December 18 - The Sins of Pride and Laziness 자랑과 태만의 죄

December 18 - The Sins of Pride and Laziness

 

“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” – Deuteronomy 8:18

 

 

Moses is preaching to Israel and preparing them to enter the promised land. He reminds them of all God has miraculously done in bringing them out of Egyptian slavery and during their wilderness wanderings over the last forty years. Moses notifies the Israelites that God plans to make them a success story. But, when they settle in the promised land and begin to live comfortable lives, they must remember that God is the source of their well-being and any success they achieve. “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth and for me”(vs. 17).

 

When we commit our way to God, He prepares His way for us just as He did with the Israelites in their wilderness wanderings. And God gives us the ability to be a success story for Him when, in all that we do, we do it for Him…So, we should always recognize His hand in our lives and know that God is working for our good (see Romans 8:28). We must never forget that the credit for God’s favor and our success belongs to God, not ourselves. Our success is not because of anything we do; it’s because of everything God does!

 

When we live our lives according to God’s plans and purposes, He gives us the ability to accomplish it and be successful…to be a success story for God! “Keep this book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). 

 

A man often boasts and brags in a worldly manner (James 4:15-16). Just as a doctor boasts about his ability to cure when he cannot cure at all, a man boasts and brags about his ability to live and make decisions without the help of God. We often forget God when things in our lives go smoothly. We seek God when it’s difficult and painful but forget Him when we do not face any problems. Moses advised the Israelites not to forget God, who granted them material and spiritual blessings (Deuteronomy 8:10-14).

 

When he planned to attack Russia, Napoleon heard his friend saying, “A man plans, but victory comes from God.” However, Napoleon replied proudly, “Both plans and victory come from me.” In the end, he failed to conquer Russia and was humbled

 

Even when we commit all things to God, we can be prideful (James 4:17). Jesus, in his parable of talents, pointed out the sin of pride. Two men received praise for their faithful and good works and pleased the master, but the other man was judged for his laziness and wickedness (Matthew 25:14-30). The biggest sin of Christians today is laziness. God has given much to us, but we return to Him very little. A famous Latin saying has the expression ‘Deo Volente,’ which means ‘if God is willing.’ This has to be our motto. If we trust in His absolute sovereignty, we should not be prideful and lazy; we should only seek His divine will. 

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Thank God for faithful teachers in the church. Pray that they will be encouraged by the Spirit to communicate life-changing truths. 

Prayer Pointer: When I put my faith in Jesus Christ as my savior, and I asked him to forgive and to come into my life, and He does - from that moment forward, I have established a personal relationship with God that I have to develop, you know, through Bible reading and prayer, and living my life for him. – Anne Graham Lotz.

Bible Reading: Jonah; Revelation 9

 

 

 

 

12월 18일 - 자랑과 태만의 죄

 

“네 하나님 여호와를 기억하라 그가 네게 재물 얻을 능을 주셨음이라 이같이 하심은 네 열조에게 맹세하신 언약을 오늘과 같이 이루려 하심이니라” - 신 8:18

 

 

모세는 이스라엘 백성에게 말씀을 전하며 약속의 땅에 들어가도록 준비시키고 있었습니다. 그는 지난 40년의 애굽의 노예 생활과 광야에서 방황하는 동안 하나님께서 그들에게 기적을 행한  모든 일을 다시 상기시키고 있습니다. 그리고 그는 이스라엘 백성에게 하나님께서 그들을 통하여 성공 사례로 삼으실 계획이 있다고 알려줍니다. 그러나 그들이 약속의 땅에서 안락한 삶을 살면, 그들의 행복과 성취의 성공의 진정한 근원이 하나님이라는 것을 기억해야 합니다.  "그러나 네가 마음에 이르기를 내 능력과 내 손의 힘으로 내가 이 재물을 얻었다 말할 것이라"(17절).

 

하나님께 우리의 길을 맡기면 광야에서 방황하던 이스라엘 백성에게 행하셨던 것처럼 우리를 위해 길을 예비하십니다. 하나님은 우리의 모든 일에서 그를 위해 일하면 성공 이야기가 되도록  능력을 주십니다. 그러므로 우리는 항상 우리 삶에서 일하시는 하나님의 손길을 인식하고 하나님은 우리의 유익을 위해 일하고 계시다는 것을 알아야 합니다(롬 8:28). 하나님의 은혜와 성공에 대한 영예가 우리 자신에게 있지 않고 하나님께 있다는 사실을 잊어서는 안 됩니다. 우리의 성공은 우리가 행한 일 때문이 아니라 하나님께서 행하시는 모든 일 때문입니다!

 

우리가 하나님의 계획과 목적에 따라 살아 가면 하나님의 성공 스토리가 되도록 하나님은 우리에게  성취하고 성공할 수 있는 능력을 주십니다. “이 율법책을 네 입에서 떠나지 말게 하며 주야로 그것을 묵상하여 그 안에 기록된 대로 다 지켜 행하라 그리하면 네 갈이 평탄하게 될 것이며 네가 형통하리라” (수 1:8).  

 

사람은 종종 세상적인 방식으로 성공을 자랑합니다(약 4:15-16). 의사가 전혀 치료할 수 없는데도 자신의 능력을 자랑하는 것처럼, 사람은 하나님의 도움 없이 살수 있고 결정을 내릴 수 있다고 자랑합니다. 우리의 삶의 일들이 순조롭게 진행되면 하나님을 잊어버라고 힘들고 고통스러울 때 하나님을 찾지만 어떤 때는 어려움이 없울 때에도 하나님을 잊어버립니다. 모세는 이스라엘 백성들에게 물질적, 영적 축복을 주신 하나님을 잊지 말아야 한다고 우리에게 교훈합니다(신 8:10-14).

 

나폴레옹이 러시아를 공격할 계획을 세웠을 때 그의 친구가 "사람은 계획을 세우지만 승리는 하나님에게서 온다"고 말하는 것을 듣고 나폴레옹은 "계획과 승리도 모두 나에게서 나온다"고 자랑스럽게 대답했습니다. 결국 그는 러시아를 정복하지 못하고 실패하고 말핬습니다. 

 

우리가 모든 것을 하나님께 맡기는 경우에도 교만해 질수 있습니다(약 4:17). 예수님은 달란트의 비유에서 교만의 죄를 지적합니다. 두 사람은 신실한 행실로 칭찬을 받고 주인을 기쁘게 했지만, 다른 사람은 게으름과 사악함으로 심판을 받았습니다(마 25:14-30). 오늘날 그리스도인들의 가장 큰 죄는 나태함입니다. 하나님은 우리에게 많은 것을 주셨지만 다시 하나님께 돌려드리지 않고 있습니다. 라틴어로 유명한 속담에 'Deo Volente'라는 말이 있는데, '신의 뜻이라면'이라는 의미입니다. 이것이 우리의 모토가 되어야 합니다. 우리가 하나님의 절대적인 주권을 신뢰한다면, 교만하거나 나태하지 않고 오직 하나님의 신성한 뜻을 성취하기 위해 힘쓸 것입니다. 

 

 

오늘의 기도: 교회 안에 충성스러운 교사가 있음을 하나님께 감사하고 그들이 성령의 위로를 받으며 삶을 변화시키는 진리를 잘 전달할 수 있도록 기도하십시오.

기도 지침: 예수 그리스도를 나의 구주로 영접했을 때 나의 죄를 용서해 주시고, 나의 삶 속에 오시도독 기도한 그대로 그 순간부터 지금까지 하나님과의 개인적인 관계를 맺고 성경공부와 기도, 그리고 주님을 위한 삶으로 통하여 주님과의 관계를 발전시켜 나가고 있다. - 안네 그래함 로츠

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