In a Korean proverb, there is a saying, “A big pot cannot fit into a small pot.” Surprisingly, this simple Korean proverb has given me a lot of comfort. It has provided me with wisdom to overcome the pain, sorrow, and turmoil that I, as a minority, experienced in the majority society. Furthermore, this experience has been instrumental in helping me understand the principles of the Bible that are necessary for overcoming difficulties.
Among the hardships that humans face, there are hardships caused by their BEING. Children born in countries at war, people living in societies dominated by famine and poverty, and those born as slaves are examples. But there is more than that. The difficulties experienced due to factors such as skin color, race, and language barriers are also part of that kind of suffering. Such hardship often comes from most people who belong to the same group or community. In other words, most of the hardship caused by BEING stems from the system made and ruled by the majority of society.
For example, Asians who speak a language other than English attending schools where English-speaking Caucasians are the majority inevitably face difficulties that the majority do not experience or even think about. The aliens often struggle to feel a sense of belonging and live mostly as outsiders. Even when interacting with open-minded individuals from the majority, they must accept the majority’s culture and not assert their own. It requires a great deal of patience and energy. Especially when conflicts arise with the majority, individuals belonging to the minority must comply with the standards set by the majority. Otherwise, they may no longer be welcomed as normal individuals in that society. There seems to be another choice, which is to leave that society. However, this choice is not always feasible because the situation may not be substantially different, even if they leave that community and go elsewhere.
Is God discriminating against those who suffer due to their BEING? No, He is not. Instead, it means His even greater blessings. To recognize our BEING as a blessing, one must understand the principles about the suffering that the word of God teaches and live according to God’s will. In other words, one needs to change according to God’s word, perspective, and attitude to BEING part of the minority.
The Godly Perspective
Now, consider the perspective taught by God’s word while thinking about the Korean proverb. First, Romans 5:3-5 says, “… we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame ….” What message does this passage convey to those who suffer due to their BEING as a minority? Suppose the minority individuals overcome the suffering through endurance. In that case, they can develop a more excellent Christian character than the majority, who do not even know or experience such suffering. Moreover, a more mature character than the majority can give them hope, and God will never put their hope to shame. Applying the Korean proverb here, it means that a Christian born into suffering due to their BEING as a minority can become a larger pot in terms of character than their peers who belong to the majority.
Next, we should pay attention to God’s plan for us to be part of the minority. In the context of a Korean proverb, there are always large and small vessels coexisting in God’s kingdom. It is God’s will for the large vessels to embrace and hold the small vessels (cf. Romans 14:1). 2 Corinthians 1:5-6 says, “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort ….” In other words, God uses suffering to develop endurance, character, and hope in His children. It is to comfort and encourage others, even those who may not know or understand the suffering. In the context of the Korean proverb, this means that God makes us into larger vessels to embrace and help the smaller vessels. In short, God, by making us part of the minority, has assigned us a glorious responsibility, having born us into the majority society.
Among the great figures in the Bible, some were trained as God’s servants through suffering caused by their BEING. For example, Abraham left his homeland and his relatives and lived in a foreign land (Genesis 12:1). He almost lost his wife, Sarah, to the Pharaoh of Egypt (Genesis 12:10ff). Joseph, who was sold into Egypt at a young age, had to stay there until his death and went through countless trials, truly belonging to the minority within the majority (Genesis 37ff). Moses was raised as an Egyptian prince and then fled to the land of the Midianites, where he worked in the wilderness for his father-in-law until he was eighty years old, even to the point of having a speech impediment (Exodus 4:10). Before becoming king, David had to flee from Saul’s chase to kill him for over a decade and traveled among various foreign lands (1 Samuel 21ff). And what about Jesus? He, who belonged to the heavenly realm, came into the human world and suffered persecution and death on the cross. It was because there was no other way for Him to become the Savior who would save all humanity than suffering (Hebrews 2:10).
All these biblical figures, however, went through suffering to be trained according to God’s purpose. In other words, from God’s perspective, BEING born and destined to endure suffering from BEING is a special blessing and a calling for God’s purpose. So, Romans 5:3 says, “We rejoice in our sufferings.”
The Godly Attitude
Then, what attitude should we have toward the suffering we inevitably experience as part of the minority? First and foremost, we should not complain or negatively view our BEING as a minority but rather see it as a blessing from God and give thanks to Him. We cannot emphasize it enough because it is why we consider our BEING an opportunity to glorify God. Why? Because our BEING as part of the minority was created through Jesus (Colossians 1:16), it is a good gift from God (James 1:17), and therefore, we should use it for the purpose of glorifying God (1 Corinthians 10:31). With such an attitude, it goes without saying that God will bless us even more abundantly in the face of the suffering from BEING (Romans 2:6, 4:20).
Next, another attitude we should have is to love and serve. That is, we should have a heart that embraces and helps the smaller vessels in accordance with the blessings God has given us through our BEING and his calling upon us. We have been created as BEINGs belonging to the minority for this purpose, and it involves loving and serving those who are like smaller vessels. It is the servant-leadership that Jesus taught and exemplified (Matthew 20:25-28). Therefore, when we love and help those who belong to the majority, who have never thought about, known, or experienced the hardships of the minority, we fulfill God’s purpose and His calling upon us.
In conclusion, a person belonging to a minority is a testament to God’s blessing and a special purpose for their BEING. Understanding the sufferings of this BEING from God’s perspective and living for the purpose of God, we will enjoy the incredible blessings of God that the majority cannot have. Thus, everything that comes from God is for His special purpose, to bless the recipient first and then to extend His blessings to those who have not received them. Therefore, blessed are those enduring the suffering from BEING as part of the minority for God’s glory!
The Pure Gospel 
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