Among the books written by the pastor, there is a book titled Invitation to an Abundant Life. At our church, we not only study the Bible but also nurture and recommend this book, and we have also read it together. In this book, there is a chart called Two Conditions for Happiness. It states that the first is unconditional love and the second is the meaning and purpose of life. These two are interconnected because within unconditional love, we can discover the true meaning and purpose of life. Last week, I talked about unconditional love. In reality, unconditional love is something that is rarely found on this earth. We always think we have to meet certain conditions, qualifications, in order to enter somewhere, be accepted, and be embraced.

I think living our lives means not striving to meet those qualifications, not trying to meet those conditions. In the midst of that, we often fail to meet those qualifications, so we end up feeling like failures, like we've failed in life. We sometimes get caught up in that, and sometimes, even if we achieve and become winners, we always feel humble about our position because there are many competitors, which makes us anxious, nervous, and fearful. This is the reality of living on this earth for us, and it's the hard work of many people. So, in the end, we actually long for unconditional love. Not because of what I've done, but just for being who I am, accepting myself as I am, even if I make mistakes, being able to accept myself just as I am. That kind of love, that kind of relationship, especially in our families, is what we long for. At the same time, we wonder if such things exist in the world.

Is there such a thing as unconditional love? For example, God's love is unconditional. When we talk about God's love, is it really so? It feels unfamiliar and somewhat difficult. Even though it is called unconditional love, when we talk about love, we wonder if it is truly unconditional. It's because we love, that's why we give love, receive love, and think, Is it really like that? Also, even though we want to love and say we love, when it comes down to it, we lack the quality of love, the power of love, and we lack the strength of love. So, as I mentioned last week, we should help and embrace the weak, but in reality, when there is such a person next to us, it feels burdensome and somewhat uncomfortable. We don't have much strength to love to that extent. Therefore, unconditional love is like that, very...

It seems familiar to us. Not only that, but we also give and receive wounds while saying we love. In fact, real wounds are usually deeper and more severe in such relationships. For example, we don't really get hurt by someone we can easily ignore. We just feel a bit upset and uncomfortable. Why should I care if I'm ignored? Real pain and real wounds cannot be like this or that. It's inevitable to be wounded in such relationships, and in terms of Korean emotions, it can lead to resentment. Eventually, there comes a time when we give up on love. We give up on dating or marriage because we don't have the confidence to love or sacrifice anymore. We give up because we don't want to get hurt anymore. Nowadays, people don't really say such things much.

It seems like it just became a part of everyday life. There used to be phrases like letting go, letting go, letting go of seven, letting go of seven. The essence of it was what? It seems like giving up on what you love. Giving up on dating, giving up on marriage, giving up on having children, it's all about love, but it's like giving up on love. Even in our faith life, even if we believe in God, we can end up just believing in God but giving up on the community. It's like giving up on serving and dedicating oneself to someone, giving up because you don't want to get hurt, and because you believe in Jesus, Jesus' sacrifice and love, thinking, I can't sacrifice and serve like that, I don't have the confidence to do that. There are cases where you give up because you have faith, but you don't have enough faith to go that far. However, giving up on love means our lives are.

The truth is that living with love is not just about giving up love, but it can also be losing the meaning and purpose of life, similar to living life aimlessly or losing meaning in faith. This is not a trivial matter at all. In the midst of such life, we want to love and be loved, but sometimes we get hurt, feel inadequate, and struggle to find the true meaning of life, not just loving. In such a challenging life, we come to hear the gospel. What is the gospel? It is the love of God, and that love is said to be unconditional. The Bible in 1 John chapter 4 defines God as love, and it says that God is powerful. Therefore, God is able to love unconditionally. Last week, in Romans...

Through the words of the 5th chapter, when did God love us? He loved us when we were still weak, not devout, and still sinners. So, at a time when we did not have the qualifications to be loved, nor the conditions to be loved, God loved us. He loved us by giving us His Son, Jesus Christ. Ah, He loved us, and that's why it says that He established His love towards us through Jesus Christ. So, at that very moment when we were loved, and when He forgave us sinners, that is precisely God's love. We receive forgiveness within that love of God. What is the truly heavy burden for humans? It is the burden of needing to receive forgiveness. It's about sin. In God's love, we receive forgiveness, and therefore, we find rest. Now, with the love we have received, we can become beings who can love as well. So, everyone, happiness is indeed love.

We are happy when we receive love, and we are also happy when we love someone. This is a blessing that happens in our lives because of love. As we worship today, I earnestly wish that God's love will abundantly fill me, you, and all of us once again. In God's love, we now become those who love. This is when we start to find the meaning and purpose of life. In Romans chapter 5, it says that Christ, who loves us, confirmed God the Father's love for us by dying for us. If we can love someone by giving what is ours, even our lives, it is not wrong to say that we have found the meaning and purpose of life. This is also God's love for us. God's love towards us is not just about forgiving us, but it goes beyond that.

God's love enables us to forgive someone because of that love. God's love not only loves us but also enables us to love others now. God's love not only blesses us but also makes us a blessing to others. That is the extent of God's love, and that is God's salvation towards us. God's unconditional love not only brings salvation to our lives but also gives meaning and purpose to our lives. May we love, be a blessing to others, and live like that. Therefore, Jesus said, Believe in me, and Jesus also said, Follow me. So, those who believe in Jesus receive the blessing of salvation, and those who follow Jesus receive the love that Jesus gave and the service that Jesus served.

We also receive the grace of becoming a history that becomes a life through us and through us. So, true faith is believing in Jesus and following Him. I bless you and me who are worshiping today, that there is faith in believing in Jesus and following Him among you all in the name of our Lord. Today's passage shows us that fact. When Jesus began His public ministry, the first thing He proclaimed is found in Mark 1:15. Let me display the verse on our screen. Let's read it together. The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news! This is to believe in the good news. What is the good news? As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the good news is the kingdom of God that has come to us through Jesus Christ and His coming. It is the gospel, the joyful news.

So, Jesus said, Believe in Jesus, believe in the love of God who loved Jesus, His only begotten Son. Jesus shouted this. And now, Jesus said to believe in the gospel. In today's passage, we see not only to believe but also to follow. In fact, believing in Jesus is following Jesus. When we say we believe in the word of God, it is because we want to keep and follow His commandments. Yes, that's right. Is this voice coming from the speaker or from outside? Yes, yes. Let's read together again. Let's read it together once more. Starting, as Jesus passed by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, Follow Me, and I will

I will make you fishers of men. Amen. As you follow me, I will make you fishers of men. Those who are familiar with the life of faith know this well, but I initially read it as I will make you fish. What it means to make them fishers of men, right? Jesus called Simon Peter and Andrew. They were fishermen. In the region of Galilee, which is actually a sea, but in the Gospel of John, it is referred to as a lake. In other Gospels, it is mainly called the Sea of Galilee. It is noted as a freshwater lake. There is a saying that in Galilee, it is as wide as the sea. Therefore, people in that area thought of the Sea of Galilee as being as wide as the sea. So, it is sometimes written as the Sea of Galilee and sometimes as just Galilee Lake. If you think like this, you won't say the Bible is wrong. Just understand it that way. So, in the region of Galilee, there were fish.

Fishermen are just ordinary people with a common and ordinary profession. They were throwing water into the sea. What they catch is not people, but fish. That's what fishermen do. What is important to a fisherman? It's how many fish they catch, the amount of their catch. How many fish they catch is important. For a business person, how much is the daily revenue is important. For someone who works, how much is my annual salary, and how can I succeed, these are important. For students, grades are important, and furthermore, where to get a job is important. This is what those who strive and work hard receive, a fair reward. This is important. And the real reason why this is important is because it gives more than that.

There are other rewards because just catching a lot of fish itself is not a reward. If you catch many fish and sell them, then you can live a different life and receive different rewards. We already know this. For example, with that money, you can enjoy pleasure and entertainment. When we say pleasure, it may sound negative, but it just means we can enjoy it. The enjoyment of human life is a legitimate desire. If you work, you deserve to enjoy that pleasure. It can be considered a legitimate reward. Furthermore, the rewards they provide can be honor. In the book Invitation to Pungsan by Kim Young-guk, Pastor, it explains that we may not be celebrities or famous people, but what is honor? It's simply the value of my name. In other words, if I express it better, it's my honor.

I won't be ignored. This person seems unnecessary. It's okay to leave out their name. We don't want to live like that, right? At least, my name doesn't have to shine or stand out. It doesn't have to be that way, but being treated as if I'm not needed, being ignored like that, oh, that's not what I want. Also, it's the same with physical strength. We're not politicians or anything. I'm not that ambitious, but physical strength is the same. It's power. So, I won't be manipulated. If you're weak in front of strong people, you'll just be manipulated. Even if you don't think it's right, you have to do it if you're not strong. Even if you don't like it, you have to go somewhere. You have to participate. I want to rest on weekdays, I want to rest on holidays, but I have to go hiking. So, being manipulated by someone's power, losing my own decisions like that.

So, in fact, we can say that our desires are legitimate. And what gives us all of this is material within capitalism. With material things, we can enjoy them, not be ignored by anyone, not be controlled by someone, and perhaps it seems that we can have everything at once, maybe it's not material. We live in such a reality. So, pursuing these qualifications, the qualifications and skills to obtain them, and wanting to enjoy the rewards they bring, maybe that is happiness. Pursuing these things, the book also mentions that pleasure, honor, power, or material possessions cannot truly give us happiness because they lead to feeling other deficiencies, which in turn lead to new challenges.

It's because we face it. Continuously experiencing shortages and trying to overcome those shortages in life is actually quite painful and tiring. Therefore, in fact, if you just think that pursuing rewards and happiness will lead to true happiness, you may not actually find true happiness. Life is not about living twice, and as you live, life can be like being robbed, and you may even fail. In the context of family life in a church, there is a study for couples, including those who are about to get married. In the life of those couples, in the first session, there is a saying: If people sit down to get married thinking that marriage will be the reward for happiness in their lives, they may end up unhappy instead. It conveys this message. It suddenly sounds like a conclusion, but it is about following Jesus by believing in Jesus.

It is given at that time. This is the truth, and oh, this is the gospel. I would like to explain a little more. When we believe in Jesus and are different, then, in the unconditional love of God, Christians are rewarded with the ultimate reward, which is the kingdom of God, eternal life. And within that reward, we can let go of certain things on this earth. Now, that is the life of a Christian. It can be said that it is actually happiness for those who believe in Jesus and are different. What I mean is that because we believe in the kingdom of God, we can let go of things like this on earth. Because we believe in the love of the cross, we can forgive things like that. Even if we don't have to live like that, feeling miserable or like a failure, we can now be liberated and free from there. That is what the kingdom of heaven is like. In Matthew chapter 5, Jesus talks about blessings.

Do they have blessings or not? Do they have the kingdom of heaven? It says, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Do we see the poor? Are those who are poor in spirit seen? Are those who mourn blessed? Are those who are suffering blessed? Are we blessed, being poor, hungry, and suffering? Not really. However, the reason it says, Do they have blessings or not? Do they have blessings? is because the kingdom of God is theirs, and rewards are given because of that. Therefore, Christians have already received their eternal reward on this earth, so they don't just live as mere passersby or spectators on this earth. They don't just live carelessly. They don't just chase after things on this earth. They can detach a bit from that fierce race, that competition, and don't have to live so desperately. That is the blessing given to us. In today's passage, Jesus says, Follow me, and here, Simon and Andrew follow Jesus.

Let's go back to our main text, and let's read verse 18 one more time. They immediately left their nets and followed Jesus. Amen. They left their nets and followed Jesus. They were fishermen. However, they left their nets, they left their boat, and followed Jesus. If we look at Luke chapter 5, today's main text is recorded in much more detail. Jesus got into Peter's boat and taught. They listened to His words. But the situation they were in was that they had been fishing all night and caught nothing. It was a day of disappointment. When a fisherman doesn't catch any fish, it's not a good feeling, right? It feels like you've wasted your day. At that moment, Jesus told them to cast the nets into the deep. Peter, who was an expert fisherman, had been fishing all night and caught nothing.

Jesus was, after all, not seen by the people in the neighborhood of Nazareth as the son of a carpenter, not a professional carpenter. The fishing business was for Peter and Andrew, the professionals. But I suffered all night, relying on the words, I cast the net. Oh, then so many fish were caught that the net tore because of the abundance. Normally, in that situation, you should tightly hold onto Jesus, right? Fishermen should tightly hold onto someone who causes such a big success, shouldn't they? However, in the Gospel of Luke chapter 5, immediately Peter fell at Jesus' knees, saying, Lord, I am a sinful man, please leave me. So, they did not see him just as someone who catches a lot of fish. This person is divine. This person is like the moon, shining with holiness. At that moment, Jesus tells Peter to follow him, saying, I will make you fishers of men, a completely different life.

It is a calling that changes the meaning and purpose of life to the point of living. They lived as fish that throw water and dry water. They believed and lived. But now, they believe in Jesus and live according to Jesus. In other words, the meaning and purpose of life change. In fact, catching a lot of fish is not the meaning of life. However, after living like that for decades, catching a lot of fish itself becomes the meaning of life, as if that is the purpose of life. For a business person, just making a lot of money is not the meaning and purpose of life, but eventually, it becomes the reason and purpose of my life. Success is not blindly the meaning or purpose of life, but eventually, it becomes the meaning and purpose of life. Another important thing is that the criteria for it are actually ambiguous.

How much do you need to catch to be considered successful? How much do you need to earn to be considered successful? How much do you need to achieve to truly call it a success? The criteria for success are actually quite ambiguous. Therefore, it often depends on surpassing others. If our boat is bigger than theirs, if our store is better than theirs, if I do better than my friend, if my house is slightly larger than theirs, it can feel like success. It's all relative like this, as if this is what defines success. This is the standard set by the world and reality. As I mentioned last week, it's an evolutionary outcome. It's like survival of the fittest, in other words, the products of competition that require certain conditions and qualifications. This is what shapes the reality we live in today. Believing in Jesus ultimately leads to the same place.

It's not just about being outstanding, but believing in Jesus is about salvation from there, standing out more in a world like Egypt, not becoming a more prominent presence, but being saved from there, that's my salvation. It's not necessary to live like that, but the truth that comes from believing in Jesus and following Jesus is salvation and blessing. Believing in Jesus means I can say it's a separation from what I have believed and lived up to now. If Simon and Andrew see it today, they thought they were just fishing, but now believing in Jesus is a separation from what I believed and lived. Believing in Jesus is that. It's a change in what I believe. I still go to church, but what I believe is still myself and what this world offers, and what shouldn't be. The slight peace that religion offers.

A little comfort can be obtained, but if you continue your faith life that way, my life doesn't change because what I believe in hasn't changed, so there is no change in my life. If there is no change no matter what you do, how will it be? You get tired. Then, there are times when your faith life just becomes the hardship of religious life. Love you all. In the end, as expected, I hope you believe in Jesus. Even if it takes some time, even today, there are people who come to church for the first time. It may take some time, but I hope you decide to believe in Jesus. Today, as we worship, we earnestly pray for God to give us the gift of faith. I will conclude my words. Believing and the existence of my daughter is a blessing. Furthermore, how blessed it is to meet and seek the one who is worthy of Him. We don't have a TV at home, but when I watch YouTube, it just cuts off abruptly.

You know, as I tend to see things from a religious and faithful perspective, I found out why algorithms are trending these days. There's this story of Heo Gyeong-yeong from that PD Notebook show that's been on the rise. I watched about 10 minutes of it. The name is not Heo Gyeong-ryeong, it's Heo Gyeong-yeong. From the beginning, I didn't have a good feeling about that person, that human being. So, he said to take milk, write down the expiration date, and just drink the milk. Thank goodness he didn't die after seeing it for six months. He came back again. Some old man, so how can you rely on that and stake your belief and property on it? Oh my, not believing in Jesus, thinking there's nothing to believe in this world, doubting Buddhism. If you look at it that way, I'm not saying I don't believe in atheism from a religious point of view. It's defined as believing that there is no God. Oh, that's right. So, believers ask to prove that God exists. In the end, everyone believes.

I'm afraid it's faith. But finding someone you can truly trust and rely on, and someone worth following, I don't know how long it's been. In Philippians chapter 3, Apostle Paul confesses what his happiness is like. So, being able to give up or discard something is a blessing, whether it can be given up or discarded, that is the blessing, and that person is Jesus Christ. If you believe in Jesus Christ, you can follow Him. He is the one worth following, the one who is worthy, and it is acceptable. Jesus leads us to the Father's eternal home. Even though He may not give us things that we think we need, He blesses us with the same blessings. In today's text, it says that He will make people fishers of men. In other words, He is calling us not to rely on or use people, but to serve those who can love people. In fact, we believe in material things.

Life is a journey following material things. It's not because you and I are particularly greedy, but because that's the reality of this world. As a result, we often lose sight of truly precious things like people, family, and even our own lives. It feels like our precious lives and desires are being stolen. However, now, living a new life and a new life in Jesus, we no longer need to be like fishermen trying to catch everything. Believing in Jesus changes the purpose and meaning of life. It's not about chasing after fish, but about following Jesus. Living a life of love flowing from Jesus is a truly blessed life. Who we love and what we use are not about people or material things, but about following Jesus.

It's not about stopping people, but about how people act when they become wealthy in this world. Do you know how recklessly they treat others? Just like in Matthew chapter 6, where it asks if clothing is more important than the body, if food is more important than life. In a reality where means are misused for the wrong purposes, when we meet Jesus, we gain the wisdom to know who we should love and what we should use for that love. It's okay to be ordinary. There were fishermen in Galilee, ordinary and unspecial people. Jesus worked through these people. We don't have to be great because our God is great enough. Living as citizens of His kingdom is therefore a blessed thing. In Jesus, in eternal life, in that reward, we can let go of the water and live a new life. I met a brother a long time ago.

This brother is a public official in the field of social welfare, so he always deals with people from the lower class who come with complaints, making it difficult for him. So, it's better if they don't come, but it's better if they do come. Nevertheless, he still receives his salary. However, this person believed in Jesus, and that changed things. It's not that the work changed, but his heart in dealing with those people changed. Even if he has to go to see those difficult people, he can treat them with love for Jesus and love for his neighbors, so he is happy. I saw him confessing this. Believing in Jesus and following Jesus can change the meaning and purpose of life like this. It's the same towards my wife, my husband, and everyone next to me. The blessing of believing in Jesus and following Jesus is for all of us, the blessing of God.

May we pray for the grace to realize unconditional love, the meaning and purpose of life within it, and may that blessing overflow to me, to you, to all of us in the name of Jesus.

2024.06.09. 주일예배 - “행복, 삶의 의미와 목적”

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