20260512 [새벽묵상] 자랑할 것은 오직 주님뿐이라 Boast Only in the Lord (고전/1Cor 1:26~31)

1:26 형제들아 너희를 부르심을 보라 육체를 따라 지혜로운 자가 많지 아니하며 능한 자가 많지 아니하며 문벌 좋은 자가 많지 아니하도다

1:27 그러나 하나님께서 세상의 미련한 것들을 택하사 지혜 있는 자들을 부끄럽게 하려 하시고 세상의 약한 것들을 택하사 강한 것들을 부끄럽게 하려 하시며

1:28 하나님께서 세상의 천한 것들과 멸시 받는 것들과 없는 것들을 택하사 있는 것들을 폐하려 하시나니

1:29 이는 아무 육체도 하나님 앞에서 자랑하지 못하게 하려 하심이라

1:30 너희는 하나님으로부터 나서 그리스도 예수 안에 있고 예수는 하나님으로부터 나와서 우리에게 지혜와 의로움과 거룩함과 구원함이 되셨으니

1:31 기록된 바 자랑하는 자는 주 안에서 자랑하라 함과 같게 하려 함이라

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

                일본에는 ‘킨츠기’ 또는 ‘킨츠쿠로이’라고 하는 전통 도자기 기법이 있습니다. 깨진 도자기 조각을 밀가루 풀이나 옻칠로 이어붙이고 깨진 선을 따라 금가루나 은가루로 장식해 아름답게 꾸미는 공예이지요. 수리를 마친 도자기는 깨지기 전보다 더 귀한 예술품으로 대접을 받습니다. 우리도 마찬가지인 것 같습니다. 세상에서 깨어지고 금이 간 보잘 것 없는 우리를 하나님께서는 버리지 않으시고 모으십니다. 그리고 그리스도의 은혜로 우리를 채워주십니다. 그 때에 우리는 귀한 하나님의 자녀가 되는 것이지요. 그러므로 우리가 자랑할 것은 깨어진 우리가 아니라 우리를 빛나게 하는 그리스도 뿐일 것입니다. 오늘은 ‘자랑할 것은 오직 주님 뿐이라’ 라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

[Introduction: The Art of Kintsugi]

In Japan, there is a traditional pottery technique called ‘Kintsugi’ or ‘Kintsukuroi.’ It is the art of mending broken pottery pieces with lacquer mixed with powdered gold or silver. Once the repair is finished, the pottery is treated as a piece of art far more precious than it was before it was broken.

I believe we are much like those vessels. God does not discard us when we are cracked or shattered by the world; instead, He gathers our broken pieces. He fills our gaps with the grace of Jesus Christ. It is in that moment that we become precious children of God. Therefore, what we boast of is not our broken selves, but the Christ who makes us shine. Today, I want to share a message titled: “Boast Only in the Lord.”

                첫번째, 하나님의 마음은 연약한 자들을 향하여 흐르십니다. 고린도 교회에는 갈등이 있었습니다. 사람들이 자신이 따르는 사역자들을 따라 당파를 나누어 다투었습니다. 유대인과 헬라인들은 서로 누구의 철학이 더 지혜로운지 논쟁하느라 바빴지요. 그런데 가만히 보면 이들의 논쟁의 중심에는 세상의 논리가 스며들어 있음을 볼 수 있습니다. 더 잘나가고, 더 지혜롭고, 더 강한 사람들을 우러러보는 세상의 가치관이 고린도 교회 안에도 흐르고 있었던 것입니다. 이에 사도 바울은 이들을 부드럽게 타이릅니다. “형제들아, 너희를 부르심을 보라” 자신들이 어떻게 하나님의 부르심을 경험했는지 생각해보라고 합니다. 그들 가운데는 세상에서 말하는 지혜 있는 사람이 많지 않았습니다. 능력있는 사람도 많지 않았습니다. 가문이 좋은 사람도 많지 않았습니다. 그런데 하나님께서는 이들을 택하셨습니다. 27-28절에서 말하고 있는 택함을 받은 사람들은 모두 26절에서 부르심을 받은 사람들을 가르키는 말입니다. 지혜로운 자가 많지 않다 – 미련한 것들을 택하셨다. 능력 있는 자가 많지 않다 – 힘없는 자들을 택하셨다. 가문이 좋은 귀족들이 많지 않다 – 출신이 천하고 멸시받는 자를 택하셨다. 여기서 택하셨다는 말은 ‘미워하다’의 반대말이라고 합니다. 즉 하나님께는 이들이 사랑스러워 보이셨다는 것입니다. 세상은 힘있고 능력있는 사람들을 선망하지만 하나님의 마음은 세상과는 반대로 오히려 어리석고, 힘 없고 천한 이들을 향하여 흐르고 있었다는 것입니다. 바로 그 하나님의 마음 때문에 이들은 부르심을 받은 것입니다. 그렇다면 이들이 자랑 할 수 있는 것이 무엇이겠습니까? 오직 하나님 밖에는 없는 것입니다.

[1. God’s Heart Flows Toward the Weak (v. 26-28)]

First, God’s heart flows toward the weak. The church in Corinth was struggling with internal conflict. People were dividing themselves into factions based on the leaders they followed. Jews and Greeks were busy arguing over whose philosophy was wiser.

When you look closely, you see that worldly logic had seeped into the center of their arguments. The values of the world—which look up to the successful, the wise, and the strong—were flowing within the Corinthian church. In response, the Apostle Paul gently admonishes them: “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called.” He tells them to remember how they first experienced God’s calling. Among them, there were not many who were wise by worldly standards, not many who were influential, and not many of noble birth.

Yet, God chose them. The people described as "chosen" in verses 27–28 are the same ones described as "called" in verse 16.

• Not many wise → He chose the foolish things.

• Not many influential → He chose the weak things.

• Not many of noble birth → He chose the lowly and despised things.

Scholars say that in this context, the word “chose” is the antonym of “hate.” In other words, these people looked lovely in God’s eyes. While the world envies power and ability, God’s heart flows in the opposite direction—toward the foolish, the weak, and the lowly. It is because of that heart of God that we were called. Therefore, what could we possibly boast of? There is nothing but God alone.

                그래서 두번째, 오직 하나님만을 자랑해야 합니다. 28절은 말합니다. “없는 것들을 택하사 있는 것들을 폐하려 하시나니” 여기서 없는 것이란 너무나 보잘 것 없어서 세상은 그들이 존재하는지 인식조차 되지 않는 사람들을 말합니다. 그들을 택하여 있는 것들을 폐하려 하신다고 말씀하고 계십니다. 왜 그렇습니까? 그 이유를 29절은 이렇게 말하고 있습니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “이는 아무 육체도 하나님 앞에 자랑하지 못하게 하려 하심이라.” 이 세상 그 누구도 하나님 앞에서 스스로 자랑할 수 없습니다. 왜냐하면 하나님께서 가장 연약한 자들을 통하여 가장 힘있는 자들을 부끄럽게 하시기 때문입니다. 그렇다면 이 세상에서 가장 능력있는 분은 누구십니까? 바로 하나님이시지요. 오직 하나님만이 자랑할 만한 것입니다. 마치 깨어진 도자기는 보잘 것 없지만 그것을 금과 은으로 이어붙여 꾸미는 장인의 손길 아래 하나의 예술품으로 다시 태어나는 것처럼. 온전한 도자기 하나를 자랑할 것이 아니라 그 깨어진 도자기도 예술품으로 만드는 장인의 손길을 자랑해야 하는 것입니다. 우리가 하나님께서 우리에게 행하신 일들을 기억한다면 우리는 세상의 기준을 가지고 자랑할 이유가 없습니다. 왜냐하면 하나님께서 우리에게 행하신 일들이 이 세상의 그 무엇보다 귀한 일, 자랑할 만한 일이기 때문입니다. 깨어진 우리를 위해 하나님께서 무엇을 하셨습니까? 30절입니다. 함께 읽겠습니다. “너희는 하나님으로부터 나서 그리스도 예수 안에 있고 예수는 하나님으로부터 나와서 우리에게 지혜와 의로움과 거룩함과 구원함이 되셨으니” 세상 사람들의 눈에는 보이지도 않는 존재하지도 않았던 우리를 하나님은 그리스도 예수 안에서 있게 하셨습니다. 그리고 우리가 속한 그 예수님은 바로 우리에게 지혜와 의로움과 거룩함과 구원함이 되셨습니다. 그런데 그 예수님도 하나님으로부터 오셨습니다. 모든 것이 하나님으로부터 왔습니다. 존재 하지 않았던 우리가 존재 할 수 있는 것, 하나님 때문인 것입니다. 그러므로 우리가 자랑 할 수 있는 것, 그것은 오직 하나님 뿐인 것입니다. 예레미야 9:23-24은 이렇게 말합니다. “지혜로운 자는 그의 지혜를 자랑하지 말라 용사는 그의 용맹을 자랑하지 말라 부자는 그의 부함을 자랑하지 말라 자랑하는 자는 이것으로 자랑할지니 곧 명철하여 나를 아는 것과 나 여호와는 사랑과 정의와 공의를 땅에 행하는 자인줄 깨닫는 것이라 나는 이 일을 기뻐하노라 여호와의 말씀이니라.”

[2. Boasting Only in God’s Artistry (v. 29-31)]

Second, we must boast only in God. Verse 28 says, “God chose the things that are not... to nullify the things that are.” Here, “the things that are not” refers to people so insignificant that the world doesn't even recognize their existence. God chooses them to put to shame the things that "are."

Why? Verse 29 gives the reason: “So that no one may boast before him.” No one in this world can boast in their own strength before God. This is because God shames the most powerful through the weakest. If that is so, then who is the most powerful being in the universe? It is God. He alone is worthy of our boast.

Just as a broken piece of pottery is worthless on its own but is reborn as a masterpiece under the craftsman's hand, we should not boast of the vessel itself, but of the Craftsman’s touch that turns brokenness into art. If we remember what God has done for us, we have no reason to boast according to worldly standards. What God has done for us is more precious and boast-worthy than anything else.

What did God do for us broken vessels? Verse 30 says: “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” We, who were "nothing" in the eyes of the world, were placed in Christ Jesus by God. And that Jesus has become our wisdom, our righteousness, our holiness, and our redemption. Everything comes from God. The fact that we, who were "nothing," can now "be" is entirely because of Him. Jeremiah 9:23-24 tells us:

"Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in this I delight," declares the Lord.

                말씀을 맺습니다. 우리가 자랑할 것은 오직 하나님 뿐입니다. 세상의 그 어떤 것도 하나님이 행하신 일보다 자랑할 만한 것은 없습니다. 하나님께서 우리를 만드셨고, 우리에게 생명을 주셨으며 우리가 배은망덕하여 하나님을 배반하였음에도 당신의 독생자를 우리 대신 십자가에 못박으심으로 우리를 다시 살리셨습니다. 그래서 우리는 예수님을 통하여 하나님께 속한자가 되었습니다. 그 예수님이 우리에게 지혜와 의로움과 거룩함과 구원함이 되셨습니다. 세상은 우리를 미련한 자라, 가난한 자라, 없는 자라 부를지 모릅니다. 그러나 우리도 스스로를 그렇게 세상의 눈으로 바라보아서는 안됩니다. 왜냐하면 하나님의 눈이 우리를 사랑스럽게 보시고 우리를 택하셨기 때문입니다. 택함받은 자로서 하나님을 자랑하십시오. 그것이 하나님께서 기뻐하시는 일입니다. 기도하시겠습니다.  

[Conclusion: Seeing Through God’s Eyes]

In conclusion: The only one we have to boast of is God. Nothing in this world is more boast-worthy than what He has done. He created us, gave us life, and even when we were ungrateful and betrayed Him, He saved us by nailing His only Son to the cross in our place.

Through Jesus, we now belong to God. That Jesus has become our wisdom, righteousness, holiness, and redemption. The world may call us foolish, poor, or insignificant. But we must not view ourselves through the eyes of the world. God’s eyes look upon us with love, and He has chosen us. As those who are chosen, boast in God. That is what delights Him.

Amen.