Scripture
Matthew 4:3-4
3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Sermon Summary
In modern society, speed seems to have become the standard for success. We focus on those who reach high positions quickly—early graduation, rapid promotion, or becoming the youngest award winner. Consequently, waiting is often perceived as incompetence.
After His birth in Bethlehem, Jesus lived as a carpenter until He was about 30, when He began His public ministry. For 30 years, He likely performed manual labor, sweating as He built houses and worked with His hands just like any other person. To Jesus, this was a time of waiting and preparation. However, to Satan, those 30 years might have looked like a period of idleness.
Satan’s temptations always approach us in plausible ways. When Jesus was tested in the wilderness for 40 days after His baptism, the core of Satan’s temptation was: “Prove your identity.” Satan did not deny Jesus’ divinity; he didn’t deny that Jesus was the Son of God. He wasn’t testing the “Who,” but the “How“—how Jesus would manifest His identity. Satan suggested something Jesus was fully capable of doing: turning stones into bread.
However, even though Jesus had the power to do so, He refused the temptation because it was not God’s will. He rejected becoming “fast” without God. This teaches us that direction is more important than speed. In our lives, do we worry more about our direction or our speed?
Jesus did not use His identity as the Son of God for personal authority. He personally demonstrated that choosing God’s path leads to a prosperous life. God’s Word is fulfilled through obedience. Instead of trying to do something to prove ourselves, we must hold onto the Word. How we achieve a goal is more important than what the goal itself is. We must seek God’s will and follow it over our own. We must follow the lifestyle Jesus showed us.
We often become restless, and our faith crumbles because of the temptation of speed. Jesus did not prove His identity through power, speed, or miracles; He proved it by obeying God’s Word. David also faced numerous threats throughout his life but never chose the “fast way”—not when King Saul threatened him, nor when the Amalekites invaded, nor when his son Absalom rebelled. Even when David could have attacked and killed his enemies first, he did not act on his own will. He obeyed the Word, trusted God, and relied on Him.
As seen in Matthew 6:31-33, we must not reduce our faith to merely what we eat, drink, or wear. Seeking God’s kingdom and His will must come first. The question Satan throws at us is: “What is your priority right now?” Even after fasting for 40 days, Jesus showed that the Word comes before bread. Let us place God as the priority of our lives and obey His Word.
Personal Reflection
Living in South Korea, the epitome of the “pali-pali” (hurry-hurry) culture, I have lived as the very definition of restlessness. I get frustrated if someone doesn’t read my KakaoTalk message immediately. I walk down escalators. If the person in front of me is slow, I push past them. Even for lunch at work, I go to buffets because I feel like waiting for an order is a waste of time.
What does “direction” mean to me, someone who has always relied on speed? Have I ever truly valued direction? Within the minimum morality of not breaking the law, I feel I have lived aimlessly. As a student, I studied just because everyone else did; I went to a college that fit my grades; my current job simply matches my major. I never considered “direction” when making these choices. I just went with the flow.
However, now that I have accepted Jesus as my Savior and become a Christian, I want to tune my frequency to God for the rest of my life. There will be many temptations from Satan along the way. In those moments, I will not forget that the Word is my weapon. I will rely on God and move forward boldly!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for letting me hear Your Word. In an era where so many live with their spiritual eyes and ears closed, thank You for teaching me that Your Word is the weapon of my life. When Satan’s temptations come, help me to seek Your will instead of my own. Let me never forget my identity as a Christian, and help me to live in obedience to Your Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.