September 20 - Wealth in the Last Days 말세의 재물

September 20 - Wealth in the Last Days

 

“Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.” – Proverbs 11:28 

 

A common theme of the book of Proverbs is the danger of trusting worldly wealth. Scripture does not condemn money but strongly warns against forgetting how temporary it is. Financial and material possessions can be taken away in an instant. In contrast, pursuing the right relationship with God results in eternal rewards, which can never be lost (Proverbs 11:4). Money cannot buy favor with God or eternal life.Paul writes to Timothy: "We brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world…But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction" (1 Timothy 6:7, 9). He also tells Timothy to charge the rich "not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches. Still, on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17). The righteous can expect rewards from the LORD, pictured as a lush plant showing signs of health.

In the ancient Middle East, there were three treasures: grain, cloth, and gold or silver. But, rich men in the region did not realize their wealth would decay. James said, “Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes” (James 5:2). Jesus also added, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19- 20). 

 

And clothes also decay, just like James said above. The Old Testament describes clothes as the symbol of wealth and status (Genesis 45:22; Joshua 7:21). The New Testament says that Paul did not covet anyone’s silver, gold, or clothing. “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing” (Acts 20:33). Even clothes made out of silver and gold decay. Third, gold and silver become useless: “Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire” (James 5:3). Gold and silver become useless and corrupted in the last few days. When Saigon in Vietnam was destroyed, a fifty thousand dollar Cadillac car could not even be sold for one hundred dollars. But Jesus warned about this kind of thing happening already in the Bible (Matthew 6:20). 

 

Therefore, a rich man faces suffering in the last few days. They face judgment because they trust in their wealth: “You have hoarded wealth in the last days” (James 5:3). It is a sin to accumulate wealth for one’s own sake. Wealth soon becomes an idol. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). He taught us to abandon our greed. Jesus demonstrated the point through the story of a rich man who relied on his wealth: “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night, your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who stores things for himself but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:20- 21). 

“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when a character is lost, all is lost.” – Billy Graham.

Today’s Prayer: Ask the King of the Church to reveal to your church its opportunities to lead lost person  to Jesus Christ. Pray that church members will be enthusiastic about this task. 

Prayer Pointer: The fewer words, the better the prayer. To have prayed well is to have studied well. -  Martin Luther

Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 10-12; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

 

 

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9월 20일 - 말세의 재물

 

“자기의 재물을 의지하는 자는 패망하려니와 의인은 푸른 잎사귀 같아서 번성하리라” -잠 11:28

 

잠언의 공통적인 주제는 사람이 세상의 재물을 의지하는 것은 위험하다는 것입니다. 성경은 재물 자체를 정죄하지 않고 그것이 얼마나 일시적인지를 기억하라고 우리에게 강력하게 경고합니다. 우리는 재물과 물질의 소유는 한순간에 잃어 버릴 수 있습니다. 반대로 우리는 하나님과의 믿음의 바른 관계를 가지고 살아가면 영원히 잃어 버리지 않는 보상을 보장 받게 됩니다(잠언 11:4). 우리는 세상의 재물로 하나님의 은혜와 영생을 살 수 없습니다.

 

바울은 디모데에게 "우리가 세상에 아무 것도 가지고 온 것이 없으매 또한 아무 것도 가지고 가지 못하리니… 부하려 하는 자들은 시험과 올무와 여러가지 어리석고 해로운 욕심에 떨어지나니 곧 사람으로 파멸과 멸망에 빠지게 하는 것이라”(딤전 6:7, 9)고 말합니다. 그리고 계속해서 부유한 자들에게 "마음을 높이지 말고 정함이 없는 재물에 소망을 두지 말고 어직 우리에게 모든 것을 후히 주시고 누리게 하시는 하나님께”(딤전 6:17) 두라고 명합니다.  하나님을 의지하는 의인은 주님이 주시는 무성한 식물과 같은 건강한 보상을 기대할 수 있습니다. 

 

고대 중동 사회에는 세 가지 보물들이 있었습니다. 이 당시 사람들은 곡물, 의복, 그리고 금과 은을 보물로 귀하게 여겼습니다. 그러나 야고보는 이 당시 부자들에게 “너의 재물은 썩었고 너희 옷은 좀먹었으며"(약 5:2) 라고 말하였고 예수님도 또한 "너희를 위하여 보물을 땅에 쌓아 두지 말라 거기는 좀과 동록이 해하며 도둑이 구멍을 뚫고 도둑질하느니라. 오직 너희를 위하여 보물을 하늘에 쌓아 두라 거기는 좀과 동록이 해하지 못하며 도둑이 구멍을 뚫지도 못하고 도둑질하지 못하느니라" (마 6:19-20)고 말씀하셨습니다. 

 

야고보가 말한대로 의복도 퇴락합니다. 구약 성경은 옷을 부와 지위의 상징으로 설명합니다(창 45:22; 수 7:21). 바울은 누구의 은이나 금이나 옷을 탐내지 않았다고 하며 "내가 아무의 은이나 금이나 의복을 탐하지 아니하였고”(행 20:33 라고 말합니다. 은과 금으로 만든 의복 조차도 부패 하고 금과 은도 가치가 없어집니다. "너희 금과 은은 녹이 슬었으니 이 녹이 너희에게 증거가 되며 불 같이 너희 살을 먹으리라"(약 5:3) 금과 은은 마지막 날에 부식되어 무가치한 것이 되어 버립니다. 베트남의 사이공이 함락되었을 때 5 만 달러 짜리 캐딜락 자동차는 100 달러에도 팔리지 않았다고 합니다. 예수님은 이미 성경에서 이런 형태의 일이 일어날 것이라고 경고하셨습니다(마 6:20). 

 

그러므로 하나님을 믿지 않는 부자들은 마지막 심판의 날에 자신들의 부유함만을 의지하고 살아왔기 하나님의 심판을 받습니다. "너희가 말세에 재물을 쌓았도다"(약 5:3). 자신만을 위해  부를 축적하는 것이 죄가 되며, 또한 자기를 위하여 부하려고 하는 것은 곧 우상이 되는 것 입니다. 사도 바울은 "그러므로 땅에 있는 너희 지체를 죽이라 곧 음란과 부정과 사욕과 악한 정욕과 탐심이나 탐심은 우상 숭배니라”(골 3:5)고 말하며 탐심을 버리라고 가르칩니다. 예수님은 자신의 부유만을 의지하고 안전하게 살 수 있다고 자랑한 부자의 비유를 통해 부자에게 말씀하셨습니다. "하나님은 이르시되 어리석은 자여 오늘 밤에 네 영혼을 도로 찾으리니 그러면 네 준비한 것이 누구의 것이 되겠느냐 하셨으니 자기를 위하여 재물을 쌓아 두고 하나님께 대하여 부요하지 못한 자가 이와 같으니라"(눅 12:20-21). 

 

 

"부를 잃으면 아무것도 잃지 않은 것이요, 건강을 잃으면 무언가를 잃은 것이요 그러나 인격을 잃으면 모든 것을 잃은 것입니다. " – 빌리 그레함

 

 

오늘의 기도: 교회의 왕이신 주님께서 당신의 교회에 읽어버린 자들을 예수님께로 인도하도록 기도하고 교회 모든 성도들의 전도의 사명에 열정을 가지도록 기도하십시오. 

기도 지침: 말을 적게 할수록, 더 좋은 기도이다. 기도하는 것을 잘 한 것은 공부를 잘 한 것이다. – 마르틴 루터” 

성경 읽기: 전도서 10-12장; 고린도후서 11:16-33