'I have made, and I will bear, even I will carry, and will deliver you'
Isaiah 46:11
If this was the mantra that can truly be fulfilled, than a marketer's life would be a piece of heaven. Heaven is a place most of us the breathing and still kicking have not been to or have we? Heaven is a place where the presence of God is expressed to its fullness. Hell is the absence of Heaven(or God's presence). Hell seems a closer experience for most, for life in our sinful and dark world could be a curtain raiser to the real McCoy, a place of our own making.
'An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed'
Proverbs 20:21
The insatiable American consumer might be the key engine that drove economic growth these past few years, but it is greed and fear that are the cisterns that keep the engines of financial markets bubbling.
The froth might be lathered off, but are we just beginning to understand what lies beneath and it might not be too pretty a sight to behold.
'The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death'
Proverbs 21:6
Cycles, like its very meaning, comes and goes. For many, whose lives are simpler or simply are too busy struggling to make ends meet, ambivalence could possibly be their closest reaction to the gyrations of the financial markets. Yet, like global warming, the ripples from the repercussions of the ill-discipline and immorality of the gnomes of the financial world will eventually permeate into the lives of the innocent or rather the distant bystander, even in the far reaches of the world.
'He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not'
Proverbs 21:26
Give till you feel no pain, is the catchphrase that many are encourage to reflect upon as they grip their pens, and grit their teeth, in writing a tidy but often tiny sum of their blessings, to share with others.
Would it not be better to look at the fuller side of the half-glass and be thankful that to be able to give, would mean that you are indeed blessed with the resources to do what many on the receiving end might have less of.
For there can be no heaven without self giving love.
'And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust'
Psalms 78:18
China today is fast moving towards the American or rather, the capitalist dream of private wealth creation. A corollary effect of this pursuit of wealth, at least in the cities, is the greater prevalence of coronary diseases of the rich, be it fatty livers, heart attacks or plain obesity. Indeed a stark contrast to the good old commune days of Mao Tse Tung, when eating pork was a luxury reserved for special occasions and sweet potatoes was the menu of choice, for there was no other.
'The horse is prepared against the day of battle; but safety is of the Lord'
Proverbs 21:31
From the days of collective deprivation, China today is a society of contrast, clearly delineated by wealth. The cogs of the Chinese juggernault, oiled by the lubricants of human desire to attain their worldly comforts at all costs, might have started to turn decidedly cold, and not just because of the extreme winter weather, buffetting the country. The latter could be the natural elements fighting back for man's neglect and abuse of their environment? But lets not postulate here but rather, it is often in difficult times, that God becomes very visible to the hardened heart, when our aura of invincibility is proven to be threadbare, which is never a matter of whether( not weather )but when.
'Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in His salvation'
Psalms 78:22
While the jury is divided as to what lies ahead for this year, we have already a foretaste of the vagaries of life, be it in a volatile financial market, unpredictable extremes in weather or the same age old propensity of men to enact hurt upon each other, both emotionally and physically.
'The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond care. Who can understand it?'
Jeremiah 17:9
A recession comes as defined by some economists when we see 2 quarters of negative growth. Depression hits us personally when we realize that our assets have halved in value, and our liabilities stay the same and the pipeline of cashflow that we envisaged gets totally clogged up and all we get is the proverbial drip of a tap. Regression becomes the modus operandi for many, not just in their lifestyle but in their whole emotional well-being
''..And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth…'
Jeremiah 1:9-10
In my younger days, my mum used to make sugar tea. That is, one sachet of good old Boh or Lipton tea, placed into a family size container and add lots of hot water and sugar. Today most of us use a packet per cup. My mum,we being the frugal Hokkeins, make a decent pot of soup with a bundle of pork ribs, and lots of water and msg. Ever since marrying into a Cantonese family, my in-laws have shown me what true soup was, and in my bachelor days, II was just drinking plain water dressed as soup( But with due credit to my mum whom I loved very much, it was still tasty for it was cooked with love).
Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety'
Psalms 4:7-8
With recession possibly round the corner, or maybe already in the neighbourhood, and with inflation an unwelcome bedfellow, my mum's frugality could just be the recipe for many whose financials have gone asunder.
Material well-being is important in our world. But it pales in comparison to the salvation of our soul, for it is a matter of eternal life with the Lord our God or eternal damnation in hell.
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god, they fall down, yea, they worship….
……….yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble'
Isaiah 46:6-7
Difficult times do bring us back into perspective. It can and often is a wake-up call. That our time-line to make the right decision is fast shortening. The need for us to response in faith, to a God who is always faithful. To obey and trust Him even as the storms gather. To remember Him and be cognizance of His grace even in these fast receding blue sky days.
'He hath showed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Thy God?'
Micah 6:8
Micah 6:8 is not a recipe for that nourishing chicken soup that helps many a tired soul perked up. But it is a reminder of our special relationship with God. Something many have forgotten and forsaken at great costs even in 'good times' and cannot conveniently ignore the ramifications of their sinful disobedience, when the hell of their own making surface to haunt them like possibly soon.'
'Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the Living God…'
Hebrews 3:12
'Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us…..'
Ephesians 5:1-2
'…your are men, and I am your God, says the Lord God'
Ezekiel 34:31
'Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord'
Jeremiah 17:5
'Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is…'
Jeremiah 17:7
'Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are My people, siath the Lord God'
Ezekiel 34:30
'Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unot the Father, but by Me'
John 14:6
'And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus'
Philippians 4:7
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
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