Wisdom for everyday living-1

마음의 경영은 사람에게 있어도 말의 응답은 여호와께로서 나느니라 ² 사람의 행위가 자기 보기에는 모두 깨끗하여도 여호와는 심령을 감찰하시느니라 ³ 너의 행사를 여호와께 맡기라 그리하면 너의 경영하는 것이 이루리라…. ⁹ 사람이 마음으로 자기의 길을 계획할지라도 그 걸음을 인도하는 자는 여호와시니라. The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. ² All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.

 ³ Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established….⁹ The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. (Prov. 16:1-3, 9)

내가 마음을 다하여 이 모든 일을 궁구하며 살펴 본즉 의인과 지혜자나 그들의 행하는 일이나 다 하나님의 손에 있으니 사랑을 받을는지 미움을 받을는지 사람이 알지 못하는 것은 모두 그 미래임이니라 ² 모든 사람에게 임하는 모든 것이 일반이라 의인과 악인이며 선하고 깨끗한 자와 깨끗지 않은 자며 제사를 드리는 자와 제사를 드리지 아니하는 자의 결국이 일반이니 선인과 죄인이며 맹세하는 자와 맹세하기를 무서워 하는 자가 일반이로다 ³ 모든 사람의 결국이 일반인 그것은 해 아래서 모든 일 중에 악한 것이니 곧 인생의 마음에 악이 가득하여 평생에 미친 마음을 품다가 후에는 죽은 자에게로 돌아가는 것이라 ⁴ 모든 산 자 중에 참예한 자가 소망이 있음은 산 개가 죽은 사자보다 나음이니라 ⁵ 무릇 산 자는 죽을 줄을 알되 죽은 자는 아무 것도 모르며 다시는 상도 받지 못하는 것은 그 이름이 잊어버린 바 됨이라  ⁶ 그 사랑함과 미워함과 시기함이 없어진지 오래니 해 아래서 행하는 모든 일에 저희가 다시는 영영히 분복이 없느니라 ⁷ 너는 가서 기쁨으로 네 식물을 먹고 즐거운 마음으로 네 포도주를 마실찌어다 이는 하나님이 너의 하는 일을 벌써 기쁘게 받으셨음이니라

 ⁸ 네 의복을 항상 희게하며 네 머리에 향 기름을 그치지 않게 할찌니라 ⁹ 네 헛된 평생의 모든 날 곧 하나님이 해 아래서 네게 주신 모든 헛된 날에 사랑하는 아내와 함께 즐겁게 살찌어다 이는 네가 일평생에 해 아래서 수고하고 얻은 분복이니라

 ¹⁰ 무릇 네 손이 일을 당하는 대로 힘을 다하여 할찌어다 네가 장차 들어갈 음부에는 일도 없고 계획도 없고 지식도 없고 지혜도 없음이니라. But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man does not know; both are before him. ² It is the same for all, since the same event happens to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As the good one is, so is the sinner, and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. ³ This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. ⁴ But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. ⁵ For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. ⁶ Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun. ⁷ Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do. ⁸ Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head. ⁹ Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.

 ¹⁰ Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. (Eccl. 9:1-10)

FCF: We tend to feel discouraged by the certainty of death and robbed of everyday life's joy.  

주제: 우리는 죽음의 확실성에 비추어 우리의 매일 생활을 하나님이 주신 선물로 즐겨야 합니다.

Theme: In view of the certainty of death, we must enjoy our everyday living as God’s gift.  

Introduction: It is good to worship God on New Year’s Day. There is no essential difference between yesterday and today. Yesterday, we had 24 hours, daytime and nighttime, during which we ate, drank, read newspapers or books, took some rest, and slept. Today, we are repeating pretty much the same things, except for having the Lord’s Day service. However, we are starting a brand-new year, which causes us to have a sense of hope and anticipation and make some new year wishes and resolutions. Generally, we wish for health, prosperity, success, or happiness, even though we can’t surely fulfill all our wishes and resolutions. Unfortunately, our realities often betray our wishes. As we launch this new year, we wonder how we will make it meaningful, successful, and blissful, not knowing what trials, dangers, or challenges lie ahead of us. Fear of failure, disease, danger, death, and despair makes us concerned about our well-being or security throughout this year. If we go down to the rock bottom of all our fears, we will find there is fear of death. Conscious or unconscious or subconscious of death, we will try to live a meaningful and rewarding life. However, no matter how desperately we wish to be exempt from pains and troubles, we will go through ups and downs, vicissitudes of life, success and failure, pain and pleasure, etc. In such a real-life setting, we still strive to hope for a meaningful and happy life while fighting a sense of meaninglessness or nothingness in life.

            So, I would like to turn our attention to King Solomon, who struggled with the same issues in life, came to realize certain truths of life, and offers us advice for a wise life. Based on his personal experiences, he evaluates various philosophies in life and offers us sound counsel for living. In the text today, Solomon gives us advice for everyday life in view of the uncertainty of the future and the certainty of death. Every day, we read the news of homicides, suicides, natural disasters, wars, auto accidents, and so on. While reading such tragic news, we often feel as if we were not safe from death. Even though we are fine now, it doesn’t mean we will be sheltered from death in the future. One day, we will certainly face death if the Lord doesn’t return sooner or later.

Considering the reality of death affects the way we feel, think, or live. Thinking about the certainty of death, some feel nervous and anxious. So, many today live a joyless life with a kind of doomsday pessimism. Some are worried about high inflation or imminent economic depression. Others are worried they may get laid off and lose their home. Indeed, many of us are concerned about high gas prices, health, children, education, and so on. We may be concerned about pain, suffering, or death. Indeed, anxiety robs us of joy in life. That is as true today as it was in the time of Solomon. In the text, Solomon suggests that we must enjoy our everyday living as God’s gift in view of the certainty of death. No doubt life is a gift of God. We must enjoy it now as God’s precious gift. But we often fail to live a joyful life while wallowing in the miseries of life. We must enjoy God-given life in Christ. From Solomon’s observations of life, we may learn some practical advice for living. I have three points to share with you. I will discuss the first point today, which is…

I.               불확실한 미래에 대하여 하나님의 주권을 의지하라.

Trust the sovereignty of God for your uncertain future.

Solomon is considered one of the wisest persons in human history. He wrote the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Also, he wrote some poems. He studied the word of God, history, literature, nature, architecture, humanity, and so on. He attained the reputation of a sage. Indeed, he enjoyed many things life could offer: wealth, pleasure, wisdom, and power. Despite all this, however, he concluded life is in vain. Observing the natural world and the lives of people and studying his own experiences in the world, Solomon cried out in despair, “All is vanity, vanity of vanities” (Eccl. 1:2) and all labors of man are like chasing after the wind. He argued that all things done under the sun do not make us genuinely happy. He observed the absurdities of life and acknowledged the limitations of man’s wisdom and power.

One of the absurdities he struggled over was the wicked enjoyed prosperity and longevity whereas the righteous suffered poverty and untimely death. Listen to the words of Solomon: 세상에 행하는 헛된 일이 있나니 곧 악인의 행위대로 받는 의인도 있고 의인의 행위대로 받는 악인도 있는 것이라 내가 이르노니 이것도 헛되도다. There is a vanity that takes place on earth, that there are righteous people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked people to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity (Eccl. 8:14). Raising the question of theodicy (the justice of God or the goodness of God), Solomon lamented all things done under the sun are meaningless like a vapor without substance. Even though he believed in the ultimate fulfillment of divine justice, he confessed the limitations of his understanding and knowledge as follows: 하나님의 모든 행사를 살펴보니 해 아래서 하시는 일을 사람이 능히 깨달을 수 없도다 사람이 아무리 애써 궁구할찌라도 능히 깨닫지 못하나니 비록 지혜자가 아노라 할찌라도 능히 깨닫지 못하리로다. then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out (8:17).

In the context of the seeming discrepancy between God’s justice and our experiences, and of the inscrutability of God’s works, we must understand Solomon’s statement of God’s sovereignty in Eccl. 9:1. Surely, we struggle between our faith and our experiences. We believe God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked according to His unbendable justice. However, we experience something contrary to our knowledge of God’s justice. So, some may raise a question about the existence of God while flatly denying the justice of God. As Solomon says in v. 1, however, we must affirm “righteous men, wise men, and their deeds are in the hand of God.” God’s people, who rely on God and endeavor to live a righteous and wise life according to the word of God, may feel like being disappointed or even betrayed by God when they watch wicked sinners perpetrating social injustices and crimes, accumulating wealth, enjoying a long life, and receiving a lot of tributes from people in their funerals. They may feel as if their faithful services to God were useless. To such people, Solomon says 의인과 지혜자나 그들의 행하는 일이나 다 하나님의 손에 있으니. “the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God.”  

Then, what does he mean by it? First, it implies God’s people are under His authority. “Hand” in the Bible refers to power or authority. Solomon lamented the unpredictable circumstances that seemed to be contrary to the law of the justice of God. The righteous suffered the inflictions God would usually impose upon the sinners, whereas the wicked lived a long life in prosperity. Due to the puzzling delay in the implementation of God’s justice, the wicked today unashamedly commit heinous crimes, wielding their fists toward God. They both deny the existence of God and defy the authority of God over them. God is the Creator of all things. They are God’s creatures. But they deny this truth, challenging the kingly authority of God. Like Adam and Eve who defied the authority of God’s Word, declared their independence from God, and attempted to be like God in their lives, people today still attempt to declare independence from their Creator-God. They are diligently building “the Tower of Babel” to establish their kingships and kingdoms. They refuse to serve God as their only King. As seen in the fall of Adam and Eve, their independence from God is a rebellion against Him.   

Secular humanism preaches, “You are the master of your life. Exalt yourself.”  William Earnest Henley expressed this idea aptly in his poem “Invictus”: 나를 뒤덮은 밤, 지옥 같은 암흑에서, 나는 나의 굴하지 않는 영혼에 대하여 신이 있다면 어떤 신이든 고맙게 생각한다. 잔혹한 환경의 압박에서도 나는 눈도 까닥하지 않고 소리 질러 울지도 않았다. “우연”이라는 놈이 휘두르는 곤봉에 내 머리는 피를 흘리지만 고개를 숙이지 않았다. 문이 아무리 좁다 해도 상관 없다. 말씀 책이 나를 심판으로 고소해도 나는 내 운명의 주인이며 내 영혼의 선장이다. “Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance, I have not winced nor cried aloud: Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody but unbowed. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.” According to the Bible, we are not the masters of our destinies. We are not the captains of our souls. We are subject to the sovereign hand of God. We are under His absolute authority. No matter how hard we may try to be the masters of our lives, we can’t have mastery over our fate. We can neither rule over our quick tempers nor change our temperaments. We are so ignorant and fragile before our unpredictable, uncertain future no matter how high we may exalt ourselves. Some say, “I am unconquerable, invincible, and indomitable.” However, we don’t even know what will happen in the future. The uncertainty and unpredictability of the future expose our weaknesses.

Solomon says in v. 1, 사랑을 받을는지 미움을 받을는지 사람이 알지 못하는 것은 모두 그 미래임이니라. “Whether a person will be loved or hated– no one knows what lies ahead” (Eccl. 9:1). We can’t tell what awaits us throughout this year. We are launching our journey together today. We have 365 days to live. We have to go through them. We don’t know whether we will be loved or hated. Love and hatred are emotions typical of our relations. In our relationships, we experience love and hatred. We can’t guarantee whether or not we will be loved by God or people as a result of our good efforts. Regardless of our efforts, we may be loved or hated. We can’t always guarantee good results for our work. As mentioned above, some wicked people enjoy prosperity despite their abundant wrongdoings, whereas some godly people experience failures and hardships despite their godliness. Most likely, we won’t always have good happenings. Also, we won’t always have bad happenings. We simply do not know what lies ahead of us in the future. This fact should make us not only humble before God and reliant upon God.

Certainly, we are not the masters of our destiny. God is the Master who rules over all things. Therefore, we shouldn’t act like a king in our lives. Rather, we should recognize the sovereignty of God humbly. If we act like the king, we will be humiliated like King Nebuchadnezzar. He looked outside the window in his palace and gloated over his vast kingdom. As he thought of all his great accomplishments, he exalted himself to be like God. As a result, he became insane and spent the next seven years like a beast in the field. God brought him down to such a beastly state. Then, He exalted him back by bringing him back to his mind. Then, he humbly acknowledged the sovereignty of God over all kingdoms. Listen to his words, ³⁵ 땅의 모든 거민을 없는 것 같이 여기시며 하늘의 군사에게든지 땅의 거민에게든지 그는 자기 뜻대로 행하시나니 누가 그의 손을 금하든지 혹시 이르기를 네가 무엇을 하느냐 할 자가 없도다….³⁷ 그러므로 지금 나 느부갓네살이 하늘의 왕을 찬양하며 칭송하며 존경하노니 그의 일이 다 진실하고 그의 행하심이 의로우시므로 무릇 교만하게 행하는 자를 그가 능히 낮추심이니라. ³⁵ all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"…. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble (Dan. 4:35-37).

Human pride is a rebellious spirit against the God of sovereignty. We must humble ourselves before God as we begin this new year, acknowledging our limitations, weaknesses, and finiteness given the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the future. Pride or confidence in our power hinders us from living by faith in God’s sovereignty. Oswald Chambers warns us against the danger of human pride and independence before God as follows: “The hindrance in our spiritual life is that we will not be continually converted, there are ‘wadges’ of obstinacy where our pride spits at the throne of God and says—‘I won’t.’ We deify independence and wilfulness and call them by the wrong name. What God looks on as obstinate weakness, we call strength.” People today deify human autonomy. They argue they have the freedom to do anything. But they need to know they are accountable to the authority of God. Human autonomy contradicts God’s sovereignty. We must learn to place ourselves under God’s sovereignty. So, let’s trust the sovereignty of God for our uncertain future. Our future is in the hand of God. We do not know how the days of this year will be and what will happen to us. But we do know God holds our future in His powerful hands. Indeed, Christ is the Captain in our lives. He has all authority in heaven and on earth. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He has given us this new year through His authority. So, we can rest in this blessed truth and handle our anxiety even though we do not know what lies ahead of us.

Second, it implies God’s people are under His control (Eccl. 3). God’s hand is a symbol of God’s power and control. In this verse, we are reminded that all things are under God’s control even though everything seems to happen by chance and things are in chaos. Sometimes, it is hard to believe God’s sovereign control when some wicked criminals are declared innocent verdicts in court while some innocent people are sentenced to death. Many assume such absurdities disprove the existence of God. They argue if God does nothing to correct such injustices, it doesn’t matter whether He is real or not. Solomon struggled with this issue. Job also struggled with this issue. Based on God’s strict justice, that is, “God punishes the sinful and rewards the righteous,” Job’s three friends contended that Job must have sinned grievously against God because Job was suffering unbearable pains due to his hidden sins. Thus, they tried to exhort Job to repent of his sins and started a new life with the forgiveness of God. However, Job was not suffering because of his sins. He was suffering, not knowing why. We know God was testing his faith and integrity by allowing Satan to afflict him. There are plenty of righteous sufferers in the world. Also, there are a host of wicked people who enjoy temporary, external blessings in the world. This reality never denies the existence, justice, and goodness of God.

Honestly speaking, we do not understand how God works in such cases. But we do know all things are under God’s control. Adversities, hardships, pains, or unjust things do not prove all things are in chaos and disprove God’s providence. Rather, they are realities sinful human beings have created. But all of them are under God’s perfect control. They can’t get out of God’s powerful hand. God not only rules over them but also directs them to His final purpose. Thus, Solomon says in Eccl. 3:1-10 as follows: 천하에 범사가 기한이 있고 모든 목적이 이룰 때가 있나니 ² 날 때가 있고 죽을 때가 있으며 심을 때가 있고 심은 것을 뽑을 때가 있으며 ³ 죽일 때가 있고 치료 시킬 때가 있으며 헐 때가 있고 세울 때가 있으며 ⁴ 울 때가 있고 웃을 때가 있으며 슬퍼할 때가 있고 춤출 때가 있으며 ⁵ 돌을 던져 버릴 때가 있고 돌을 거둘 때가 있으며 안을 때가 있고 안는 일을 멀리 할 때가 있으며 ⁶ 찾을 때가 있고 잃을 때가 있으며 지킬 때가 있고 버릴 때가 있으며 ⁷ 찢을 때가 있고 꿰맬 때가 있으며 잠잠할 때가 있고 말할 때가 있으며 ⁸ 사랑할 때가 있고 미워할 때가 있으며 전쟁할 때가 있고 평화할 때가 있느니라 ⁹ 일하는 자가 그 수고로 말미암아 무슨 이익이 있으랴 ¹⁰ 하나님이 인생들에게 노고를 주사 애쓰게 하신 것을 내가 보았노라 ¹¹ 하나님이 모든 것을 지으시되 때를 따라 아름답게 하셨고 또 사람에게 영원을 사모하는 마음을 주셨느니라 그러나 하나님의 하시는 일의 시종을 사람으로 측량할 수 없게 하셨도다. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: ² a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; ³ a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ⁶ a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; ⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. ⁹ What gain has the worker from his toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end (Eccl. 3:1-11).  

No matter how hard we wish only good things would happen to us, we won’t most likely have only good things. Then, the question is “What are good things we wish to have this year?” Well, sometimes we will suffer from failures, weaknesses, diseases, sorrows, or wounds. And we may enjoy such blessings as material blessings, health, success, good relations, etc. In a way, we need all of them so that we can appreciate what God does for His glory and our good in life. God has made everything, both good and bad, beautiful in its time, which implies God has made everything appropriate in its time. God draws His pictures of our lives according to His perfect wisdom. So, we can trust God’s sovereign control over our lives in which we may go through things bad and good people commonly experience. Trusting God’s sovereign control makes us keep a balance between the opposite poles. It may not be easy to trust God’s sovereign control when we are greatly puzzled by abnormalities, absurdities, or inscrutable things. Though such things may go beyond our ken, we still can trust God while committing all things to His sovereign control.

All our plans, projects, determinations, or challenges this year are under God’s control. So, we should neither complain nor fret when we see the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. Even when we suffer, we must rest in God’s powerful hand. David gives us advice this way: 행악자를 인하여 불평하여 하지 말며 불의를 행하는 자를 투기하지 말지어다 ² 저희는 풀과 같이 속히 베임을 볼 것이며 푸른 채소 같이 쇠잔할 것임이로다 ³ 여호와를 의뢰하여 선을 행하라 땅에 거하여 그의 성실로 식물을 삼을지어다 ⁴ 또 여호와를 기뻐하라 저가 네 마음의 소원을 이루어 주시리로다 ⁵ 너의 길을 여호와께 맡기라 저를 의지하면 저가 이루시고 ⁶ 네 의를 빛같이 나타내시며 네 공의를 정오의 빛같이 하시리로다 ⁷ 여호와 앞에 잠잠하고 참아 기다리라 자기 길이 형통하며 악한 꾀를 이루는 자를 인하여 불평하여 말지어다. Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! ² For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. ³ Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. ⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. ⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. ⁷ Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! (Ps. 37:1-7). Being under God’s hands doesn’t mean we will have only prosperity, health, or a pain-free life. We God’s children do suffer, but we trust that Jesus is enough, He is in control, and His timing and plan are best for us amid the suffering.

Third, it implies God’s people are under His care. God’s hand is a metaphor for His power. His hand may be likened to the hand of a shepherd. The shepherd protects his sheep from predators. He provides for his sheep. Also, he finds them and guides their paths when they go astray. Sometimes, he corrects them when they do wrong and he delivers them from danger. In short, the sheep are under his tender care. Concerning God’s hand, this is a biblical picture we may think of, which is well illustrated in Ps. 23: 여호와는 나의 목자시니 내가 부족함이 없으리로다 ² 그가 나를 푸른 초장에 누이시며 쉴만한 물 가으로 인도하시는도다

 ³ 내 영혼을 소생시키시고 자기 이름을 위하여 의의 길로 인도하시는도다 ⁴ 내가 사망의 음침한 골짜기로 다닐찌라도 해를 두려워하지 않을 것은 주께서 나와 함께 하심이라 주의 지팡이와 막대기가 나를 안위하시나이다 ⁵ 주께서 내 원수의 목전에서 내게 상을 베푸시고 기름으로 내 머리에 바르셨으니 내 잔이 넘치나이다 ⁶ 나의 평생에 선하심과 인자하심이 정녕 나를 따르리니 내가 여호와의 집에 영원히 거하리로다. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. ³ He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever (Ps. 23:1-6).

            Christ is our good Shepherd who died for us and rose again from the dead (1 Jn. 10:11). He always cares for us. So, we must cast our cares upon Him (1 Pet. 5:7). His hand signifies His work. As we work with our hands, so Christ worked with His hand. He was a carpenter. He used His hands to make furniture. Also, He touched the leper and made him whole. He took the five loaves of bread and two fish in His hands and blessed them. Then, He fed the multitudes. He used His hands to heal the man born blind. He washed the feet of His disciples with His hands. In the end, both of His hands were nailed to the cross. Even after His resurrection, He cooked some fish for the wearied disciples on the shore of the sea of Galilee. Christ’s hands worked relentlessly for the good of His people. He truly cared for His own people. Now, Christ still works the best for His sheep. When we wonder what’s going on in our lives, we must trust Christ’s working, caring Hands for us.  

Furthermore, we should believe Christ is our Sufficiency even though we suffer insufficiencies in life. We must remind ourselves of this truth every day. We can recite Ps. 23 to both God and ourselves each time we are puzzled by challenges, hardships, and absurdities in life. The fact we are under God’s hand means we are under His authority, control, and care. This means we are under God’s providence. Surely, God is in control. So, when we suffer this year, we may find assurance in this statement “the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God.” We are in God’s care. We may not know the way God works in times of trouble. We may not know what the future holds for us. But we do know God holds the future for us and God cares for us in love. Thomas Brooks said, 믿는 자가 하나님의 손에서 벗어나지 못하듯 하나님의 시야에서도 벗어나지 못한다. “As a Christian is never out of the reach of God’s hand, so he is never out of the view of God’s eye.”

            Do you believe in all this? Are you ready to start this year with assurance in God’s providential care? Are you worried about the uncertainty of the future and the certainty of death? Are you anxious about your health, children, high gas prices, high inflation, job security, and so on? Are you anxious about your schoolwork? Are you concerned about your relationship with God? Well, you must keep in mind you are in God’s hand, which never fails and never lets you down. Everything in our lives is under God’s providential goodness and faithfulness. God knows you and me. God knows how to take care of us. God’s mighty hand won’t let us down. Let’s trust God’s sovereign hand over us. As we begin this year, let’s commit all things to the God of sovereignty. God’s sovereignty brings us comfort in times of sorrow, peace in times of trouble, and confidence in times of doubt. As we journey through the year, let’s hold unto the following truth: 우리가 알거니와 하나님을 사랑하는 자 곧 그 뜻대로 부르심을 입은 자들에게는 모든 것이 합력하여 선을 이루느니라. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Rom. 8:28).

Conclusion: William Carey had been working for years to fulfill his burning desire to go as a missionary to India. Having overcome one obstacle after another, he finally found himself aboard the Oxford, bound for Asia. But before the ship could overcome contrary winds and leave the shorelines of England, he was suddenly deposited back on land by the ship’s captain who had received an anonymous letter against Carey. There the would-be missionary stood, his luggage piled up beside him, his hopes dashed. But William Carey was a plodder, and he took setbacks in stride, trusting God’s overruling plan. To his friend Andrew Fuller, he wrote: 이 일에 대하여 내가 말할 수 있는 것은 섭리의 인도가 아무리 이해할 수 없다 해도 나는 이 모든 것을 무한히 지혜로우신 하나님이 주관하고 있음을 믿어 의심치 않는다는 것이네. “All I can say in this affair is that, however mysterious the leadings of Providence are, I have no doubt but they are superintended by an infinitely wise God.” And it proved to be so. As we start this new year, let’s have confidence in God’s providential goodness. We may not be able to trace God’s hand, but we can always trust God’s heart. This fact makes us rejoice in the midst of the uncertainty of the future and the certainty of death.

In reality, however, the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the future may rob us of the enjoyment of life. Chicago Police issued a community alert recently after at least 11 armed robberies were reported within a span of five hours. And while having one's possessions stolen at gunpoint is certainly traumatic for the victims, it is not nearly as bad as being robbed of joy. After all, if you lose the enjoyment of life, what else is there? We know Christ is the Source of our joy. None of us want to start this year without joy and hope. God commands us to live a joyful, meaningful, and holy life. Let’s find our joy, meaning, and holiness in the Lord Jesus Christ, who took our sins and curses upon Himself and declared us “righteous” before the bar of God. Christ is our good Shepherd whose hand upholds us and this year for us. No one can take us away from His mighty hand. Jesus still says, ²⁸ 내가 저희에게 영생을 주노니 영원히 멸망치 아니할 터이요 또 저희를 내 손에서 빼앗을 자가 없느니라 ²⁹ 저희를 주신 내 아버지는 만유보다 크시매 아무도 아버지 손에서 빼앗을 수 없느니라. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand (Jn. 10:28-29).

Let’s start the engine of this year with the assurance of the blessed doctrine of eternal security. We are surely in the Lord’s hand, which will guide, protect, and provide for us. Certainly, we will face daunting challenges and tasks. We may still have to suffer health issues, money issues, relational issues, faith issues, or academic issues. The prospect for this year is not so bright. Like it or not, we must walk through the uncertain days of this year. The Lord is with us. He invites us to walk with Him. Let’s invite Him to walk through the year with us. As long as His hand holds us, we can take challenges and enjoy them through the Holy Spirit. Solomon gives us this advice for wise living: 마음의 경영은 사람에게 있어도 말의 응답은 여호와께로서 나느니라 ² 사람의 행위가 자기 보기에는 모두 깨끗하여도 여호와는 심령을 감찰하시느니라 ³ 너의 행사를 여호와께 맡기라 그리하면 너의 경영하는 것이 이루리라…. ⁹ 사람이 마음으로 자기의 길을 계획할지라도 그 걸음을 인도하는 자는 여호와시니라. The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. ² All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. ³ Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established….⁹ The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps (Prov. 16:1-3, 9). Now, let’s follow the Lord’s hand while committing all of our ways to Him through the year by faith and hope.   

Benediction: ²⁴ 여호와는 네게 복을 주시고 너를 지키시기를 원하며 ²⁵ 여호와는 그 얼굴로 네게 비취사 은혜 베푸시기를 원하며 ²⁶ 여호와는 그 얼굴을 네게로 향하여 드사 평강 주시기를 원하노라. "The LORD bless you and keep you; ²⁵ the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; ²⁶ the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

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