한사람교회(www.hansaram.org)

“A Person With A Dead Sense”

(June, 16. 2013)

Every person responds to a various kind of stimulus. There are two kinds of stimuli and responses, respectively. Good stimulus, bad stimulus and great response, little response. Success of life is just great responding to good stimulus and little responding to bad stimulus. Life is an accumulation of every response.

Every quote, wisdom, and advise are similar in and around the world. Some people say, "Be diligent, be innocent, and study hard". We have already heard these words too much and we do not care about similar stimuli. Then, a stimulus cannot be linked to any reponse. Many people know that they should be diligent and innocent but they finally end up giving up their attempts because it is too tough or difficult for them. Giving up responses means depravity itself. Depravity includes no transformation. People are just spending thier time to find funny things, comfort, and gossips. Isn’t it similar to the life of one that we know well?

Every pastor preaches similar messages of sermons. They say, “Put worship first, always give thanks to God, and attend a dawn prayer.” Boring. We think, “I could preach the similar sermon like you!” But they never know what the meaning of the real prayer is, and what the living power of worship is because they have not experienced those kinds of lives ever before. Spiritual stimulus comes in but no spiritual response comes out. Well, Spiritual depravity begins.

Double check your responses. I told one of my team members who is an ambiguous christian, “Just commit a sin, rather!” Then, he replied, “How come you say something like that?” Insensitivity is a worse sin than a sinful action. Be a foolish responder rather than being a person with a dead sense. Just try to get out of sinful behaviors rather than being a spiritually dead man. Please strive to attend a dawn prayer rather than avoiding every sermon, even attending every worship. Respond to your every stimulus again. You will experience spiritual power from heaven.

"Prepare for an offering of a million won."

(May. 5. 2013)

University students and job seekers always need money for their life. They do not have enough money for their rent, transportation expenses and phone bills. When somebody asks for making a contribution, they would answer, “It is hard for me now. However, if I get a good job, I will definitely do it."

I truly believed that these young congregants would keep their promise after they get a job. However, I misunderstood about their promise. Employees are more calculative than students. The more they get, the more they spend a lot of money for allowance for parents, wedding planning, investments, and expenses for private works. If they do not decide to contribute for the offering, there are no any other changes in their life. Despite they receive higher salary, they would not like to increase the amount of the offering for God's glory. A vicious circle continues.

Only God gives the money. “For it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…” (Deuteronomy 8:18) God is the master of my money. When you use money depending on what you want, your life would be a slave of money.  This means that you always need more money than you get. However, if you entrust your money to God, you will live in a meaningful life that God always provides you with all you need. You must give God all belongings.  When do you feel sensitive most? It is when you have your own desire. You are sensitive to the money. Thus, money is the best way to serve your God and church.

I will give an example. Heedon Lee is the vice president of World Trade Center Association. When he was an overseas student in Spain, he spent 90% of his cost of living to serve missionaries. He used to manage to earn a living with $30 a month only. Even nowadays he is famous for giving tithes of his pre-paid salary. God gave him a whole world when he believed his spiritual world. Many people say that you have to do whatever you want to do at a young age. Increase the amount of contribution when you are young. You can prepare for an offering of one million won with saving 50,000 won a month. It is okay for us to feel lack of money in our life because we know God will provide us with the needs. Then you would realize money cannot control us and shake our life.