[:en]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

One of the great legends in sport is John Wooden, the former UCLA basketball coach, who died on June 4, 2010 at the age of 99. Under his tenure, UCLA won 10 national titles, including seven in a row. But, what made him a legend are not only those titles, but also the many maxims he said—wise words that have become guiding lights for many, me included. One of them is this, “Don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life.” Amen to that!

For some of us, making a living is painfully difficult. No matter how hard we work and how much time we put in, we still don’t have enough. Yes, when we don’t make much, working harder and longer won’t add much. In times like these, we cannot help but be anxious because one extra—and unexpected—expense can throw us off balance. Living one day at a time becomes a harsh reality.

The first lesson that Jesus Our Lord taught in the Sermon on the Mount is, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Even though the intended meaning of the word “poor” here is spiritual, still the word resonated well with those who heard Him speak. You see, most of them who followed Jesus were poor; they did not have much and they barely made ends meet.

By saying that, Jesus Our Lord assured them that the Kingdom of Heaven belonged to and was guaranteed to those who admitted to their spiritual poverty—aware of their sinfulness and nothingness. But, by saying that, Jesus Our Lord was also reminding them—and us— that life is more than just making a living. Oh, how easily we forget the Kingdom of Heaven when what we can think of is only making a living. The struggle we face should not prevent us from making a life—to infuse God’s life and love to those around us.

Pastor Paul[:id]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

One of the great legends in sport is John Wooden, the former UCLA basketball coach, who died on June 4, 2010 at the age of 99. Under his tenure, UCLA won 10 national titles, including seven in a row. But, what made him a legend are not only those titles, but also the many maxims he said—wise words that have become guiding lights for many, me included. One of them is this, “Don’t let making a living prevent you from making a life.” Amen to that!

For some of us, making a living is painfully difficult. No matter how hard we work and how much time we put in, we still don’t have enough. Yes, when we don’t make much, working harder and longer won’t add much. In times like these, we cannot help but be anxious because one extra—and unexpected—expense can throw us off balance. Living one day at a time becomes a harsh reality.

The first lesson that Jesus Our Lord taught in the Sermon on the Mount is, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Even though the intended meaning of the word “poor” here is spiritual, still the word resonated well with those who heard Him speak. You see, most of them who followed Jesus were poor; they did not have much and they barely made ends meet.

By saying that, Jesus Our Lord assured them that the Kingdom of Heaven belonged to and was guaranteed to those who admitted to their spiritual poverty—aware of their sinfulness and nothingness. But, by saying that, Jesus Our Lord was also reminding them—and us— that life is more than just making a living. Oh, how easily we forget the Kingdom of Heaven when what we can think of is only making a living. The struggle we face should not prevent us from making a life—to infuse God’s life and love to those around us.

Pastor Paul[:]