Dear….
‘…I spoke to you in your prosperity. But you said, ‘I will not hear.’
Jeremiah 22:21
Is giving so difficult? Or more correctly, is self denial very much against the nature of the carnal and sinful man. When Adam took a bite of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, he not only disobeyed God, but he wanted to be his own man, making his own decisions. Nay does man realize that he has not just moved away from the likeness of God, but has moved towards the likeness of the fallen angel, the devil, the father of all pride and self-centeredness.
‘Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines. Though the labor of the olive tree may fall. And the fields yield no food. Though the flock may be cut off from the fold. And there shall be no herd in the stalls – Yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation.’
Habakkuk 2:17-18
Is it more justifiable not to give when one seems not to be in a position to give? If giving is from the basis of one’s sense of sufficiency of provisions, it is indeed correct that there will never be enough to go round. But as Christ has shown, it is not what one has, but the willingness to give from the heart, and the Spirit of God will magnify our gifts many times over.
‘…Did not your father eat and drink. And do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy. The it was well. Was not this knowing Me?’ says the Lord. Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness…’
Jeremiah 22:15-17
I have by the grace of God learned to be more than a cheerful giver. In giving, I have indeed been blessed many times over by our good Lord in manifold ways, and not just materially, and nothing can replicate that sense of joy and compassionate love, that communion with God, when we give from the heart And I have learned that indeed we will never be able to out give God. And in giving, we should be assured not on the basis that God will return to us manifold immediately, but rather, God has already given and God will more than provide what we need for ourselves and others at His timing and His form.
In fact, often in my giving, are times when I feel least equipped emotionally and materially, because life is going less well it seems, and in giving, life did not improve, in fact, it could get a little worse. Yet I have also learned that in crossing the chasm of faith, in faithfully living out our lives as stewards of God’s blessings, the Spirit of God will draw near to us, and that sanctifying grace makes everything else of irrelevance. And yet God do know our limits and our needs in this difficult world, and He will more than provide, if need be.
Singapore today is a very blessed country. The world has come to us, and indeed, if the number of millionaires(both born or naturalized) are any indication, on a per sq foot of terra firma, we must be sitting on some pretty decent purchasing power.
‘For the poor will never cease from the land, therefore I command you, saying, “You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.”
Deuteronomy 15:11
Yet, is it true that in our midst are many who struggle to even have more than one decent meal a day. And this could include many children of school going age as well as the old? Are we a first world country in terms of material blessings, but giving like we have less than those cheerful givers in the third world?
‘But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money……..having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!’
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Fact or fiction? It is of less relevance than for us to answer God’s call, to minister to the widows and the orphans. It is good to take a step back from our pursuit of more wealth and learn to acknowledge God for our present blessings and thank HIM responsively by sharing our blessings, be it material, time, skills, and whatever God has provided us with, as He leads.
‘Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.’
2 Timothy 2:7
Is the destitute unique to Singapore? Clearly not, for this is a global reality. But in Singapore, we are equipped by the grace of God, not just materially, but in many ways, be it skills set, network, and language capability to be used by the Lord to make a difference to the lives of those around us, and if God so wills, to bring them through our works of love, unto His presence. Singapore is the Antioch of the East, and we must live out God’s calling to be the light that shine forth in the darkness of an Asia that is stirring, as man thirst for that inner peace.
The time is now for us who call ourselves Christians to do some serious soul searching and ask ourselves, “what is the command of God and are we living out faithfully the truth of God’s words, to share the gospel of love, not just in words, but in works as well? And a good start to this process will be to take time with God, and be still and know His will, and be willing to respond as He will surely lead.
'A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly.'
Proverbs 18:23
A dollar, ten minutes of our time or a little kindness from each of us might not seem much, but collectively it adds up. But of even greater significance is God wants us to be used by Him in His will, and in not blessing others with the gifts that God has blessed us all with, we are depriving not others, but ourselves of witnessing and experiencing the grace of God in our own lives.
‘But seek ye first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you…’
Matthew 6:33
Impoverishment is not just of the physical. As a country that has previously no natural resources nor accumulated wealth, save for our strategic location, God blessed first generation leadership and its people, we have been blessed materially these past few decades since our inception as a fledging nation. But have we lost sight of what matters in life and more important, what matters to enter the Kingdom of God?
God will not leave us to continue in our follies, for eternity is at stake. Clearly, like most developed countries that have lost its way, we are already witnessing the manifestations of our sinful disobedience in terms of increased divorced rates, latch-key children, pre-marital sex at increasingly young age, and if recent newspaper reports are to be believed, increased emotional disorders amongst school children of early ages of twelve and also increased rate of terminal diseases amongst the population at increasingly early ages.
‘And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from Me, ye that work iniquity…’
Matthew 7:23
The Bible is replete with examples of God’s grace upon those who turn their hearts back to Him. Yet, the Bible is also littered with many who sow their own seeds of destruction, by their continued disobedience.
‘Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it….’
John 15:22
The calm before the storm, is this where we are now?
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(15th July 2010)
In spirit and truth, dwelling a little deeper
At worship today, as we sang the last song, the words “giving to the Lord our soul” spoke to me about the need for us not just to have a desirous heart that seek God, but a willingness to give up everything that is cluttering our heart and leave the entire space in our heart for the infilling of the Spirit of God. Is it not the case for all of us that we often only begin to comprehend God’s ways and see the fruits of His promises, when His very Spirit lift us up from the morass of our own understanding.
A generous heart as in the sharing above serves to teach us and inculcate in us the attitude of letting go, and it is a very necessary step in our ultimately letting go and letting the Spirit of God fill our very being.
Only in yielding to the Spirit of God, will we be able to experience the truth of what is till now head knowledge, that is, “To give is to receive “ and may you reflect upon, pray about and act responsively to this thought.
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