Introduction : One day a Japanese pastor asked me this question, "Why do Koreans eat bibimbap (rice with beef and mixed vegetables)? We never eat food mixed with other things." I told him it was because of our circumstances. From a historical point of view, we did not have time to sit comfortably and eat separated food because Korea suffered from the pillage and aggression of Japanese pirates. That is why we quickly eat mixed food, from force of habit. This may not be the fact. Maybe I just made up a quick explanation because I didn´t have a proper answer. However, our life of faith is a mixture of blessing and hardship.


1. If you are at rest, dregs will settle
    1) Unconcerned about spiritual life    (Lk 21:34, 1Th 5:3)
    2) Laziness    (Lk 21:36, Mt 26:41, Pr 19:15)
    3) The slave of greed    (Jas 1:14-15, Isa 57:17)
    4) Arrogance    (Pr 16:18, Hos 13:6, Isa 13:11)
    5) Enjoyment    (Gal 5:19, 17, Php 3:19, 2Pe 2:10, Ecc 2:8)

2. Hardship brings change
    1) Repentance    (Hos 5:15-6:1, Rev 2:5, 1Jn 1:9, Pr 28:13, Isa 57:15)
    2) Reflection - Get rid of the world and greed    (Ps 119:107, Ro 6:6, 1Pe 4:2)
    3) Refine - Obey    (Ps 119:67, 71, Heb 5:8-9)
    4) Seek God    (Ps 50:15, 64:1, 119:153, 121:1-2, Isa 55:6-7, 2Co 6:2)
    5) Restore the enthusiasm of faith    (Rev 3:16, 2Co 7:11, Ro 5:3-4)

3. The mixture of blessing and hardship
    1) Continual hardship brings discouragement and frustration    (La 3:17-18, Pr 24:10)
    2) Continual blessing makes you leave God    (Dt 8:11-16)
    3) Mixture of faith
        (1) With the hope of blessing during the time of hardship
            (La 3:19-22, 32, 2Co 4:8, 16-18)
        (2) With the whip of hardship during the time of blessing
            (Heb 12:6, 10-11, Ro 8:17-18, Ps 66:10)


Conclusion : During the time of blessing, do not be distracted when you encounter trouble. During the time of hardship, we should repent and strongly grasp hope as we look back on our lives.