말보다 말씀! 빚보다 빛!

[Key Verse] "After Rehoboam's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord." (2 Chronicles 12:1)

[Our Story] One cool autumn Monday morning, I stood on the balcony gazing out over the vast Texas plains. It’s a luxury a pastor can enjoy on a Monday morning. Though it was technically autumn, the trees had yet to change color. Their leaves, still soft and supple, caught my attention. The gentle sunshine seemed to rest on the tender leaves, almost like it was trying to awaken them from their slumber. The sunlight, almost mischievously, nudged the sleeping leaves to stir. But it wasn’t just the sunlight that visited them — the wind also lightly touched the leaves. Slowly, they began to flutter. When the breeze picked up, the leaves moved more dramatically; when the wind was soft, the movement was gentler. The leaves swayed and danced according to the breeze — without conviction, without direction. Watching those wavering leaves, I was reminded of ears that are easily swayed by others’ words. I reached up and touched my own ear sheepishly, feeling a strange kinship with those fluttering leaves — a fluttering-eared life.

[Bible Story] 2 Chronicles 10–12 tells the story of Rehoboam, the king with fluttering ears. During his reign, the kingdom was divided. (Chapter 10) When the people, led by Jeroboam, requested that Rehoboam lighten their heavy labor and taxes, he told them to return in three days for an answer. He first consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon. They advised him to listen to the people's plea, noting that the nation had been burdened with excessive labor and taxes during the temple's construction. At first, it seemed Rehoboam might heed their advice. But soon, his fluttering ears turned to the counsel of his young aristocratic friends, who had grown up with him. They urged him to rule the people with an even heavier hand. Rehoboam followed their advice, and the nation split. Ten tribes in the north established Jeroboam as king, while only Judah and Benjamin remained under Rehoboam's rule in the south. To punish Jeroboam, Rehoboam gathered 180,000 troops to march north. But the prophet Shemaiah blocked his path and delivered God's word. Rehoboam listened and called off the attack. (Chapter 11) However, his ears grew fluttery again. Ignoring God’s word, he turned to the voices of people and became arrogant, eventually leading to idolatry. As judgment, God allowed Egypt’s King Shishak to invade and humble Rehoboam. (Chapter 12)

[Your Story] Do you have fluttering ears? Are you easily swayed by others’ words? In an age overflowing with stories and voices, do you find yourself increasingly confused? Are you troubled at work or in your business because of gossip, lies, or misinformation? Perhaps you’ve been hurt by unfounded words or biased opinions even at church. These are all signs of fluttering ears — and of drifting away from God’s word. We must not waste our lives chasing after unverified words. Rather than listening to useless talk, let us tune our ears to the Word of God. Today, may you choose not the life of fluttering ears swayed by the world, but a heart that listens closely to the Word.

"Incline your ear, and come to Me. Listen, that your soul may live." (Isaiah 55:3)

With hope,                                                                                                                                                       Copyright © 2025 by Hyung Joong Kim