Dearly beloved,
Recent news in the Straits Times and on the television showcased the thoughts of politicians that things are not so good in the financial world. Most people in America believe that their country is facing a meltdown of the economy if the stocks and shares continue to fall. It is not just the Americans but people over the world that are afraid and insecure about the global economy. Our Prime Minister in his National Day’s address, said that Singapore’s economy will slow down and the global financial outlook will remain uncertain. If nothing is done to revive the American economy, other world economic systems will also be drastically affected. In America, many multi-national companies went bankrupt and were either bailed out by the government or bought over by other companies. Why the global economic turmoil and so much insecurity all over the world? We are no economists to say how money-matters work or how people have gotten themselves into this mess. But what we can simply understand is that it has to do with greed. And greed in the sight of God is a great sin. Greed and covetousness have similarities in definition. A person with greed will never be satisfied and will value material things more than he values God. We are told in1Timothy 6:6-8, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content” But the way of life and the values of the world are directly opposite to the teachings of Christ.
The people of the world will say, “Look at all the money I have earned! I will buy a bigger house; I will buy more stocks and shares; I will buy a BMW sports sedan and I will shop till I drop!”, without realizing that it can all be gone with the blinking of an eye. The Lord wants us to know that life is never about what we possess or what we can acquire. And the Lord said that to those whose purpose in life is to acquire more and more material possessions are fools. Luke 12:15-20, “And Jesus said, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And Jesus spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Jesus wants those who follow Him to put their trust in Him, and not in investments of stocks and shares, not in careers and in homes. Don’t you know that the investors on SIMEX can make Singapore’s economy very rich today and only to take it away tomorrow?
In God’s economy, there is always enough for every single person. And as long as people take their own shares, and not taking the share of others out of greed. In Jesus’ economy, He has taught His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” and not bread for a life time.
In Jesus’ economy, it is also for His disciples to receive freely from God and to distribute freely to others who have needs. The Lord Jesus says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” The greatest antidote against the sin of greed is in Matthew 6:31-34, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
Elder Douglas Ho
Thanksgiving
I thank God for the opportunity to organize this year’s church outing. I am glad that the turnout this year has been one of the largest to date. More importantly, our Almighty God has stirred the hearts of some of our friends and loved ones who have yet to receive God as their Lord and Saviour. The seeds have been sowed and I pray that the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts and draw them to Him according to His will and time.
About 3 weeks to the outing, my workload from my office has increased tremendously and I could hardly find time to co-ordinate the outing and the hurdle seems insurmountable. I am very grateful to all the brothers and sisters in Christ who were so willing to serve in one way or another in ensuring the event run smoothly and according to plan. On hindsight, it can only be our marvelous God that the bits of puzzle pieces fell into place nicely for only with Him, all things are possible. Praise be unto the Lord!
Brother Teck Meng