「主なる神に依り頼む人の幸い」 元旦礼拝 宣教 2026年1月1日
箴言 Proverbs 28章25〜26節他 牧師 河野信一郎
Good morning. Happy New Year. Thank you for supporting the church and the pastor’s family with love and prayer throughout the past year. We look forward to your continued support this year. On this morning of the first day of 2026, we are deeply grateful to be gathered by God in this sanctuary, offering praise, prayer, and worship to the Lord God and Jesus Christ together with all of you.
The new year has begun, and I imagine many people across Japan will be visiting shrines and temples for their first shrine visit of the year over the next three days starting this morning. Some people reportedly visit three or even four shrines or temples known for their blessings. At a shrine, the ritual typically involves bowing lightly before the torii gate, purifying body and mind with water at the Chouzudokoro, then proceeding to the main hall. Here, you first offer a coin, ring the bell, bow deeply twice, clasp your hands together, clap twice, close your eyes, and quietly pray. Finally, you bow deeply once more. Drawing an omikuji fortune slip concludes the visit.
In church, we listen to the prelude to prepare our hearts for worship, are encouraged by the words of invitation to worship, sing hymns of praise, offer prayers, present our offerings, and then hear the Scriptures read and the pastor proclaim God’s word as recorded in the Bible. We then offer praise in response to that word, give glory to God through the doxology, and finally receive the pastor’s prayer of blessing (dismissal), concluding the worship service.
When visiting shrines and temples, the act of “hearing the divine word” is likely represented by drawing omikuji fortune slips. These slips are said to contain messages or advice from the gods or Buddha for the new year. Church worship consists of offering praise, prayer, and offerings to God, and listening to His word. Therefore, for the time ahead, I wish to listen attentively to God’s message. This morning, I wish to listen to the Book of Proverbs, one of the four books in the Bible known as the “wisdom literature” (along with Job, Ecclesiastes, and parts of the Psalms). Proverbs is a collection of many short admonitions, life lessons, and advice. Perhaps “sayings” is a better term. What counsel might the Lord God give us from these proverbs as we begin walking into the new year today?
This morning’s Scripture is Proverbs 28:25-26, though I’d also like to share a few other passages from Proverbs. A well-known verse is 1:7: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Those who are ignorant despise both wisdom and instruction.” This does not mean fearing God in a fearful way, but rather acknowledging God as God, worshiping Him, and holding Him in deep reverence. A life that does not fear God, a life that excludes God, is bound to fail. The reason is simple: self-centered people lack humility. Thus, self-centered, arrogant people constantly clash with one another, leading to endless strife and suffering.
Proverbs contrasts those who fear God with those who do not. It clearly shows the difference between those who fear God and find happiness, and those who do not fear Him and cannot find happiness. I titled this morning’s message “The Happiness of Those Who Trust in the Lord God.” ‘Trusting’ means “relying on.” I hope to share this morning how there is a great difference in life between those who place their trust in God and those who do not.
Read Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and shun evil.“ This passage advises that those who trust God with all their heart, rather than relying on their own wisdom, experience, or intuition, can walk in a life blessed by God. What is crucial is to remember the Lord God daily. It says, ”Do not consider yourself wise,” meaning do not overestimate yourself.
Proverbs 16:20 reads, “A discerning person gains favor, and it is his good fortune to trust in the Lord.” What kind of person is a “discerning person”? Other Japanese translations vary: “one who ponders the word” (New Revised Version), “one well-versed in the word” (New Revised Version 2017), “one who understands the Lord’s word” (Common Translation of the Bible), and “one who carefully obeys the word” (Colloquial Translation). The Living Bible translates it as “those who listen to what God says.” In summary, it means that those who always listen to God’s words, not merely hearing them but living according to them, will find happiness and be blessed by God. This teaches us that over the course of a year, 365 days, there will be a significant difference in the quality of life between those who listen to God’s words in their daily walk and those who do not.
I digress slightly, but Proverbs 22:4 states, “If you walk humbly with the Lord your God, you will be honored, have wealth, and live long.” Those who fear God and live humbly before Him will also live humbly before others. This is because God constantly guards their hearts, grants them peace, and gives them the wisdom and strength to live with tolerance and humility toward people. For such people, wealth, honor, and life naturally follow. In other words, they receive blessings from God that money cannot buy.
Proverbs 28:25-26 states: “The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the Lord will be satisfied. Those who trust in their own hearts are fools, but those who walk in wisdom will be saved.” The greedy person who thinks only of themselves, the arrogant person, causes nothing but strife, quarrels, and disputes. Because of this, people drift away, they are tormented by loneliness, their heart withers, and they become worn out and broken. God does not desire us to become such people. The Lord God desires us to be those who rely solely on Him. Those who place their hope in God, who trust Him, receive abundant blessings, love, and mercy from God as grace each day, so their hearts are always refreshed. God Himself provides refreshment for our hearts and daily lives.
Proverbs clearly states, “A fool relies on his own understanding.” The flip side of this is: “Do not rely on your own wisdom, strength, or intuition. Trust in God and rely on Him. Entrust everything to Him.” It says, “The wise will be saved.” Wisdom here refers to God’s word, which shows us the path to the great blessing that cannot be gained by wealth or power—the happiness only God can give. Here lies the declaration that those who fear God and obey His word will be saved by His love. In verse 20 of chapter 28, it says, “The faithful person receives many blessings.” Wouldn’t you desire to receive this blessing from God and walk into the new year?
Proverbs 1:33 says, “Whoever listens to me will dwell securely and live at ease, without fear of harm.” Chapter 3:34 states, “The Lord mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.” Proverbs 8:17 says, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” The same chapter, verse 33, urges, “Listen to instruction and gain wisdom; do not neglect it.” Proverbs 10:23 states, “Fools delight in evil schemes, but wise people delight in wisdom.”
The latter part of Proverbs 11:25 states, “Whoever waters others will be watered themselves.” The same chapter, verse 28, says, “Those who depend on wealth will fall, but those who trust in the Lord will flourish like a tree.” Proverbs 12:15 states, “The fool considers his own way right, but the wise person listens to advice.” Chapter 13, verse 20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Chapter 14, verse 1: “The wise build their houses, but the foolish tear theirs down with their own hands.” Chapter 29, verse 8: “The arrogant stir up trouble in the city, but the wise calm anger.”
Proverbs contains many other words of wisdom, but I would like to share just one more before concluding. These are the words from chapter 22, verses 19 and 21. They say: “I will give you instruction today, that you may be a man of trust in the Lord,” and “I will send my messenger to you with words of truth and faithfulness, that you may know what is right and true.” The “instruction” in “I will instruct you today, that you may trust in the Lord your God” refers to God’s Word—Jesus Christ. The “truth and the word of truth” also refers to Jesus Christ.
God has given us Jesus Christ, our Savior, so that we may walk each day in peace, relying on Him. Through this Jesus Christ, we come to know the existence, love, and mercy of the Lord God. We are given the wisdom and strength to trust in God, enabling us to walk each day with peace in our hearts alongside Jesus. This is the greatest blessing and grace bestowed upon us by God. Let us walk in reverence toward this God who grants us such grace, listening to and obeying His Word. I pray blessings upon you.