말보다 말씀! 빚보다 빛!

[Key Verse]
Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”
The king said, “Impale him on it!” So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai.
Then the king’s fury subsided.
— Esther 7:9–10 (NIV)

[Our Story]
You might remember when the phrase “The 10,000-Hour Rule” was trending—over a decade ago now. This idea was first introduced by Swedish-born psychologist Dr. K. Anders Ericsson, a professor at Florida State University. The concept is simple: to become an expert in any field, one needs at least 10,000 hours of deliberate practice. In collaboration with the University of Colorado and the Max Planck Institute in Germany, Ericsson studied students at Berlin’s elite Academy of Music. He discovered a direct correlation between the amount of practice and the level of performance. Even the most naturally talented individuals needed about ten years—or roughly 10,000 hours—of focused training to become world-class performers. On average, promising performers had practiced 8,000 hours, while those aiming to become music teachers had practiced around 4,000 hours. While not everyone who invests 10,000 hours is guaranteed to reach the top, and while the rule doesn’t account for innate ability, it nonetheless affirms a powerful biblical truth: “A person reaps what they sow.”

[Bible Story]
Esther chapters 5–7 vividly portray this principle of sowing and reaping through the stories of Esther, Mordecai, and Haman. After three days of fasting and prayer, Esther boldly approaches the king, risking her life. But the king receives her graciously—even offering her up to half his kingdom. Because she had sown prayer, she reaped favor. Esther invites the king and Haman to a second banquet. Haman, elated by what he sees as royal approval, is soon enraged again when Mordecai refuses to bow to him. He builds a tall gallows with the intent to have Mordecai hanged. That very night, however, the king cannot sleep. He has the royal chronicles read to him and discovers that Mordecai had once saved his life but never received a reward. Ironically, it is Haman—hoping to be honored—who ends up having to parade Mordecai on horseback through the city at the king’s command. Mordecai, who had sown good for his nation, is now publicly honored. At the second banquet, Esther finally reveals Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews. When the king asks who is responsible, Esther identifies Haman. In the end, Haman is hanged on the very gallows he built for Mordecai. Mordecai and Esther reaped the fruit of prayer and courage; Haman reaped the fruit of evil and pride.

[Your Story]
What are you sowing these days? What you do repeatedly, and what you dwell on in your heart—these are your seeds. The truth is simple but sobering: you will reap what you sow.

If you sow the Word, you will reap a harvest of the Word.
If you sow prayer, you will reap the fruit of prayer.
If you sow praise, you will reap joy in praise.
If you sow gratitude, you will reap the fruit of thanksgiving.

But if you sow complaints, you will reap bitterness.
If you sow pride, you will reap downfall.
If you sow despair, you will reap hopelessness.
If you sow greed, you will reap emptiness.

May today be full of the fruit of gratitude and grace.
As the Apostle Paul wrote:

“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction;
whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:8–9 (NIV)

With joy and blessing,
Pastor Hyung Joong Kim
© 2025 by Hyung Joong Kim. All rights reserved.