Dear…
'Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.'
Romans 13:8
Can a hungry stomach run exclusively on the fuel of brotherly love grounded on prayers to the Lord our God? Obviously not for many. An interview in the newspaper with an South African ex-pastor who decided to quit being a materially poor shepherd and transform into an evangelical wealth entrepreneur speaks volume of the reality of the challenges facing any of us who want to stay the course in not just sharing the gospel of God's love but living out our faith as a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. Africa, where this ex pastor is based is a land of deprivation, much as it is blessed with resources, and the dear man figured that if he can generate material wealth, he will be empowered to translate his love into action and not stay stuck at mere prayers!!If the papers are reliable, it seems he had decided that either God is not answering his prayers, or that God needed some help from him to get things done.
‘Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God Which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.’
Philippians 4:6-7
God does know we need resources to meet our needs and also to do His work. But increasingly, many Christians seem to subscribe to this similar idea that we should not be afraid to ask for much more, and being polite or patient with God will not bring us the oodles of cash to pay for the gravy train, that will help bring more on board the train of salvation. And that we need to do our part while God does His, a co-partnership. Are these assumptions in line with the will of God??
I cannot say I have much experience with churches that consistently preach the prosperity message, but based on the crowds, the pastors have found a real niche. The Jews during the time of our Lord Jesus Christ were well aware of the promise of a Savior, to liberate them from their Roman oppressors. But nay did they expect or believe that he will be in the form of a lowly carpenter, rather than a man of great stature and power.
'But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.'
Acts 1:8
As Christians, are we making the same erroneous assumption that an effective and “successful” Christian must be equated with the things the carnal world values, that is, wealth, power, prestige and everything else the carnal man values? In the same vein, being materially poor, or self sacrificial is mere symbolism, if our hearts are not right with God. For God looks for obedience not sacrifice. And how can we know the will of God if we do not take time in prayers, and instead start doing things based on our flawed understanding?
'The rich rules over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.'
Proverbs 22:7
One prominent but less highlighted casualty of the American sub-prime crisis was the many churches in USA, who decided to move from bring a place of worship to a lifestyle hub, with a generative income. On logic, it seemed correct then, for many of these churches were sitting on precious land, and the buildings could be enhanced to incorporate many more services plus provide a stream of rental income. I know that our Lord Jesus Christ did angrily throw out the many commercial vendors who set up shop in the temple of God, but is this not different, given that the income will help to self finance the church's activities?
But is the kingdom of God about what we think, or what God wills?
'Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.'
Romans 14:15
Man plans, God directs. Many of these churches are now facing foreclosure, what with the double whammy of falling church attendance and tithes as recession bites, and the imploding property prices making many once tenable mortgages no longer viable.
'Therefore do not let your good be spoken as evil., for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.'
Romans:14:16- 17
Can man truly thrive on air and lots of prayers? Save for recent story about the holy man from India, who purportedly ate nothing for quite some time, most mortal us do need the basic necessities of life. God knows our needs, and all who faithfully follows the leading of the Holy Spirit will attest to the fact that God indeed provides, for our daily needs, much as the imperfect man looks for permanency to what is a temporal life.
Man clings on to their provisions, but God wants us to cling on to Him our provider and prayers ensures that we look to God as our only Provider, that we know His will, and prayers asked in His will, will be answered.
‘For what is a man advantage, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?’
Luke 9:25
The world we live in today is rapidly transforming or more like deteriorating. Clearly, the European Commission has now joined the once prudent USA in impoverishing the thrifty savers by their continued running of the printing press, to print even more fiat monies. The more astute man is not sitting still, waiting to be stripped bare. Many are now scrambling to look for refuge from the grubby hands of the government, and much as real assets might provide some comfort in an orderly world, it has its limits, even more so as the gap widens between the few rich and the burgeoning poor.
Will there truly be any real safe havens in a sea of despair and social unrest? Will material wealth truly preserve our very being?
‘But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.’
Luke 12:31
Two years back during the height of the subprime crisis, all the wealth in the world became a burden for no bank was safe and many of the truly wealthy had sleepless nights worrying about the need to move from bank to bank, never knowing which bank would collapse on them.
Today, as we enter the next phase, the banks might look more stable for now, as governments have now taken over the risk on behalf of their once profligate ways. But the pieces of paper we have deposited in the banks are increasingly being devalued by the wanton printing of more paper monies by these same governments.
Three years back, when the Lord impress upon my heart the need to buy gold, it was not about physical gold but our character as gold refined by the Lord. Clearly the sense of déjà vu from three years back(the subprime) or even twelve years back(Asian crisis) or maybe even thirty five years back(stagflation in the 1970s) is a upon us. It is already late but not quite late for all of us to live out Luke 12:31, to put God first and foremost before everything else. For to do so otherwise will bring us to the same grief of our predecessors.
‘For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’
Luke 12:34
Many in the present generation of investors have no inkling what the last Great Depression was like, nor what the carnage of the 1970s cycle of stagflation can do to those who stretched their finances. And some might remember the past Asian crisis, but most would likely remember more the Dot com crash of 2001 as well as the recent subprime crisis when things rebound fairly quickly. Real lessons are never learned when the pain is short, and real transformation of character normally occurs over a prolonged period of pain and deprivation.
Similarly, almost all come to a significant relationship with the our ever present Father in Heaven, when our backs are not just to the wall, but flat out, for God looks for a humble and contrite heart.
‘And I heard Him speaking unto me out of the house, and the man stood by me..’
Ezekiel 43:6
Many of us, even those who are first generation Christians have long moved away from God, as our heart longs for things of the world, for idols that will prosper us. Most might seek the god of prosperity during the Chinese New Year. But reality is most are seeking the god or gods of prosperity every moment of their life. Is God speaking to you through me to remind you of our erring from the covenant that He has with us, to seek Him with our all. I believe so, but it matters not. What matters is how extreme a shaking does one need to learn to be still and know the will of God?
‘Another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.’
Judges 2:10
God Blesses
Eng Hieang
(18th May 2010)
Storehouses of value
‘Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.’
Philippians 2:4-5
Much as I am well placed to buy into the present carnage in the financial markets. Much as my carnal urge is there to dive right into the “bargains” in this present climate of fear, our good Lord reminded me of the need to be patient, a thought He has placed in my hearts many times this year.
It is this obedience to His leading that has allowed me to be in this present sweet spot of being fairly well sheltered from the negativity in the present markets. I believe that the rest of this year will be an opportunity for us to prepare for the coming high inflation that will beset the once besotted world of easy leverage. Indeed the borrower will become a slave to the lender, as the whip of higher and higher interest rates inflict great pain on many. God will lead those who seek Him into preparing these storehouses of value, that will be needed to be released into the many who will be if not already deprived, for words without works brings no increase in faith.
The Lord is ready to bless us with the provisions for His work. Question is, is your heart ready? To seek material wealth for the sake of personal accumulation will bring with it even greater grief, for no one truly knows what is a safe level to invest. But if we are prepared to invest our all in His Kingdom, with whatever God has already blessed us with, not just materially, but in all areas, God will more than amply provide, for indeed the world will see the glory of God worked through the lives of the faithful.
[Ang, Eng Hieang (Singapore)]
‘But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.’
Philippians 4:19
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