Deuteronomy chapter 15, verses 12 to 23. Let's read together from verse 12. 

If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you for six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. And when you let them go free, do not send them away empty-handed. Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today. 

But if your servant says to you, 'I do not want to leave you,' because he loves you and your family and is well off with you, then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant. 

Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because their service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand, and the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

Then my God will bless you. You shall set aside for your God, the Lord, the firstborn of your oxen and the firstborn of your sheep; you shall not put the firstborn of your oxen to work, and you shall not shear the firstborn of your sheep. You and your household shall eat before the Lord your God every year in the place that the Lord will choose. However, if the animal has any defect, such as being lame or blind or having any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God. You may eat it within your towns, the unclean and the clean alike, as if it were a gazelle or a deer. Only you must not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground like water. Amen, amen. Continuing from last week, we are in Deuteronomy chapter 15. In this chapter, Moses discusses three principles of the Kingdom of God. The first, as we examined last week, is to forgive the debts of your brother every seven years. The second and third principles will be discussed today.

The first principle is that every seven years, if there is a Hebrew person who has been sold as a slave, you must release that person and let them go free. The second principle is that the firstborn of your livestock, both male and female, should be offered to the Lord God. Through these three regulations, we can glimpse the principles of God's kingdom. The kingdom of God operates on principles that are completely different from those of the worldly nations that have turned away from God. What are these principles? We can gain insight into them through these three regulations. 

The first principle, which we examined last week, pertains to finances. What is the principle regarding finances? It is that there should be no poor among you. There will always be poor people in the land, but among God's people, at least there should be no one who is poor.

The reason the poor do not cease to exist is due to human sin. This is not a problem of any system or institution; it stems from human nature. Therefore, changing the institutions or systems will not eliminate poverty. The Bible proclaims that there will always be poor people on earth. No matter what system is put in place, there will always be poverty because it is a problem rooted in human sin. This is an issue that cannot be resolved without God's salvation. However, among you, the saved people, it should not be so. The saved people are different; they are to ensure that there are no poor among them. This is not about laws or systems, but rather about a revolution of the heart. Thus, this is not a matter of social reform, but rather a matter of heart reform.

I mentioned that, in any case, the first financial principle of the Kingdom of God is that you should willingly help the poor. You are to volunteer to assist those in need, so that there will be no poor among you. Today, we will continue by looking at the second and third principles. The second and third principles relate to our attitude toward people and our attitude toward God, respectively. The Gospel renews us. The Bible tells us that if we are in the Gospel, we are a new creation. In what ways are we being renewed? We are renewed in these three aspects: first, in our attitude toward money; second, in our attitude toward people; and third, in our attitude toward God. Of course, the order is that God comes first, but anyway, we...

The change that occurs in a person is salvation. The people of God are different from the people of the world, and how are they different? At least in these three aspects. First, they have a different attitude towards money. In the world, people hoard money for themselves out of fear, but the people of God are called to continually share so that there are no poor among them. That attitude is different. 

Second, they have a different attitude towards people. Third, they have a different attitude towards God. This is the change that manifests in those who are saved, and I believe it is essential. 

The Bible speaks about the gospel in this way: No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. The gospel teaches that one cannot serve both God and wealth.

It is about developing a new attitude toward wealth. Next, it begins with Jesus saying, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment, and the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. These two commandments are the essence of the whole law and the prophets. What does the Gospel say? It says to love God and to love your neighbor. Therefore, the Gospel is about changing our attitude toward God and our attitude toward people. When we say that we have become new creations in Jesus Christ, meaning we are different from before salvation, this difference occurs at least in these three areas: our attitude toward money changes, our attitude toward our neighbors changes, and our attitude toward God changes. This is what Moses is talking about in Deuteronomy 15.

The regulations explain well what it means to be a people of God and the principles of the Kingdom of God. Today, we will continue from last week and examine the second and third regulations: how our attitudes towards people differ from our attitudes towards God. First, let’s look at the regulations regarding servants. These regulations specifically address servants, stating that every seven years, they should be set free. Through this, we can understand how we ought to treat others. In other words, how should the people of God treat others? The first principle of the Kingdom of God in dealing with people is found in verse 12. It says, If a Hebrew man or woman is sold to you and has served you for six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. This illustrates God's attitude towards how we should treat others.

The first principle is that you should not bind people, meaning you should not restrain them. Just because someone is a servant does not mean they are your eternal possession. There may be a period where that is acceptable; for instance, in the Mosaic Law, it is set for six years. During that six-year period, it is permissible, but after that, you must release them and set them free. 

You see, people are not to be used; they are to be loved. On the contrary, money is not something to be loved; it is something to be used. However, sin reverses this order. Fallen humanity loves money and uses people. This is the opposite of what it should be. We are instructed not to behave this way. People should be objects of love, not objects of use, and money should be something we use, not something we love. Do not attempt to possess or control others. This includes even your own children.

You can't do that. For a certain period, it's acceptable. For example, when a child is very young, parents need to own and control things. Just because we respect a young child's freedom doesn't mean we should let them do whatever they want. If we let a child do whatever they want, it won't be long before a serious accident happens, whether it be an injury or something worse. What does a young child know? They might just run out into the street and get into a car accident. Therefore, for a certain period, we need to exercise control. However, this doesn't mean it should be forever. This is why the Law of Moses specifies a period of six years; it's necessary for a time, but it shouldn't continue indefinitely. This is the first principle of how to treat people. The reason is that every person is a free individual endowed with freedom by God. Every person is.

God created a free person, and the very first thing He did was to give them freedom. After creating man and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the first thing was the concept of good and evil, right? Moreover, after creating man, God commanded him to love Him. It is important to reflect on this because the essence of the Gospel, the essence of God's creation, is love. Yes, it is true that He created us to love God and to love our neighbors, but if we dig deeper, we find that there is freedom. I will explain this a bit more later, but freedom is necessary in order to truly love. So, what did God do first when He created humans? He gave them freedom. Above all else, the first thing He did was grant freedom. Therefore, man was created as a free being; the key point is freedom.

You must make decisions before God by yourself; I cannot force others to do this or that. Yes, please do not hesitate. It may be necessary for a certain period, for example, when raising a child, but it should not be a continuous situation. One of the greatest values in the Kingdom of God is freedom. Yes, one of the greatest values is freedom. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil represents this. God valued freedom so highly that He considered it more important than hell. This shows how much He values freedom; He even respects the choice to go to hell. People ask, If God truly loves us, why doesn't He prevent us from going to hell? The choice to go to hell is made through free will. Isn't that strange? But that is our perspective; God's standards are entirely different.

God's standard is that freedom is more important than hell. He values freedom even more than hell. Freedom is greater and more significant than hell because it is the most essential element that makes a human a human. When we think about all the characteristics that make us say, Ah, yes, that's human, if we dig down to the root of those traits, we find freedom at the core. It is because of freedom that a person becomes a person. This means that if freedom is removed, a person is no longer a person. They may not go to hell, but they are not human. God created humans to be human, which is why He places freedom above hell. This shows how important God considers freedom. Therefore, the devil tries to take away this freedom by any means possible. So, in the Bible, especially...

The entire New Testament is written amidst a struggle against the law, isn't it? It tells us not to lose our freedom. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Therefore, freedom is the first root that God bestowed upon humanity from the time of creation, allowing us to be human. 

Now, without freedom, it is impossible to love. Love is possible because it is grounded in freedom. So, what is love? The definition of love is choosing you when I have the option to choose something else. If that's hard to understand, let me give you an example. I love tiramisu cake. What that means is that I could have chosen something else, but I chose tiramisu cake. There were also cheesecake, pound cake, carrot cake, and many others, but among all these choices, I chose tiramisu cake.

If someone says they love you, but there’s only one option on the menu, like tiramisu cake, then that’s not love; it’s just a lack of choice, so you end up eating it, right? Also, there’s a bag that I really like, a specific bag. What does that mean? It means that among many bag options, I only carry that one. That is love. The same goes for people. There are many choices, but choosing that person is what we call love. What if there’s no choice? For example, if a man comes to a woman with a gun and says, “Tell me you love me,” what would happen? Of course, she has to say she loves him; she can’t just die, right? “I love you, I love you.” But is that really love? No, it’s not, because there was no choice involved, so love cannot exist. It’s only when you can freely choose that it becomes a choice.

Love is what we call it. Yes, that man and woman got married. Our husbands, why do you think your wives love you? There are 4 billion men in the world, and out of those 4 billion choices, they chose you. That’s what makes it love. Therefore, love can only exist when it involves a free choice. God created people as beings capable of love; to love God and to love one another. The essence of the kingdom of God that He created is love. It is about loving each other. However, for that love to exist, what must be present? There must be freedom. If one cannot choose freely, love cannot be established. Thus, when God first created humans, the first thing He endowed them with was freedom. He gave them the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Some people might ask this...

No, pastor, then you didn't give the beast the knowledge of good and evil, but don't animals love? They love their young and their owners, right? Yes, animals do love. However, animals cannot love God because they have not been given the nature to choose God. The ability to choose God has only been given to humans; it has not been given to animals. So, animals do express love, but it is limited love. This means that animals have been given a form of freedom, but it is a restricted freedom. So, how can animals love? They can love their young or their kind, and perhaps their owner, but that’s as far as it goes. Also, the love that an animal has for its owner is somewhat ambiguous; is it love or just instinct? Because, no matter how unsuitable the conditions are, if an animal is raised from a young age and is fed, it will unconditionally love.

So, this is a choice, but it's an ambiguous choice. It's not completely devoid of choice, because there are those who are owners and those who are not. The owners follow, while those who are not owners can feel sad. In that sense, it can be scary. So, it's not that there is no choice at all, but at the same time, it’s ambiguous whether it is a completely free choice. Animals do love, but it's a limited kind of love. This is because they are given limited freedom. In any case, they don't have the ability to love God. They were not given the choice regarding God. Animals obey according to the instincts they were created with; they don't love in the same way. For example, take salmon. No matter how difficult it is, they swim upstream to lay their eggs. They don't have the choice; it was simply determined by the Creator. If God had also given salmon...

If the tree of the knowledge of good and evil had been given, no one would have gone up. These guys, no one went up; they just stayed there. Who would be crazy enough to go that far? Half of them would die. But no one goes up there. However, salmon have never been given the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; they have never been given the choice, so they simply obey instinctively. It’s not love; it’s instinctive obedience. The same goes for them. For animals, it's very ambiguous whether it’s love or instinct. It’s limited, you see; love is also limited because freedom is limited. They don’t have the freedom to refuse. But humans are different. God has given humans complete freedom. God has given complete freedom. He granted that freedom at creation, and God considers that freedom to be so essential to human nature that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

They say there is freedom. So, when one is saved, the Spirit of the Lord dwells within the saved person, and what is restored? It is freedom that is restored. Yes, humans are somewhat different. Humans have been given the freedom to choose or not choose their Creator. This is represented by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and as a result, humans have become beings capable of loving God. Yes, animals are beings that obey God, but they do not love. However, humans have become beings that can love because they have the ability to choose or not choose God. That is freedom. You see, humans are the most precious beings in the entire universe who can love God. The Bible states that we are made in the image of God. Therefore, the foundation of God's image includes freedom. For example, God created the heavens and the earth in the beginning. One might ask why He created the heavens and the earth, but it is because of freedom—God's freedom.

You were not created as a result of a cause-and-effect relationship. So, what is the foundation of creation? It is freedom. In God, there is perfect freedom. And because He created humans in His image, He grants us complete freedom, even the freedom to reject the Creator Himself. As a result, humans are the most precious beings in the entire universe, capable of loving God. Amen. So, you and I are the most esteemed beings in the Lord because we can love God. Now, what would happen if such freedom were not granted to humans? That’s right; humans would lose their most precious dignity and would be reduced to the level of beasts. Remember, the important value that makes humans human is freedom. This truth applies not only to individuals but also to everything that people consider meaningful. All meaningful endeavors are based on freedom.

Think about it. Friendship, sacrifice, dedication, joy, inspiration, creativity, and art are all based on freedom. Therefore, what we call the precious and noble values of humanity or human civilization is fundamentally rooted in freedom. Do you know why animals cannot create a civilization? It's because they lack freedom; they simply obey their instinctual nature and cannot develop what we call civilization. However, humans create civilization while pursuing valuable things. At the core of this is freedom. 

For example, let's consider a situation where soldiers are sent to war, and suddenly a grenade falls. One person thinks, I must save my comrades, and jumps on the grenade, sacrificing himself. What do people say about this? They say, Wow, what a truly great person! That is a noble sacrifice.

What would happen if there were no freedom? If there were no freedom, a grenade would drop, and the person next to you would push you away. You have no freedom; you were just pushed away. How would that feel? You did the same thing, yet there’s no one who would call this a noble sacrifice. So, what is this? It’s a contradiction. You did the same thing, but one is called a noble and valuable act, while the other is labeled as madness or abuse. What is the difference? It’s freedom. Only with freedom can humans think of noble, valuable, and meaningful actions. Without freedom, nothing remains but a dull existence. If you act without freedom, it’s just something you were programmed to do. Even worship is the same, isn’t it? Worship must come from your free will to be meaningful.

Those who are brought here have no grace, whether they are brought by their wives or their parents. For those people, worship is hell. How can the most pure act of worship become hell? Lord, what is the key? Freedom. Freedom makes everything coexist, meaningful, beautiful, and worth living. Even for you, husbands, when you do the dishes for your wives, it should be done freely to be meaningful, beautiful, and worthwhile. If you are forced to do it, it completely changes the meaning. If you are pushed to do it, saying, Why is it always me doing the dishes? You should do it too, then even though you are doing the same task, it becomes something entirely different. When you do that task using freedom, it becomes love, but when that freedom is taken away, it turns into fear and dread. Remember, everyone, what is the core of biblical humanity? What is the foundation of the biblical Kingdom of God?

There is freedom. People misunderstand that equality is a very important value in the Kingdom of God. It's not entirely wrong because God said to ensure that the poor are not neglected. However, that is a lower value. The true root that makes all things possible is freedom. If this freedom is not given, then all meaningful endeavors for humans lose their significance. From the moment of the fall, the enemy, the devil, has made many efforts to take away freedom from people. The entire New Testament is about the law, and the establishment of communism, which aims to strip away freedom and force people to do something, is fundamentally anti-biblical. What is the foundation laid in the Bible? It is freedom. Amen. What is the essence of being a slave? It is losing this precious freedom.

To possess and belong to someone means to take away their freedom. Even God does not take away this freedom, yet humans do. One of the sinful traits of fallen humanity is the desire to possess others. We want to control them, dictate their actions, and make them move according to our wishes. Therefore, we use money, physical power, and the authority of the state or society. What we really need to be cautious about is that this happens even within the church. In the church, there are also those who use spiritual authority, which is not truly spiritual authority but rather religious power, to manipulate others according to their desires. This may happen in the world because it is sin, but it should not happen in the church. At the very least, we should not manipulate people in the church. For a certain period, this might be possible; for example, under the Mosaic Law, one could be a servant for six years.

They say that you can be free, but a certain period is necessary for that to happen. For example, just like when a child is young, they can be completely free, but that can lead to spiritual bankruptcy. Therefore, training and a certain level of control are needed. For those who have just recently joined the church, we cannot simply say, Do whatever you want. This is because the community needs to live together, and within that, there is order, culture, and rules. There is a need for time to adapt and learn. During that time, we inevitably have to limit freedom to some extent; it is unavoidable. God has never said there is absolute freedom. For six years, one serves as a slave, but then they are told to be set free. This means that there is a need for a certain period where freedom is controlled and restricted. However, it cannot continue like that indefinitely.

We should not continue like this; once a person matures to a certain extent, they should be allowed to make their own decisions. Therefore, the ultimate goal of the church is to help all of God's people mature so that they can make decisions before God on their own. Amen. Be cautious of the desire to possess people; people belong to God, not to me. Although God created them, do not play with them. Do not engage in gaslighting. It is wrong to manipulate someone into doing what you want. The desire to possess people is a sin. True love, as defined in the Bible, is not about possession but about freely letting go and sharing responsibility for the choices made. Of course, this does not mean that we should remain silent or show respect when someone is determined to commit a clear sin. We should advise and do our best to dissuade them.

However, there is still a limit. If someone insists on doing things their way until the end, God will no longer intervene. A person cannot be forced. If they are determined to continue down that path, then it is best to just let them be. Instead, love means sharing the responsibility together. Sharing the responsibility is love. Now, the second principle regarding how to treat others in God's kingdom is found in verses 13 and 14. It starts with, Do not let them go away empty-handed; provide for them from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. Amen. The second attitude towards others is not to be harsh. Be generous and abundant, both financially and in all other aspects. Be generous and kind. Do not let them leave empty-handed. But what is the basis for this?

God has given me great blessings, and if we do so, He will give us even greater blessings. It's about faith, and we should generously give without regret. In verse 18, it says, He served you for six days, just enough to receive the wages of a laborer. You should not find it hard to let him go free. Then, my God, the Lord, will bless you in all that you do. So, what does it mean to let go? It means He will give us blessings again. We need to have this faith. 

Now, how much should we give generously? What does it mean to give generously? My standard is this: the person receiving should be amazed and say, Wow, this is so generous! That's how we should do it. Our staff probably knows this; whenever there's a need to give a gift at our church, I just give generously. So, the person receiving...

Oh, it has to be this way; it's not biblical if the recipient is acting like a beggar. If that's the case, it's better not to do it at all. Christians shouldn't hear such things; it's shameful. God provides abundantly, so how can it be like this? We shouldn't listen to such words; they are truly words that bring misfortune. Therefore, Christians should not have to hear such cheap and petty remarks. It's a sign of misfortune. Generosity is spiritual because it reflects faith in what God has given and what He will give. Even if I have enough, I shouldn't worry about what's left in my bank account. I believe that what I have now is given by God, and what will come in the future is also provided by Him. This belief is the source of my generosity, which is a spiritual quality. Amen. Just as we shouldn't possess people, we shouldn't cling to money either. Just let it go.

Open your hands freely, and God will give you as much as you need. Whether it's a situation, money, or an opportunity, not clinging tightly to it is true spirituality. Practice keeping your hands open; practice entrusting things to God. Then, you will experience how faithfully God blesses us. In fact, it's not about clinging or holding on tightly. You know this from experience; whether it's people, money, or opportunities, the same principle applies. It's only when God gives that it truly becomes yours. So, place it in God's hands and settle your heart. If it's a gift from God, you won't have to force it; He will provide it. If it’s not given, then it’s not truly yours. This is faith, and this is spirituality. Now, if you’re anxious and trying to grasp something...

Trying to hold on tightly comes from a lack of trust in God. This is connected to spirituality. So, what true spirituality is, is absolute trust in God. If it is something that God has decided to give me, then I will receive it without needing to grasp at it; He will surely give it to me. On the other hand, if it doesn’t come to me, then it means that God has not allowed it. This is the foundation of spirituality. Just leave it to God; don’t keep trying to hold on tightly, but rather open your hands. Yes, raise your hands like this and open them. You see, holding on tightly doesn’t actually help. Just open your hands and offer everything to God. Then He will give you exactly what you need. Amen. I bless you in the name of the Lord to live like this. Amen. It shouldn’t be complicated. Generally, if something is complicated, it means something is wrong. Yes, well, I have been living my faith...

If it seems complicated, it means something is going wrong. The principles of the Kingdom of God are not complicated; they are very simple. They are clear and straightforward for anyone to understand. If you are currently doing something in graduate school and it feels complicated—your thoughts are tangled, and you are unsure of what to do—then it means you are deviating from God's plan. It is not that complicated; it is very simple, very straightforward. However, within that simplicity, there is power and grace. Amen. Practice living simply. That is spirituality—practicing to live simply. What should you do? Just open your hands. If you are clenching your fists, it becomes complicated. Should I hold onto this? Should I seize that opportunity? Should I let it go? Should I give money or not? Just keep your hands open. If you are meant to receive, it will be given to you.

Otherwise, it won't be given to you. Simply put, you need to practice that. That is spirituality. Amen. Now, let's talk about the third principle of interacting with people. The third principle of the Kingdom of God is found in verses 16 and 17. It starts with, If a servant loves you and your household, and says, 'I will not leave my master,' then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. You should do the same for your servant. Piercing the ear signifies that he has now become a permanent servant. This is about a servant who loves his master so much that even after seven years, he doesn't want to leave; he just wants to stay in that house. This is not just a servant; this is family. So, when he says, How can I leave my family? what should be done? Well, it should be clear. You should not just say, Okay, then just stay. You need to make it clear. You must define the boundaries clearly. Is this really the right decision?

That's right. It's not about taking an awl and making a hole in your ear to put in a ring. Yes, that's what I'm saying: it means to clarify boundaries and relationships. Problems arise when relationships are not clearly defined. If you don't make things clear, later on, you will definitely hear different words. I can guarantee that different words will come up. As someone who has lived through the '58 generation, my conclusion is that anything left ambiguous will eventually lead to different interpretations. Back then, everything was great; I said, We're family, let's not go out. But do you know what they say later? Why didn't you include me after six years? This will definitely come up. I can predict it; it will definitely come up. I said I would just stay back then, but when I try to explain, it becomes useless. Oh, that wasn't the meaning, they say, and so on. Human memory distorts over time, which is why people end up lying.

It's not just that memories change; the memory itself changes. This distorted memory becomes favorable to oneself. In fact, in the world's courts, old memories are not recognized as evidence. Old memories are not accepted as evidence. Why? Because they are distorted. It's not just a matter of distortion; it’s that people genuinely come to believe it that way. So, do not leave things ambiguous. This is a command from the Bible; it warns against ambiguity. Almost inevitably, problems will arise, and relationships will break down. Whatever you do, do it clearly. This is a command from the Bible. Look at the laws of Moses. Is there any ambiguity? No, it is excessively detailed and precise. For example, do you know how precise the regulations regarding oxen are? If an ox accidentally kills someone else's ox, the details of why it died are described meticulously. If it fell into a pit and died,

There is a passage in Exodus that talks about a bull falling into a pit that I have dug and dying, or if the pit's cover is left open and the bull dies. It explains how to compensate based on the circumstances of the death. If my bull kills another bull, we share the meat of the dead bull and sell the live one, splitting the proceeds. However, if that bull had a history of being aggressive and I didn't manage it well, then I would keep the dead bull, and the owner of the live bull would take it. It all varies depending on the situation. This shows how meticulous and clear the instructions are; there is nothing ambiguous about it. The Bible's principle is to avoid ambiguity. Most relationship issues arise from starting things incorrectly, often in an ambiguous way. People might think, Oh, we can just do it this way, or It's fine if we handle it like that.

It's unclear whether the money was given or lent. If so, relationships will inevitably break down later. This is a principle from the Bible. God has addressed different situations based on why the ox died. He did not simply say that if an ox dies, you should just ask a few questions. Instead, He asked why it died—did it fall into a pit? Was it a habitual receiver? Each situation is addressed differently. We should not be vague; we need to be precise. Amen? Amen. 

Especially within the church, money matters should be handled more clearly than in the world. Whether it's a gift, a loan, a donation, or an investment, it must be clear. Amen? Amen. If we don't do this, we will lose both people and money.

I read this. Well, among our church's missionaries, there are teams that do business in missions. When that team first started, they were young and had no capital. So I became the first investor. While investing, we wrote all the contracts. This is an investment, and of course, I didn't expect to get anything back. However, if we don't clarify things, problems will arise later. I made it clear that this is not a donation but an investment. In fact, we even had a lawyer present to notarize the equity structure of the company. I hold a 10% stake. It's biblical, you see. The Bible clearly instructs us to be explicit; it doesn't say to be vague or ambiguous. If things are vague, problems will definitely arise later. You have no idea how treacherous money can be. Money is like this.

Even if we clarify things, somehow our hearts are tempted and broken. Without certain devices, we can never overcome those temptations. The Bible understands human weakness; for example, even when it comes to an animal that has died, it gives detailed instructions and does not leave things vague. It must be done accurately. This is a principle. The church often thinks that everything should just be done by grace, but that’s where all the problems arise. They mistakenly believe that everything should go by grace because it is biblical. But if everything is to go by grace, then if someone’s cow accidentally dies, is that grace? The Bible does not say that. Why? Because the Bible clearly states that we need to investigate the cause of why someone else's cow died and hold them accountable. However, the church does not operate this way; they just want to go by grace and disregard the details. No, we need to address everything properly.

Yes, when our missionaries started the business, we called a lawyer to properly establish the equity structure, and we all signed everything. That's how it should be done. Amen. What is biblical? Remember well that humans are sinners and weak; God did not ask us to do things ambiguously. He asked us to do them precisely. Amen. Amen. Now, let's move on to verse 19. The third great ordinance is about our attitude towards God. Let's start with the next verse: You shall set apart for the Lord your God all the males that open the womb among your livestock, the firstborn of your cows and the firstborn of your sheep. You shall not use the firstborn of your cows for work, and you shall not shear the firstborn of your sheep. But if it has any blemish, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious blemish, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord. Amen. There are two commands regarding God: first, to set apart the firstborn males of cows and sheep for God, and second, to offer those that are without blemish.

It is important to give what is perfect. The first thing is to offer what we have to God. This is a matter of priority; we are to give to God before anything else. In other words, we should not give God what is left over. We are to give first. When it comes to cattle and sheep, we should offer the cattle before using them for work and the sheep before shearing them. Cattle are used for labor, and sheep are used for their wool. However, we should not use them for these purposes before giving them to God. This means that using the cattle for work or shearing the sheep is for our own needs, but we are instructed to give to God first. This is about prioritizing. Therefore, it is not about giving what is left over to God, whether it be time, finances, or anything else; we should give to God first.

It's about prioritizing my needs. First, I should use what I have, but this month, it seems like I don't have anything to give. That's not the way it should be. I should give to God first, and then use what remains for my needs. This applies to both time and resources. Who should be at the top of my priorities? It's God. I need to think of Him first. The order matters; I should seek His kingdom and righteousness before my own needs, desires, or urgency. It's not about spending all my resources on myself and then using what's left to serve God. It's not about doing everything I need to do and then finding time for God. That's not how to serve Him. Whether it's finances or time, I should give the first fruits to God. I should offer to Him before I use anything else. I need to give my first time and my first income to God.

It is the right attitude to first give to God and then do other things. But what do we use to do this? We use our freedom; it is not the law. If we do not give the firstborn, we are not punished. Well, if you give and have nothing, it doesn't matter. We should use the freedom given to us, not to sin, but to love and serve, as the Bible commands us. We should willingly use our freedom to give to God first. God delights in that because it reflects our hearts toward Him. Amen. 

Secondly, we are told to give what is complete. What does this mean? It means giving the best and the finest. It can be ambiguous, right? You might think, Well, what should I use at home? So, we might end up giving to the church instead.

Don't do that. Oh, it's church. When you make a donation, you shouldn't bring something you don't use at home. You should bring something you actually use. You should bring the best things. You shouldn't do it legally; you should do it freely. It doesn't matter what you bring; what matters is your heart. Our hearts should give the best and the highest to God. Since it's about the heart, the same goes for dedication. It's about giving the most precious time in your life, not just the leftover time. Don't wait until after retirement to do the Lord's work. Do it now. Yes, do it while you're still young, even if it's just one year younger. Of course, for those who have their circumstances or met Jesus late, that may be the best they can do, but for young people, that's the best time. How long do you have to wait until retirement? You're giving the second-best instead of the best. Amen. Amen. Yes, so...

Serve God with the best and the finest offerings. This is the right attitude. Amen. When a precious guest arrives, no one serves them with just any food; this is true in both the East and the West. We offer the best food because it reflects our heart towards that person. Our ancestors used to bring their offerings in an ironed manner, right? Just because you iron a 10,000 won bill, does it become a 100,000 won bill? In the past, it was difficult to get new money from the bank, so if you had some worn-out coins from the market, you would sprinkle water on them and present them nicely. Why? Because we want to offer the best. I cannot give something that is blind or flawed. When I was young, whenever I went to church, my parents would give me money for offerings, and they always gave me the newest bills we had at home. They would always give me the very newest bills.

You put it in an envelope and are told to make a donation. But whether it's one thousand won or ten thousand won, they are all the same amount. However, the heart behind it is different. That’s why we are encouraged to offer the best. In fact, if we think about it, we are going to eat in front of the Lord anyway. We bring the firstborn or the unblemished offering, and the whole family participates in that feast. So, whether it’s something with eyes or without eyes, in the end, we are all eating the same thing, right? Whether I eat this or that, the result is the same. But why is it that we are instructed to do it this way? Whether you bring a sheep or just a thousand won, it’s a matter of the heart. It’s about using the freedom that has been given to us, and when we voluntarily serve God in this way, He is pleased.

God is pleased, and therefore He bestows even more blessings upon us. I bless you all to fully enjoy these blessings. Amen. Worship team, please come forward. In Deuteronomy 15, Moses talks about three principles of the Kingdom of God, which are related to our attitudes. First, our attitude towards money differs, our attitude towards neighbors differs, and our attitude towards God differs. Therefore, do not cling tightly to money; it is meant to be used, not loved. Also, do not try to control or restrict the freedom of others; God does not do that either. Approach others and bless them. Lastly, when it comes to God, always give Him your best. Give to Him the very best that you can offer, to the point where you feel there is nothing more you can give. Amen. That is our worship. The act of giving itself should stem from a desire to offer the best, not just a mere willingness to give.

My heart is so full because the grace you have shown me is so great. I just want to give this back. This is worship. And God joyfully receives the hearts of those who worship. And on top of that, He promises to bless all that you do in every aspect. I bless you in the name of the Lord to fully enjoy this blessing. Amen. 

Let us rise and pray together. 

At the very foundation of what makes us human is freedom. Worship is also not worship without freedom. The foundation of worship is freedom. When we have freedom, we choose God. I could choose not to, but I choose God. I could go somewhere else instead of worshiping, but coming to worship is what God receives as worship. 

As we take this time to pray together, let us remember the precious freedom that God has given us. May we not lose our freedom or be bound by anything, and may we use the freedom given to us to love our neighbors.

Please let us be a people who love and serve God. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Please shatter all the bonds of enemies that take away our freedom, and break all the thoughts of our enemies. Bless us so that we can serve God with the freedom given by Your Spirit. Amen. With this heart, let us call upon our Lord and pray together in unity. Lord, please do everything, break every bond, and help us to love You with all our hearts. Let us serve You with a willing and voluntary heart. Lord, we worship You. We praise You. Lord, may You alone be exalted. We worship You. We praise You. Lord, may You alone be lifted high. We worship You. We worship You. We praise You. Lord, may You alone reign over me. We worship You. We praise You. Lord, may You alone be exalted. Perfect Lord, perfect in all ways, we praise You. Lord, may You alone reign over me. We worship You.

I praise you, Lord. I worship you, who alone deserves to be exalted. I worship you, I praise you, Lord. Please be pleased with me. I worship you, I praise you, Lord. Fill me with your presence. Yes, Lord, thank you for giving me freedom. With this freedom, may I love my neighbors and love God, and be used in a precious way. Amen. Do not let the devil take away this freedom from me, and help me to use this precious freedom you have given me to love you more, to serve you more, and to love my neighbors more. May all your precious people be used in valuable and honorable ways. Where your Spirit is, there is freedom. I declare freedom once again. Let all chains and all bondage be broken, and may we, your saints, live with a heart of freedom and in faith. May we all be believers who seize what you give us in faith. I bless this in your name. Thank you.

I prayed in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

종에겐 자유를, 하나님껜 최고의 것을 [신명기 40] - 고성준 목사 설교 수원하나교회 : 갓피플TV [공식제휴]

Scripts