말보다 말씀! 빚보다 빛!

[Key Verse] When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. He stood and blessed the whole assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying: “Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. (1 Kings 8:54-56)

[Our Story] When I was young, my mother used to cut my hair. There were no barbershops or salons in our neighborhood, but more than that, she simply enjoyed trimming her children's hair. With five children and my father, taking everyone into town for a haircut would have been a hassle, not to mention the cost. So, my mother would carefully cut our hair herself. She would place a mirror in front of us, examining our hair from every angle as she meticulously trimmed and shaped it. If, by any chance, the clippers caused a small scratch, she would feel deeply upset. She remained our family's hairstylist until I was in middle school. Now, after moving to the U.S., I cut my children's hair. My mother’s influence is undeniable. Just recently, I gave my eldest child a haircut. For a while, we had entrusted professionals with his hair, but after a disappointing experience with an unskilled stylist, he returned to my hands—like the prodigal son coming home. Every time I trim my children’s hair, I feel a glimpse of my mother’s heart. It wasn’t just that we lived in a place without a barbershop, but rather, she wanted to keep her love close to us through this act of care. More than merely saving on haircut costs, she wanted to leave the imprint of her careful hands on our lives. Now, her meticulous touch has become mine, shaping my children’s hair with the same devotion.

[Bible Story] 1 Kings 5–8 tells the story of Solomon meticulously building the temple. King David desired to construct the temple, but God did not permit him. Instead, his son Solomon undertook the task, and from preparation to completion, the process was carried out with great precision. Solomon established a trade agreement with Hiram and requested cedarwood from Lebanon (1 Kings 5:1–12). He also recruited workers for the project (1 Kings 5:13–18). The participation of foreign nations in the temple's construction served as a proclamation of God’s sovereignty. Once all the preparations were complete, the temple was built according to the instructions God had given (1 Kings 6). Every aspect—the upper chambers, ceilings, wall decorations, doors, and courtyards—was constructed with meticulous adherence to God’s commands. After building the temple, Solomon spent 13 years constructing his own palace (1 Kings 7), using cedar from Lebanon. He also built a hall for rendering judgments and a separate house for Pharaoh’s daughter. Over a span of 20 years, both the temple and the royal palace were completed, culminating in a carefully orchestrated dedication ceremony (1 Kings 8). The temple was filled with the glory of God, marking the fulfillment of God’s covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:4–16). The climax of the dedication was Solomon’s prayer of blessing, a profound expression of gratitude and proclamation that the temple symbolized God’s presence. Solomon built the temple with great care, and God faithfully fulfilled His promise with the same meticulous faithfulness.

[Your Story] Are you currently doing something with great care? Do you approach your work with diligence? Or perhaps you run your business with precision? Maybe you engage in your hobbies with meticulous attention? Working with care and dedication in your given place is an act of consideration for yourself and those around you—it is also a shortcut to strengthening one another. This is where everyday life intersects with spirituality. Taking it a step further, how about using the talents God has given you with great care for worship? May today be a day when you wisely and faithfully use the gifts God has given you for the church and the spreading of the gospel.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37)

Copyrightⓒ 2025 by Hyung Joong Kim