Live at Peace with Everything
Reading Scripture: Proverbs 16:7
Verse to Memorize: Hebrews 12:14
Reference: Matthew 5:9; Probers 8:17 Goal: to help believers please God by loving even enemies and having peace with them without discord to anyone An old Korean saying goes, "A cornered stone meets the mason's chisel." If one's personality makes others around him have troubles like a cornered stone, he may have many conflicts everywhere he goes and cause hard times for others.
But if one has a good personality that makes harmony like a smooth rounded stone, he can get along with others well and maintain peace without conflicts. It is good to talk to such persons and people around them feel comfortable, which allows for them to have peace with others. They themselves also lead happy lives.
- 1. Significance of Peacemaking
It is easy to find people having arguments and breaking peace. This is because they consider their own thoughts or opinions to be right. But it is only God who is good and right and the truth is the teaching of Jesus Christ who is one with the good God (John 14:6). If men had been raised by the truth and lived only in the truth, they all would have the heart of the Lord and make peace with all men. However, we have learned from our parents, teachers, neighbors, and friends.
Among their teachings, many things are against the truth. The speculations, mindset, and conscience made based on their teachings are different from person to person. That is why people cannot keep peace with others. Therefore, we should discern between right and wrong according to the Word of God. Apostle Paul said, "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8). Just as he said, only when we break the thought, 'I am right', and change by the Word of God, can we make peace. It is said in Hebrews 12:14, "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord". Matthew 5:9 also reads, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Thus, we should understand how important it is to make peace and that God cherishes peace.
- 2. Suffering comes when peace is broken
If we accept Jesus Christ, change into men of the truth, serve and love one another, we can make peace. However, we can't make peace if we insist that only our thoughts, our opinions, our reasoning and our ways are right. Moreover, we will personally suffer and cause pain to others. We can see this example through Abraham's wife, Sarah. When Abram (later called Abraham) was 75 years old, God promised to him a child. But Sarai (later Sarah) his wife, still during the following ten years she had still not born him a child. With impatience, Sarai gave her female servant, Hagar to him.
Hagar became pregnant and despised Sarai. So, Sarai blamed Abram for it and treated Hagar so harshly that Hagar fled from Sarai's presence. Hagar met the angel of God and returned to her master and gave birth to Ishmael. But he was not the son that God had promised to give Abram. God's word was fulfilled 14 years after Ishmael was born. At the age of 90, Sarah finally delivered a son named Isaac. When he was born, another problem arose. Ishmael mocked Isaac. Unable to allow for it to happen, Sarah told Abraham to drive out Ishmael and his mother, Hagar. The matter distressed Abraham greatly. God told him to send them out. Although he was not the son of the promise, how do you think Abraham felt! Sarah couldn't wait until God gave her a child and tried to solve the problem with human reasoning and method. As a consequence, a lot of trouble and pain followed.
Next, a similar situation occurred between Leah and Rachel, who were wives of Jacob. They were biological sisters, but they were jealous of each other's receiving love from their husband. While Leah bore Jacob four children, Rachel was not able to bear any. So she gave her maid-servant to Jacob. Not to be out-done, Leah also gave her maid-servant to Jacob. The relationships had a negative influence on their sons. Jacob gained twelve sons from the four wives. The eleventh son, Joseph, was the son of Rachel whom Jacob loved the most and he received all of his father's love. Joseph was a nuisance to his brothers since he reported their wrongdoings to their father. In the end, Joseph was sold into slavery to a foreign country by the hands of his stepbrothers. It shows us that insisting on oneself, feeling jealous and envious of others, and not living by the Word of God causes unhappiness. True happiness can be enjoyed only when we live in the truth.
- 3. The way to gaining true happiness
Proverbs 16:7 reads, "When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." It tells us that when we are in pain due to discord with someone we should please God. Then, God will allow us to make peace with him and solve all kinds of problems. Solomon was one of the biblical figures who pleased God. He gave God a thousand burnt offerings in spirit and truth, which pleased God and established peace with God. It pleased God so much that he was able to receive wisdom that no one before him had possessed nor would possess. Also he received additional blessings like wealth and honor. Esther was also one of such people who pleased God.
She was a Jew and became the queen of the Persian Empire. She heard from Mordecai her cousin that her people were in a danger of total destruction due to Haman's plot. Then, Esther first pleased God and then made peace between the king of Persia and her people the Jews. She prayed to God and fasted with all the Jews who were found in Susa the capital city for three days, without even drinking water. Prepared for death, she came before the king and appealed to him, and she found favor in the sight of the king. That is, God was pleased with Esther and worked in the situation for her to save her people. Ruth was a Moabite woman who received blessings by pleasing God.
She got married to a man of Israel, but, unfortunately, all the men in her family died. She could have just left her family to start a new life. But instead she served her mother-in-law, who was left alone. She did her duty as a daughter-in-law and served her with an unchanging heart. Since she pleased God, she later became the wife of a rich man in the region named Boaz, and gave birth to Obed. In doing so, she was blessed, for her name was to be included in the genealogy of David.
- 4. To maintain peace with everything and receive blessings
Then, what should we do to have peace in everything and receive blessings? Firstly, we long to listen to the Word of God and give worship services. Proverbs 8:17 reads, "I love those who love me; and those who diligently seek me will find me." We can receive blessings from God when we love God, take delight in listening to His Word, diligently give worship services, pray, and praise. Also, we should be righteous men who have clean hearts by obeying the Law of God.
There are many things that God takes delight in, but the most pleasurable thing to Him is for us to cast off sins, become sanctified, and become truly righteous men and women. Next, we should evangelize people with faith, practice goodness, and show virtuous generosity diligently. Then, God is pleased with faith accompanied by deeds and gives us blessings in return. Cornelius and Tabitha received blessings by giving alms to many Jewish people and by practicing goodness. Cornelius' whole family received the Holy Spirit though he was a Gentile.
And Tabitha was revived from death (Acts chapters 9 and 10). Therefore, we should have peace in everything by pleasing God. First of all, we should have peace with God and then with God's servants and with brothers and sisters in Christ. We should also make peace with parents, children, spouses, siblings, neighbors, friends, co-workers, bosses, subordinates, and all. Then, we can give out the fragrance of the Christ and become light and salt in the world.
Ishi kwa Amani na Wote
Usomaji wa Maandiko: Mithali 16:7
Mstari wa Kukariri: Waebrania 12:14
Rejea: Mathayo 5:9; Mithali 8:17. Lengo: kuwasaidia waumini kumpendeza Mungu kwa kuwapenda hata adui zao na kuishi nao kwa amani bila kugombana na mtu yeyote. Methali moja ya zamani ya Kikorea husema, “Jiwe lenye kona kali hukutana na patasi ya mwashi.” Mtu mwenye tabia inayowasumbua watu walio karibu naye kama jiwe lenye ncha kali anaweza kuwa na migogoro popote aendapo na kuwafanya wengine wapitie nyakati ngumu.
Ikiwa mtu ana tabia njema inayowaleta watu pamoja kama jiwe laini na la mviringo, anaweza kuelewana na wengine na kudumisha amani bila migogoro. Ni vizuri kuzungumza na watu wa namna hiyo, na walio karibu nao huhisi raha, jambo linalowawezesha kuwa na amani na wengine. Wao wenyewe pia huishi maisha yenye furaha.
- 1. Umuhimu wa kufanya amani
Ni rahisi kuona watu wakibishana na kuvunja amani. Hii ni kwa sababu huona mawazo au maoni yao wenyewe kuwa ndiyo sahihi. Lakini Mungu pekee ndiye mwema na mwenye haki, na kweli ni mafundisho ya Yesu Kristo aliye mmoja na Mungu mwema (Yohana 14:6). Kama watu wangalelewa katika kweli na kuishi katika kweli pekee, wote wangekuwa na moyo wa Bwana na kufanya amani na watu wote. Hata hivyo, tumejifunza mambo mengi kutoka kwa wazazi, walimu, majirani na marafiki.
Mafundisho yao mengi yanapingana na kweli. Mawazo, mitazamo na dhamiri zinazotokana na mafundisho hayo hutofautiana kati ya mtu na mtu. Ndiyo maana watu hushindwa kudumisha amani na wengine. Kwa hiyo, tunapaswa kutambua lililo sahihi na lisilo sahihi kulingana na Neno la Mungu. Mtume Paulo alisema, “Naam, zaidi ya hayo, nayahesabu mambo yote kuwa hasara kwa ajili ya uzuri usio na kifani wa kumjua Kristo Yesu Bwana wangu; ambaye kwa ajili yake nimepata hasara ya mambo yote, nikiyahesabu kuwa kama mavi ili nipate Kristo” (Wafilipi 3:8). Kama alivyosema, tunaweza kufanya amani tunapovunja wazo la “mimi ndiye sahihi” na kubadilishwa na Neno la Mungu. Waebrania 12:14 yasema, “Tafuteni kwa bidii kuwa na amani na watu wote, na huo utakatifu ambao hapana mtu atakayemwona Bwana asipokuwa nao.” Mathayo 5:9 pia yasema, “Heri wapatanishi; maana hao wataitwa wana wa Mungu.” Kwa hiyo, tunapaswa kuelewa umuhimu wa kufanya amani na kwamba Mungu anaithamini.
- 2. Mateso huja amani inapovunjika
Tukimkubali Yesu Kristo, tukabadilika na kuwa watu wa kweli, tukatumikiana na kupendana, tunaweza kufanya amani. Lakini hatuwezi kufanya amani tukisisitiza kwamba mawazo, maoni, hoja na njia zetu pekee ndizo sahihi. Zaidi ya hayo, sisi wenyewe tutateseka na kuwaumiza wengine. Tunaona mfano huu katika maisha ya Sara, mke wa Abrahamu. Abramu (baadaye akaitwa Abrahamu) alipokuwa na miaka 75, Mungu alimwahidi mwana. Lakini hata miaka kumi iliyofuata Sarai (baadaye Sara), mke wake, hakuwa amemzalia mwana. Kwa kukosa subira, Sarai akampa Hajiri, mjakazi wake, awe mke wa Abramu.
Hajiri alipopata mimba alianza kumdharau Sarai. Sarai akamlaumu Abramu na kumtendea Hajiri kwa ukali sana, hata Hajiri akakimbia. Hajiri akakutana na malaika wa Mungu, akarudi kwa bibi yake, naye akamzaa Ishmaeli. Lakini hakuwa mwana ambaye Mungu alikuwa amemwahidi Abramu. Neno la Mungu lilitimia miaka 14 baada ya kuzaliwa kwa Ishmaeli. Sara alipokuwa na miaka 90 hatimaye akamzaa mwana aliyeitwa Isaka. Alipozaliwa tatizo jingine likatokea: Ishmaeli alimdhihaki Isaka. Sara hakuweza kuvumilia jambo hilo, akamwambia Abrahamu amfukuze Ishmaeli na mama yake Hajiri. Jambo hilo likamhuzunisha sana Abrahamu. Mungu akamwambia awaondoe. Ingawa Ishmaeli hakuwa mwana wa ahadi, unafikiri Abrahamu alihisije? Sara hakungoja hadi Mungu ampe mwana, bali alijaribu kutatua tatizo kwa mawazo na njia za kibinadamu. Matokeo yake yakawa shida na maumivu mengi.
Baadaye hali inayofanana ilitokea kati ya Lea na Raheli, wake za Yakobo. Walikuwa dada wa damu, lakini waliwaonea wivu kwa sababu kila mmoja alitamani kupendwa zaidi na mume wao. Lea alimzalia Yakobo watoto wanne, lakini Raheli hakuweza kuzaa. Kwa hiyo akampa Yakobo mjakazi wake. Ili asishindwe, Lea naye akampa Yakobo mjakazi wake. Hali hiyo iliwaathiri vibaya wana wao. Yakobo alipata wana kumi na wawili kwa wake zake wanne. Yusufu, mwana wa kumi na mmoja, alikuwa mwana wa Raheli ambaye Yakobo alimpenda sana, naye alipokea upendo wote wa baba yake. Yusufu aliwaudhi ndugu zake kwa kumwambia baba yao makosa yao. Mwishowe, ndugu zake wa kambo wakamuuza utumwani katika nchi ya kigeni. Hili latuonyesha kwamba kujisisitiza, kuwaonea wengine wivu na kutokuishi kwa Neno la Mungu huleta huzuni. Furaha ya kweli hupatikana tunapoishi katika kweli.
- 3. Njia ya kupata furaha ya kweli
Mithali 16:7 yasema, “Njia za mtu zikimpendeza BWANA, hata adui zake huwapatanisha naye.” Inatufundisha kwamba tunapoumia kwa sababu ya kutokuelewana na mtu, tunapaswa kumpendeza Mungu. Kisha Mungu atatusaidia kufanya amani naye na kutatua matatizo ya kila namna. Sulemani alikuwa miongoni mwa watu wa Biblia waliompendeza Mungu. Alimtolea Mungu sadaka za kuteketezwa elfu moja kwa moyo na kwa kweli, jambo lililompendeza Mungu na kuimarisha amani kati yao. Mungu alipendezwa sana naye akampa hekima ambayo hakuna mtu aliyekuwa nayo kabla yake wala ambaye angeipata baadaye. Pia alimbariki kwa utajiri na heshima. Esta pia alikuwa mmoja wa watu waliompendeza Mungu.
Alikuwa Myahudi na akawa malkia wa Milki ya Uajemi. Binamu yake Mordekai alimjulisha kwamba watu wake walikuwa katika hatari ya kuangamizwa kabisa kwa sababu ya hila ya Hamani. Esta alianza kwa kumpendeza Mungu, kisha akafanya amani kati ya mfalme wa Uajemi na watu wake Wayahudi. Alimwomba Mungu na kufunga pamoja na Wayahudi wote waliokuwa katika mji mkuu wa Susa kwa siku tatu bila kunywa maji. Akiwa tayari kufa, aliingia mbele ya mfalme na kumsihi, naye akapata kibali mbele yake. Mungu alipendezwa na Esta na akatenda katika hali hiyo ili awaokoe watu wake. Ruthu, mwanamke Mmoabu, pia alipata baraka kwa kumpendeza Mungu.
Aliolewa na Mwisraeli, lakini kwa bahati mbaya wanaume wote wa familia yake wakafa. Angeweza kuwaacha na kuanza maisha mapya, lakini badala yake alimtumikia mama mkwe wake aliyekuwa amebaki peke yake. Alitimiza wajibu wake kama mkwe na kumtumikia kwa moyo usiobadilika. Kwa kuwa alimpenda Mungu, baadaye akawa mke wa Boazi, mtu tajiri wa eneo hilo, na akamzaa Obedi. Alibarikiwa kwa jina lake kujumuishwa katika ukoo wa Daudi.
- 4. Kudumisha amani katika kila jambo na kupokea baraka
Tufanye nini ili tuwe na amani katika kila jambo na kupokea baraka? Kwanza, tutamani kusikiliza Neno la Mungu na kuhudhuria ibada. Mithali 8:17 yasema, “Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.” Tunapompenda Mungu, kufurahia kusikiliza Neno Lake, kuhudhuria ibada kwa bidii, kuomba na kusifu, tunaweza kupokea baraka Zake. Pia tunapaswa kuwa wenye haki na mioyo safi kwa kutii Sheria ya Mungu.
Kuna mambo mengi yanayompendeza Mungu, lakini jambo linalomfurahisha zaidi ni sisi kuacha dhambi, kutakaswa na kuwa watu wenye haki kweli. Kisha tunapaswa kuhubiri injili kwa imani, kutenda mema na kuonyesha ukarimu kwa bidii. Mungu hupendezwa na imani inayoambatana na matendo na hutubariki. Kornelio na Tabitha walibarikiwa kwa kuwapa Wayahudi wengi sadaka na kutenda mema. Ingawa Kornelio alikuwa mtu wa Mataifa, familia yake yote ilipokea Roho Mtakatifu.
Tabitha naye alifufuliwa kutoka kwa wafu (Matendo sura ya 9 na 10). Kwa hiyo, tumpendeze Mungu ili tuwe na amani katika kila jambo. Kwanza tuwe na amani na Mungu, kisha na watumishi wa Mungu na ndugu na dada katika Kristo. Pia tufanye amani na wazazi, watoto, wenzi wa ndoa, ndugu, majirani, marafiki, wafanyakazi wenzetu, wakubwa na walio chini yetu, na watu wote. Ndipo tutakapodhihirisha harufu nzuri ya Kristo na kuwa nuru na chumvi duniani.