scarlett found herself in big trouble. Her mother died of typhoid, and the shock drove her father insane. Her farm was devastated.

At last, the War ended. The South was defeated. Farm owners lost all slavers.

Scarlett suffered from the considerable tax imposed on her farm. She headed for Atlanta to ask Rhett for help.

Rhett was in jail. Scarlet met Rhett, but she failed to get help from him. 

Scarlett ran out of the due date for tax. Her last resort was marriage with a rich man. She had chosen Frank Kennedy as her new husband.

One day, Scarlett was nearly raped in the black slums. Frank was furious and tried to revenge it. But, he was shot dead.

Rhett proposed Scarlett to marry him. She accepted it. Rhett’s love was real, but Scarlett’s love was pretending. 

She still loved Ashley. Rhett knew Scarlett was not in love with him. When their daughter called Bonnie fell from a horse and was dead, he left Scarlett.

Melanie asked Scarlett to look after Ashley just before her death. That meant Melanie had already noticed Scarlett loved Ashley. Melanie had forgiven Scarlett. 

Knowing the truth, Scarlett made up her mind quitting loving him.

Scarlett found her real love was in Rhett. She murmured, “Tomorrow, I’ll think of some way to get him back.”

Regarding Tara, she also said to herself, “After all,  Tomorrow is another day.”

She never gave up anything, whatever the circumstances were.

3. Lessons

(1) Scarlett’s hope and the hope of Christians

Even in despair, Scarlett holds onto hope, saying, “After all, tomorrow is another day.” What is the reason Scarlett can have confidence? It’s nothing but herself.  She believed in her never-give-up personality.

If so, where does our Christian hope come? Let’s stand on the promise, which is based on Jesus, not on me. The trust in Jesus, who saved us, is the root of our hope. Praise the Lord Jesus, who can let us live with the desire!

(2) The contrast between a selfish life of Scarlett and a selfless life of Melanie

Scarlett is a self-centered woman. For her, marriage is only for the sake of money. Although she is seeking true love, she has never sacrificed herself.

This novel places Melanie in contrast with Scarlett. In terms of the spectrum of light, the two are at each end: Selfish Scarlet and selfless Melanie.

Scarlett loved Ashley Melanie’s husband, so she deliberately stayed with Melanie all the time. She thought Melanie didn’t know her love for Ashley.

But when Melanie, at the moment of death, asked Scarlett to look after Ashley, she suddenly realized that Melanie had already noticed everything. 

Ironically, Melanie’s forgiveness led Scarlett to quit her love for Ashley.

As a Christian reader, I hope Scarlett to go further. Is Scarlett not able to quit her self-centered desires? 

If the heart of Scarlett opens to neighbors, she will be able to encounter the real love of Christ Jesus.

(Book Review) "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant

                              

1.Introduction  

   The Necklace is a short story by the French writer Guy de Maupassant. It was first published in 1884. The story makes us think about what matters in our lives.

   Matilde didn’t know that the diamond necklace having lost was just an imitation. Matilde and her husband had to go through tough times for ten years. Did Matilde waste her life because of that? Otherwise, did she grab something else valuable?  

2.Summary

   Mathilde Loisel was beautiful but full of vanity. She longed for the life of the upper class. She would have given anything to be popular, envied, attractive, and in demand. But her husband was a low-level official, and could not meet her desires.

   One day, the husband brought a party invitation to her, which was held by his minister. Matilde got unexpectedly angry with it, saying, “What earthly use is that to me?” It meant she didn’t have any gown for the party. The husband bought her a pretty dress with the money he had saved.  

   But Mathilde was still angry. She said she didn’t have any jewel to match the dress. There was nothing the husband could do for it. After all, Matilde went to her friend Jeanne Forestier. Jeannie was wealthy and willing to lend a luxury diamond necklace to her.    

  
   The luxuries allowed Mathilde to attend the party with pride. She was the prettiest woman there, elegant, graceful, radiant, and wonderfully happy. All the men liked to dance with her. It was the best time ever.

   But a terrible thing happened. When Mathilde returned home, she found the diamond necklace lost. It was no longer round her throat.

   Matilde and her husband searched all the places, but it was nowhere. They tried to buy the same necklace from a jewel shop, but not available. They managed to find the most similar one. It was too expensive for them to buy it.

   Nevertheless, they paid for it with considerable debt and returned the necklace to Jeanne. Fortunately, Jeanne didn’t realize it was not the same as her original one.    

   But it cost too much. Mathilde and her husband had to go through dark times to pay back the debt. Finally, all obligations had gone in as much as ten years.  

   One day Matilde came across Jeanne Forestier on the street. Jeanne didn’t recognize her at once, because Mathilde looked old and turned different looking. Matilde confessed all the old stories to Jeanne.

   Hearing it, Jeanne said, "Oh, My poor Mathilde! But it was an imitation necklace. It couldn’t have been worth more than 500 francs!" 

3. Lessons

  1) Matilde didn’t know that the diamond necklace lost was just an imitation. Matilde and her husband had to work hard for ten years. 

   Did Matilde waste her life because of that? I think she didn’t. Matilde has found a valuable treasure rather than that.

   What is the treasure? Let’s return to Adam's mission in the Garden of Eden. God gave him a task to work it and take care of it (Genesis 2:15). 

   The hands of Adam and Eve would have been the harsh hands of working farmers. Mathilde reached the life God wanted Adam to live. That’s the treasure.

   2) This story gives readers another lesson. That is, we need to pursue the real value, which is eternal. What is the precious one? 

   The apostle Paul explains that in 2 Cor. 4:18, "We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

   The authentic treasure is in heaven. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden ln a field...." (Matthew 13:44)

   So, what does Matilde have to do once she realized the necklace was fake? She should ask herself, "How should I live from now on?" 

   Her new life should be focusing on eternity. The way to eternity is Jesus. Jesus is waiting for Mathilde.