Dear…
‘Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’
Proverbs 22:6
Today marks the start of the new school term for many children in Singapore. My children's school starts a little later, and so the mood at home is still decidedly relax, before the rigorous routine of our school system resumes. Hard work, just like discipline does the soul good, and knowing that God provides is not a license to be a loafer. In fact, being a Christian, we are asked to be good stewards of the gifts that God has bless us with. The difference as a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ is that we work hard for the Lord as He leads, and not for ourselves or upon our own understanding.
And that challenges are for our refinement, much as blessings are from our Lord to be shared His way.
Every school year, there are new lessons to learn. In line with this reality, let me also use a new approach just this once in my sharing, and I will only use Proverbs 22(and not verses across the Bible as is the norm), as our good Lord leads and indeed there will be lessons He will show us, as we meet and follow Him, in the midst of the various storms as well as the clear sky days of this year.
‘A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.’
Proverbs 22:1
Silver I used to have at US$3/oz, unfortunately none at present prices of US$30/oz. Interestingly, a few years back or rather many dollars back, it was reported that the twin billionaire buddies of Warren Buffett and Bill Gates were not just soul mates in philanthropy but also more than significant holders or hoarders of physical silver, rumored at US$8-10/oz then. Just this morning, I remembered that I do have two platinum coins of an oz each, issued by Johnson Matthey. Not many know this once famous name, for till recently, for more than two decades since the hyperinflationary dragon was slay by even higher interest rates by the then US Federal Chairman Paul Volcker, precious metal was passé.
Today, life has come full circle. Fool’s gold is back and for good reason for paper monies is becoming fait as indebted Governments continue to try to print their way out of trouble. Preservation of one’s wealth and concomitant lifestyle that wealth can buy is good enough justification for taking this route of hoarding increasingly expensive and non-edible to almost useless gold. But there is another gold as shared previously that God wants us to buy, our character as refined by Him, through circumstances that He will allow to challenge us in our faith.
‘By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.’
Proverbs 22:4
Just yesterday, I had my regular lunch with a dear non believer friend, who is an octogenarian. A friend and mentor, I have always benefitted from his wisdom, and indeed, he shared with me his pride in having been not just successful in his business, but doing it with integrity. And being able to use his wealth to help others with no expectations.
Indeed, this friend has achieved his good name, as in Proverbs 22:1, and he has lived out the command of God more than many professed Christians in name, but continued sinners in heart. But who is truly good? for God looks not for works, but obedience and late last year, when the Lord tested me, I would have failed if not for His grace, and all the good works that I think I have done is irrelevant if I had sinned.
‘The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.’
Proverbs 22:2
I was reviewing the book “Great Gatsby” with my son yesterday. A book that portrays the promise of a surging America in the decadent post World War 1 1920s. Interestingly, present day economic powerhouse China seems to be what America was nine decades back. And China today, like the America of the 1920s, wealth was never equally distributed and the gap in fact widened. The difference of course is that with globalization, there is greater awareness of such disequilibrium and through the internet, power to the disenchanted masses to organize themselves, and that is keeping the not just the Communist party in China awake, but likely many other governments in restless slumber, as inflation intensifies.
Yet, as in Proverbs 22:2, a little liberal extension on my part here, but still a fact, which is, rich or poor, life is finite for all, and all will meet the Lord our God in eternity, only deviation being in eternal joy in Heaven or in perpetual damnation in Hell?
‘Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’
Proverbs 22:6
Time to revisit this opening verse(ie Proverbs 22:6) in today’s sharing. My children was what kept me awake early this morning, not that they have been naughty, but rather, like all parents, we do “worry” for our children. Be it any recognized deficiency or simply what the future holds for them, and if we have prepared them sufficiently.
Indeed, what are we preparing them for? Is it to be able to cope with the present world successfully with wealth as the predicator of success or to be ready for eternity in the Kingdom of God? As a Christian, the answer is obvious, yet many professed Christian parents seems to think otherwise in their actions. And for those like me who recognize the urgency to train our young, it can seem quite daunting to futile as our young wards does not seem to be willing recipients. But all things are in God’s timing and way, and God will deliver, for the prayers of the faithful will be answered and that is not just the reassurance but the certainty of our faith, to allow us to persevere as Christian parents, not just with our own children, but with other people whom God will place in our lives, for we are all His children.
‘The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.’
Proverbs 22:7
Today’s headline in the newspaper was about the increased indebtedness of Singaporeans related to property mortgages as well as increased tendency to rollover credit card bills, especially amongst the younger population. Today’s young adults are the product of our material success as a nation. The Macdonald burgher generation, whose comfortable life are a given, in exchange for a life of intense academic pursuit, the latter being the perceived key to a life of material comfort.
Many of us have clearly forgotten our past life of lesser means, and unfortunately, have not been able to ingrain in our children the reality of the harshness of a life of material deprivation. And worse, we have in our relentless desire to keep our blessings, have deprived them of the experiential knowledge of the source of our comfort and grace, our Abba Father.
Singapore and Hong Kong have benefitted tremendously from the flow of wealth globally. But as past history has shown, it is a double edged sword, and we can be very if not more susceptible to a change in investors’ sentiments that could trigger an outflow of such hot monies as well. Are we, in the pursuit of mammon, enslaving not just ourselves but the future generation to a life of servitude with the debts many are now happily taking, blissfully unaware that the rising tide of interest rates while not approaching the Biblical proportions as witnessed in the Great Queensland flood, might catch many unaware with a sudden increase in tempo.
‘He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.’
Proverbs 22:9
The past three years have been personally challenging for me in my business and financials. Yet, there was never insufficient means to share the Lord’s blessings, for God provides. On January 2nd, the Lord impressed upon my heart the thought “to pace it.” What does it mean? Today, January 5th, I am reminded by His Spirit that the past three years of refinement is over in the main. He will release His blessings through the faithful, to be used for many who will hunger both for physical food and in the spirit. And herein lies the danger for as we see our faith “rewarded,’ just like King Solomon and many once faithful servants of God, our hearts will move away from the Lord surreptitiously. “Take time” with God always, that is, always keep pace with the Lord as He leads, and not us leading Him, for this will be a year of great upheavals yet great transfer of blessings.
‘Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.’
Proverbs 22:15
‘Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.’
Proverbs 22:17
As I close these thoughts from my time with our Lord, I have enclosed a link ( http://www.covenantvision.org/mediacentre/search/Rev%20Francis%20Khoo )to the prophetic word that Rev Francis Khoo released for year 2011. I listened to it last night, and do feel a little troubled. Even without such reminders from anointed servants of God, we all fully well know that the world is a troubled place, maybe difference being the intensity and depth and breadth are taking on “biblical proportions.” Most might look upon prophecies as one of prediction, but for believers, it should be less about what might happen, but rather, it must be taken as a reminder to all of us of our own state of readiness for the day Christ returns or possibly earlier if you are called home to be with the Lord.
To be willing to be transformed by the Holy Spirit residing in our hearts, to be diligently seeking God, it must come from us, and that desire translated into a responsiveness can only come if we truly take time to reflect upon and learn from the Spirit of God, whom Christ has left with us to teach, guide, correct and provide for our spiritual growth. For we struggle not just against our deceitful self, but also against principalities and fallen angels.
Rgds and God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(8th Jan 2011)
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