Whenever I watch YouTube lectures, I set aside any preconceived notions about doubting those individuals or questioning their credibility and listen to what they have to say first. It’s similar to how my trust in a TV news anchor doesn’t diminish just because they host a personal YouTube channel. The point is that it’s not the ‘vessel’ containing the content that matters, but the ‘content’ itself. It was likely a similar situation when the Pharisees of ancient Israel looked upon Jesus, the carpenter’s son. Just as the cry of a seemingly untrustworthy young man carried a message that saved humanity. Furthermore, experts are those who offer objective opinions based on data, not ‘brain-official’ (subjective opinions). When making any judgment, it’s crucial to listen to such people, pray, and then decide. Of course, in a world where fake news runs rampant, it’s hard to judge who is right. But just because a media outlet is trusted doesn’t mean everything it says is true, and just because a media outlet is unknown doesn’t mean everything it says is false.

Concerns about a real estate bubble have been widespread since last year, and it’s common knowledge that, based on historical cycles, we are currently at a peak. Yet, surprisingly, mistakes stemming from ‘ignorance’ are frequent when making real estate decisions. Some will buy a house, thinking it’s a chance to buy at the bottom, while others will sell, believing it’s the peak. Both will thank God. Years later, one might continue to be thankful, while the other might blame God. Yet, at that moment, God likely said nothing. The book on destiny studies, The Old Secret, also features real estate consulting cases. It tells the story of clients who bought property at the peak and then sought destiny counseling. In truth, real estate market trends are not something you need to consult a destiny scholar about; they are something you can understand sufficiently just by reading the economy section. The author of that book also said he diligently followed economic news.

Real estate constitutes a significant portion of personal assets, so the impact is bound to be long-lasting. This is precisely why one must be cautious, recognizing that a single decision can determine one’s financial state for the next decade. Unless you are an expert in the field, holding onto an asset once invested in for the long term seems the wisest choice. Many office workers feel a sense of emptiness lately, but this isn’t unique to Korea; it stems from asset price inflation caused by excessive liquidity in the global economy. With so much money in circulation, funds have flooded into real estate and stocks. This point was precisely analyzed by an economist in the recently published book 『Corona Sapiens』.

When conversing with older or younger generations, I always find myself thinking: ‘Could I be wrong? Could they have experienced things I haven’t, or know trends I’m unaware of?’ Rather than regretting my lack of experience or blaming myself for not understanding trends, I try to embrace their experiences and insights. And I strive to wake up a little earlier than them, think, decide, and act. At such times, it feels like God is patting me on the shoulder and saying, “You’re doing great!”

Lately, I’ve been rethinking ‘faith’. Questions like ‘What does it mean to know God?’ or ‘What’s the benefit of being saved?’ seemed to me perhaps to be missing the point. It’s like a student asking, “Why do we study?” or an office worker asking, “What’s the point of earning money?” In a word, it’s a ‘foolish question’. Learning what was unknown, accumulating knowledge into wisdom, seeing the principles of the world, and discovering God’s order within them—this must be the first step in knowing God. I believe the fruit of salvation only appears when I exert influence through the judgments, words, and actions I make within that order. So today, too, I live my day with intensity, listening to an audiobook.