Blessing for the righteous person(2ti 2:20~22)

 

Blessing for the righteous person(2ti 2:20~22)                          (Blessing for the holy and pure person)     [딤후] 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. [딤후] 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. [딤후] 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.   In old days, we can see Christians described as good people in TV, movies, and drama. on the other hand, nowadays we can see Christians described as wicked, immoral people in TV shows, movies, and drama. People criticize us because other people think or we are actually acting not the same as what we saying to people, we hang out with other Christians only, we care about too much about how we look, and we try hard to make money and become powerful individual. Some Christian’s behavior’s like those list are really shameful. We cannot be a player in the world while we introduce ourselves as Christians. It is a serious sin that blocks spread Gospel. So, how do we live like Christians who serves Jesus? Obviously the life with Holy Spirit in your heart is. We need to live like Christian, once we received the title. We can do that with living holy and clean life. We need to live righteous life to glorify God.   A righteous life is worship God, hate sin, and praying. A righteous life wants to and try to live by God’s word and plan. When we live righteous life, what kind of blessing can we get? Today’s sermon will show you the three answers for this question.   First blessing is you will be used by God.   Apostle Paul explains principal of God’s kingdom by using metaphor of plates on verse 20. We names bowls by its’ material like; Gold plates, silver plates, Jade plates, and wooden plates. Depends on what are the purpose of plates, some plates could be well taking care by its owner, or some plates could be used as cheap and daily use.   Like this we can see plates in a household can be used as many different way by its’ materials or purposes.   We need bowl for soup, tea cup for tea, jar for Kim chi, and pot for salt. We need various plates that has different way of uses for a house to do its’ function. So, what’s important is plate that has many good uses is better than the quality of plates. The plates in the text represent people.   Let’s apply today’s text more deeply. We all want to be used as a gold plate in the house of God. We want his love and respect, we want to be honorable. In book of Act, when Moses told to people to offer materials for build a tabernacle, people were offer too many gold, silver, and brass. So Moses had to tell them to stop bringing gold, silver, and brass. When we calculate the amount of gold, silver, and brass that they offered as present currency, it is about one billion dollar. one billion dollar for a large tent and tools for service. Every tools and plates in Temples are made of Gold, silver was worthless.   But! God didn’t care about the kind of bowls. There is a story like this. One day, a rich person died, so he went to the heaven’s door carrying a big sack of gold. He told Peter “Apostle Peter, these are all gold, can you let me in?” then Peter said “Every road in heaven built with gold, gold is more common stuff than a rock in this place. You can only enter heaven with good works that you did, not with gold!”   God didn’t care whether the plate is made by gold or not, whether you are rich or not. God doesn’t like people who care about those things. Church is same, when you serve this church, it doesn’t matter if you are not a pastor or deacon. Title doesn’t matter if you do cooking or chorus. What matter is how you take care of things in your position? Jesus will use and bless a person who is fair and do one’s own work well, not shaken by one’s emotions, and live honest life.   So, what are the other blessings that righteous person can get?

 

Second, we receive the blessing of being used by God for good things(21)

2 Timothy 2:21 said “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.” We must be clean for us to be used for God’s good deeds. In Greek, the word for “clean” is έκκαθάρη (roughly read as ekkadare). It means to make something clean by getting rid of the impurities and dirt. What is a “good thing” or “good deed”? Matthew 5:16 calls a “good deed” one that glorifies God. 1 Timothy 6:18 says “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” Titus 3:8 says “those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.” Hebrews 10:24 tells us to “consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds”.

Good deeds are also ones that seek justice as written in Amos 5:14-15, “Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts.”

Romans 12:2 tell us to “not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” In other words, true good deeds of God are not from or part of our worldly society. We must not get swept away by societal pressures and norms and always strive to maintain our own viewpoints and morals in God. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 says to us, “…come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you...I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters…” Our world today is full of deceit, lust, and debauchery and each day it only grows worse. Faith is dying out. People will do anything to satisfy their greed and brief worldly pleasures. But we must always remain strong despite these conditions. We must stand firmly in faith, be alert, be careful, and strive to remain righteous.

We must stay away from sin and sinful things at all times. We must keep our distance from nonbelievers. This is how we keep ourselves clean and righteous.

What other blessings do righteous people get?

Third, when we work together in faith we will receive even greater blessings. (22) Paul warns Timothy to avoid the “evil desires of youth”. He is telling us to control and suppress the physical desires for pleasure, greed, and constant search for anything pleasurable (drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc.) as well as the desire for power and gain (desire for luxuries and things of material value) we see so frequently is young people. He does not stop there but also urges him to “pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

He is telling us to find others who seek to live a life of righteousness and work together to build a nation of God; God cannot use us if we keep to ourselves, no matter how righteously we may live.

We find that in 1 Timothy 6:11 justice, faith, love and harmony are emphasized once again.

Here, “justice” is talking to about our just God and living our lives with the truth of Jesus Christ. It is about living a life away from and that despises sin. “Love” refers to the unending love of God that allowed us to be saved by the ultimate sacrifice of the life of His only son, Jesus Christ. It is the love that we must follow, practice, and show. “Harmony” is telling us to maintain peaceful and fair relationships with those around us. It means that we must aim for mutual understanding, teaching, and gain. It is not enough for just us to be well off.

This combination of justice, faith, love, and harmony is what is needed to create the ideal relationship between people. It cannot be fulfilled by one person; it is must more effective when people of faith join together to work as one. Just a wood fire burns better when there are many twigs, logs, and sticks, when multiple people join together in faith to work towards a mutual goal, we can find a much greater chance for success. Jesus Christ even promised that he would give greater grace and blessings to those who live a righteous life and work together as one.

Hence, the many church groups, organizations, and meetings we have are all very important. For each of these groups and meetings (young adult group, Sunday School, prayer meetings, etc.) the Holy Spirit is with us in greater presence, God is with us in greater presence, He gives us greater strength, and gives us greater blessings of His grace.

Thusly, Jesus says: “18Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” We cannot be “holy” all by ourselves. It brings little good. It brings little grace. It can easily take us from being righteous to self-righteous arrogance. Being righteous on all our own can get dangerous. It is not what God wants. Conclusion What kind of blessings does a righteous person receive? First, we receive the blessing of being used for God’s precious will. (20) Second, we receive the blessing of being used by God for good things(21) Third, when we work together in faith we will receive even greater blessings. (22)

Those before us stood firm in securing South Korea’s independence. Korea’s first president, President Seung Mahn Lee, Korea’s first head of its temporary government, Koo Kim, Pastor Yangwon Song, Pastor KiChul Joo, etc. These were all Christians to stepped forward to ensure Korea’s independence, the life of its people and to pave the way for social reform. During the Japanese occupation, there were less than 2% of Christians in the population. But this small number of Christians led the people in goodness into independence movements, citizen recovery movements, enlightenment movements, etc. and created the free country it is today.

Whatever the country or group, no matter how small, if there are people of faith and confidence, their leadership can bring change to any society.

We as Christians may look like just a small number compared to the overall country or society. However, if we live a righteous life and strive to live as such, we will have no shortcomings is acting as the salt and light to the world.

God gave all of us the Gospel, gifts, material possessions, our health, and wisdom. He gave us all these things so that we may be whole before Him and use them to reach out to those living in the darkness of sin and lead them back to God. To fulfill this mission God has given each of us, we must all live a life of righteousness and work together in God’s will. Amen!

Prayer: God, let us become Christians to strive to live as righteous people, so that you may use us for your will. Let us serve you in your kingdom! Let us become the light and salt to the world so that you pour your blessings upon us! Let us work for you so that we may deserve all that you have given us! Amen.