URC Weekly 4/3/2011: Conflict of Interest
Hello Family,
Are you familiar with the term conflict of interest? Merriam-Webster defines it as a conflict between the private interests and the official responsibilities of a person in a position of trust. There are many examples of this in our lives. For instance, the Maloof family owns the Sacramento Kings (soon to be the Anaheim Royals) and the Palms Casino. Therefore, the Maloof’s are unable to operate a professional basketball sports book in their hotel; their official responsibilities of owning a team and a betting venue are in conflict with their private interest of placing bets when they are entrusted with earnestly running both entities.
How about this one? According to the Obama administration, the United States will reach its national debt limit of $14.294 trillion (yes, trillion) no later than May 16. The possibility of our country going bankrupt is very real. Yet the Congress has not been able to present a unified solution, busy with partisan political battle. The official responsibilities of the lawmakers are in conflict with the private interests of securing political power of their relative parties when they are entrusted with decision-making authority of our nation.
Church, this is very similar to what is going on with us today. We are accustomed to identifying people with worldly measures: jobs, school, personal interests, etc. We seldom define ourselves and others in Jesus (considering someone a daughter/son of God). You may say that our official responsibility of being a follower of Christ is in conflict with our private interests of being successful in the world when we are entrusted with the life-giving Gospel of Jesus Christ!
I do believe that all of us do recognize Jesus as God, Lord and Savior. However, I think we can do a better job of taking our belief in Jesus into tangible action in our lives. James 1:22 says, Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Let’s take a step toward more proactive faith by looking at ourselves and our church as followers of Jesus. Let’s understand that we are Christians first, before we are students, workers, children, siblings, and even parents. This is going to let us be truly unified into the body of Christ, the eternal community of God Himself.
• COMMUNITY GROUP: 4/8 (FRI) @ TBA, Pitch-in like last time
• MPR BOX: Our Monthly Prayer Request Box is here! Thank you Hyunjoo!
• WOMEN’S DISCIPLESHIP PRESCHOOL: List set, starting this Sunday
• MEN’S DISCIPLESHIP: Elementary and/or Youth Group, Let’s talk this Sunday
• SMALL GROUPS PLEASE MEET AGAIN THIS MONTH
• INDIA MISSION OPPORTUNITIES: Late Aug – Early Sept, about $2000 per person
• GROUP B COORDINATOR MEETING: 4/10 (SUN) @ 1:30pm
• SNACKS: Sara (Tae) Kim
• SCRIPTURE READING/OFFERING: Deaconess Eunmee Kim
• DEVOTIONS: Luke 10 – Luke 15
