Jesus observed how people put money in the treasury. He saw the rich putting in money out of their abundance and a poor widow putting in a lepta (two small copper coins) out of her poverty. The lepton was a currency used in ancient Greece; and a lepta has the equivalence of 1/64 of a denarius, a Roman currency. In early Roman Empire, the daily wage for an unskilled labourer and common soldier was 1 denarius. So even though it was a very meagre amount, she was commended by our Lord for her generosity. I wonder how she lived after that? At any rate, those who sow bountifully shall reap bountifully (2 Cor 9:6).
James said that pure and undefiled religion is to visit the orphans and widows in their distress (Jas 1:27). Earlier on, the religious leaders were plying Jesus with questions, trying to trap Him. But they were unable to do so. Jesus ended the exchanges with the remark that religious people like to make a show of themselves. And unlike what James advised, they would not hesitate to take advantage and swindle widows (Mk 12:38-40). It takes a widow, and a poor one at that, to demonstrate what God looks at. God does not look at the external performances of men but rather the internal workings their hearts.
God also notices when we give to Him today. Whether we give tithes or offerings, He knows because Malachi talked about the nation of Israel robbing God (Mal 3:8). We open ourselves to curses if we fail to pay our tithes and give our offerings. On the other hand, we if honour the Lord with our substance, He would open heaven's windows to rain down blessings on us. Those who fear God and esteem His name will be remembered by Him and will be a part of His special possession (Mal 3:16-18). The arrogance of men is again taken note of by God (Mal 3:13-15). Let's examine daily our hearts' condition before God that we may present unto Him acceptable offerings of both our praise and substance.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Children
The Bible tells us that children are a gift or heritage from the LORD (Ps 127:3). In an age and time when couples are having difficulty conceiving and our population is not replacing itself, indeed the fruit of the womb is a reward. The Scripture continues, "How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them." (Ps 127:5). Unlike the generations of our forebears who had many children, the younger generations are not keen on having more than two. It could be due to the effective campaign by the government to stop at two or more possibly, the changing demands in modern living, where the cost of raising children does not come cheap. Well those who have more are certainly blessed by the LORD; some say a quiver full contains at least a dozen arrows like Jacob of old.
Children, when they are young, are bundles of joy to behold and cradle. Young parents would soon find that their lives would revolve around their child(ren). From changing diapers (or nappies) to feeding and outings, these are the exciting journeys every parent goes through. Whenever they are not well, not only will there be the anxious moments but also the long wait to see the pediatrician, especially a popular one. Feeding your sick child with medicine could also pose a great challenge and sometimes we need God's wisdom to guide us. I remembered we tried mixing the medicine with our child's milk one time to get the sugar to go down. Somehow the young child would be able to detect the difference and refused to drink. But we managed nonetheless.
When children are slightly older, we can do a lot more talking, reading and playing with them. The time invested in our children when they are young would certainly not go to waste. Many young parents leave it to their child-minders to look after their kids without counteracting the possible harmful effects this arrangement could bring. As parents, we read to our children Children/Bible stories and taught them how to pray. It's wonderful to hear their prayers when they were young because it reveals the simplicity of a child-like faith. In one of the many voice recordings made when they were younger, they prayed for an oikos couple who longed for a child but were apparently unable to conceive. Together with the prayers of the saints, the couple eventually conceived the next year and had yet another child later.
The Bible instructs fathers not to provoke their children to anger but to raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:4). Implied in this verse is the control men ought to have over their faculties and emotions, especially their temper. Because they are young and impressionable, the things we say and do would leave a lasting impression on our children. Instead, we are to role model the life of a believer in the way we live out our Christian life. There is a need to teach them the Word of God and how to pray; more importantly how to go about maintaining a consistent devotional time with God. This is all part and parcel of Christian discipline and virtues that we ought to inculcate in them. Our elder child does not seem to have much problem in this area but the younger one needs more reminding. As we train our children in the way they should go, when they grow old they will not depart from it (Pr 22:6).
Children's education is an area where parents can fret much over. Many would start planning ahead of time where they would like to put their child(ren), whether it be playgroup, nursery, kindergarten or primary school. Young children have no choice to determine their school destiny; parents would choose for them based on their judgment as to what is expedient for them. We chose for our children a kindergarten and a primary school that is affiliated to an Anglican church as we would like to imbue in them Christian principles and values. Of course, the reputation of the schools concerned also played an important role in our choice. Getting into the primary school wasn't automatic as my wife had to volunteer her services. It was through much prayer and fasting that our elder child secured a place.
Now that they are much older, our children can and have made a choice regarding which secondary school they would like to attend. However, we still had to guide them and give them all the necessary information to help them make an informed choice. We encouraged them to work towards their respective goals by attaining good results for their PSLE, pumping in resources wherever possible. Sheryl by virtue of her artistic talents would like to go to SOTA but admission was through DSA. She didn't have an art portfolio, so I got her to see my Art teacher colleague who graciously agreed to help and guide her. I believe the skills sets that she picked up in building up her portfolio and going through the Talent Academy selection test cum interview would stand her in good stead for future challenges. To cut the long story short, she got into SOTA and has successfully completed Year 1. She has been inspired during the holidays to do a lot of artwork to hone her skills.
Shermaine on the other hand went to Anglican High, another missions school near our place. She has been doing very well in her studies and is enjoying her CCA which is NPCC. The camaraderie forged both in class and in her CCA has been wonderful. In their teenage years, friends or peers play an important role in shaping our children's destiny. We have to keep an eye on the people they are mixing with to ensure that there are no harmful influences. This year she applied for the Temasek Academy (through DSA) after having visited the School Open House and talked with us. Again to cut the long story short, she has been accepted and would start the new term next year in the Integrated Programme of TJC. She made it through on the basis of her own merits. It would certainly be a new chapter for her as she works toward getting a good A level certificate, while Sheryl her International Baccalaureate diploma.
Children in their teenage years will have a mind of their own, learning to assert their independence yet at the same time still dependent on us. As parents, we have to continually engage them. Our roles would have to evolve as well; from that of being a parent to that of being a friend or mentor as they grow up. At any rate, the joys and tribulations of parenthood continues.
Children, when they are young, are bundles of joy to behold and cradle. Young parents would soon find that their lives would revolve around their child(ren). From changing diapers (or nappies) to feeding and outings, these are the exciting journeys every parent goes through. Whenever they are not well, not only will there be the anxious moments but also the long wait to see the pediatrician, especially a popular one. Feeding your sick child with medicine could also pose a great challenge and sometimes we need God's wisdom to guide us. I remembered we tried mixing the medicine with our child's milk one time to get the sugar to go down. Somehow the young child would be able to detect the difference and refused to drink. But we managed nonetheless.
When children are slightly older, we can do a lot more talking, reading and playing with them. The time invested in our children when they are young would certainly not go to waste. Many young parents leave it to their child-minders to look after their kids without counteracting the possible harmful effects this arrangement could bring. As parents, we read to our children Children/Bible stories and taught them how to pray. It's wonderful to hear their prayers when they were young because it reveals the simplicity of a child-like faith. In one of the many voice recordings made when they were younger, they prayed for an oikos couple who longed for a child but were apparently unable to conceive. Together with the prayers of the saints, the couple eventually conceived the next year and had yet another child later.
The Bible instructs fathers not to provoke their children to anger but to raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:4). Implied in this verse is the control men ought to have over their faculties and emotions, especially their temper. Because they are young and impressionable, the things we say and do would leave a lasting impression on our children. Instead, we are to role model the life of a believer in the way we live out our Christian life. There is a need to teach them the Word of God and how to pray; more importantly how to go about maintaining a consistent devotional time with God. This is all part and parcel of Christian discipline and virtues that we ought to inculcate in them. Our elder child does not seem to have much problem in this area but the younger one needs more reminding. As we train our children in the way they should go, when they grow old they will not depart from it (Pr 22:6).
Children's education is an area where parents can fret much over. Many would start planning ahead of time where they would like to put their child(ren), whether it be playgroup, nursery, kindergarten or primary school. Young children have no choice to determine their school destiny; parents would choose for them based on their judgment as to what is expedient for them. We chose for our children a kindergarten and a primary school that is affiliated to an Anglican church as we would like to imbue in them Christian principles and values. Of course, the reputation of the schools concerned also played an important role in our choice. Getting into the primary school wasn't automatic as my wife had to volunteer her services. It was through much prayer and fasting that our elder child secured a place.
Now that they are much older, our children can and have made a choice regarding which secondary school they would like to attend. However, we still had to guide them and give them all the necessary information to help them make an informed choice. We encouraged them to work towards their respective goals by attaining good results for their PSLE, pumping in resources wherever possible. Sheryl by virtue of her artistic talents would like to go to SOTA but admission was through DSA. She didn't have an art portfolio, so I got her to see my Art teacher colleague who graciously agreed to help and guide her. I believe the skills sets that she picked up in building up her portfolio and going through the Talent Academy selection test cum interview would stand her in good stead for future challenges. To cut the long story short, she got into SOTA and has successfully completed Year 1. She has been inspired during the holidays to do a lot of artwork to hone her skills.
Shermaine on the other hand went to Anglican High, another missions school near our place. She has been doing very well in her studies and is enjoying her CCA which is NPCC. The camaraderie forged both in class and in her CCA has been wonderful. In their teenage years, friends or peers play an important role in shaping our children's destiny. We have to keep an eye on the people they are mixing with to ensure that there are no harmful influences. This year she applied for the Temasek Academy (through DSA) after having visited the School Open House and talked with us. Again to cut the long story short, she has been accepted and would start the new term next year in the Integrated Programme of TJC. She made it through on the basis of her own merits. It would certainly be a new chapter for her as she works toward getting a good A level certificate, while Sheryl her International Baccalaureate diploma.
Children in their teenage years will have a mind of their own, learning to assert their independence yet at the same time still dependent on us. As parents, we have to continually engage them. Our roles would have to evolve as well; from that of being a parent to that of being a friend or mentor as they grow up. At any rate, the joys and tribulations of parenthood continues.
Friday, November 12, 2010
The Book of Galatians
This is an epistle on freedom - not a freedom to do anything we like but a freedom given to us through faith in Jesus Christ. The key verse is found in Gal 5:1, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Apparently, some Judaizers who professed to be Christians were demanding the people to obey the Jewish law for full salvation and spirituality. Paul had to correct the Galatians for their erroneous thinking by telling them that Christ has indeed set them free from observing the ceremonial laws of the Old Testament (Gal 5:2-3). What's important for believers is that they walk by faith and be led by the Holy Spirit (5:16-18).
We are free in Christ but that freedom does not mean we can indulge in the deeds of the flesh (5:19). Paul listed specifically what these acts of carnality are:
1) Desires: immorality, impurity, sensuality (sexual sins & perversion)
2) Divination: idolatry, sorcery (witchcraft/deception/bondage)
3) Disharmony: enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger
4) Disunity: disputes, dissensions, factions, envying
5) Destruction: drunkenness, carousing
The ultimate goal of Satan is the destruction of our soul/body.
The antidote against licentious living is to live by the Spirit, allowing Him to reproduce His fruit in our lives (5:22-26). Notice the singular fruit consists of 9 aspects: love, joy, peace (Godward attributes), patience, kindness, goodness (outward attributes), gentleness, faithfulness and self-control (inward attributes). When we exercise the fruit of self-control, we prevent disharmony, disunity and destruction from rearing their ugly heads.
How do we cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives?
1) Spend time communing with God.
2) Respond to the Holy Spirit's conviction.
3) Pray and ask God for His fruit to be reproduced in us.
When you act on #3, be prepared that God will bring about situations in which you would be put to the test. It does not matter how many times we may have failed God, the important thing is to rise up again and walk with God, repenting of our wicked ways and seeking His ways once again.
Gal 2:20 is a verse which I memorised when I was in Sunday School, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." This verse talks about our identification with Christ in His death; our carnal flesh should be crucified with Him. When we are in the body, that is still on earth, we need to exercise faith in the Son of God. And this we will continue to do until we see Him face to face in heaven, by then there would be no need for faith. The verse ends with the fact that God loves us dearly. Let us reciprocate that love by living for Him.
We are free in Christ but that freedom does not mean we can indulge in the deeds of the flesh (5:19). Paul listed specifically what these acts of carnality are:
1) Desires: immorality, impurity, sensuality (sexual sins & perversion)
2) Divination: idolatry, sorcery (witchcraft/deception/bondage)
3) Disharmony: enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger
4) Disunity: disputes, dissensions, factions, envying
5) Destruction: drunkenness, carousing
The ultimate goal of Satan is the destruction of our soul/body.
The antidote against licentious living is to live by the Spirit, allowing Him to reproduce His fruit in our lives (5:22-26). Notice the singular fruit consists of 9 aspects: love, joy, peace (Godward attributes), patience, kindness, goodness (outward attributes), gentleness, faithfulness and self-control (inward attributes). When we exercise the fruit of self-control, we prevent disharmony, disunity and destruction from rearing their ugly heads.
How do we cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives?
1) Spend time communing with God.
2) Respond to the Holy Spirit's conviction.
3) Pray and ask God for His fruit to be reproduced in us.
When you act on #3, be prepared that God will bring about situations in which you would be put to the test. It does not matter how many times we may have failed God, the important thing is to rise up again and walk with God, repenting of our wicked ways and seeking His ways once again.
Gal 2:20 is a verse which I memorised when I was in Sunday School, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." This verse talks about our identification with Christ in His death; our carnal flesh should be crucified with Him. When we are in the body, that is still on earth, we need to exercise faith in the Son of God. And this we will continue to do until we see Him face to face in heaven, by then there would be no need for faith. The verse ends with the fact that God loves us dearly. Let us reciprocate that love by living for Him.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Sowing Generously (2 Cor 9:6-11)
The apostle Paul wrote 2 Corinthians in defense of His apostleship. Apparently false teachers had challenged his authority and right to be an apostle. They accused him of vacillating in his promise to come and as such his words could not be trusted (1:15-24). However, Paul was legitimately delayed until he knew of their repentance since he wished to come in order to carry the collection to Jerusalem and exercise apostolic authority in disciplining the unrepentant (2:1-11). There were most likely two other letters which Paul wrote to the Corinthians which were lost (1 Cor 5:9; 2 Cor 7:8).
Coming back to our text at hand, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." (v 6). Whatever holds true in the agricultural sense, is also true in real life. A farmer who sows plenty of seeds would naturally expect a bountiful harvest compared to one who sows very little, baring any unforeseen circumstances. Paul was encouraging the people to give generously to help the poor in Jerusalem. And when they do so, God would cause all grace to abound to them (v 8). Notice that this grace enables one to keep doing good work at all times and with all our needs being met.
There are certainly many opportunities to give apart from the church tithes and offerings. I remembered in my school/uni days, I used to support a child under World Vision for several years; contributed to para-church organisations for Bibles/Christian materials to be printed and exported to countries where there were great needs. I also supported a fellow church brother who did missions work with Operation Mobilisation in U.K. In non-monetary terms, we can give through providing services or goods. I remembered giving free tuition to some church friends during vacation period.
When we give, we don't expect anything in return because God's grace will continue to abound in us. We cannot outgive a God who is generous towards those who exercise faith (Jas 1:5). God provides seeds for us to sow or bread for us to eat (v 10). For all of us who are able to work to earn a living, we should be thankful that Jehovah has given us the ability to make wealth (Dt 8:18). We are to be wise stewards of the manifold blessings (be it money, goods or services) God has bestowed on us. Certainly we can put bread on the table for our family to eat and at the same time give of our additional resources to help others. That's should be a good working model for a believer (Eph 4:28).
Ask God to show you whom you can bless today. For some, it may be a financial need and yet for others, it may be an encouraging word or help that could be rendered. As we give, God will enlarge the harvest of our righteousness. Hopefully the people whom we touched would be drawn closer to the Lord.
Coming back to our text at hand, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." (v 6). Whatever holds true in the agricultural sense, is also true in real life. A farmer who sows plenty of seeds would naturally expect a bountiful harvest compared to one who sows very little, baring any unforeseen circumstances. Paul was encouraging the people to give generously to help the poor in Jerusalem. And when they do so, God would cause all grace to abound to them (v 8). Notice that this grace enables one to keep doing good work at all times and with all our needs being met.
There are certainly many opportunities to give apart from the church tithes and offerings. I remembered in my school/uni days, I used to support a child under World Vision for several years; contributed to para-church organisations for Bibles/Christian materials to be printed and exported to countries where there were great needs. I also supported a fellow church brother who did missions work with Operation Mobilisation in U.K. In non-monetary terms, we can give through providing services or goods. I remembered giving free tuition to some church friends during vacation period.
When we give, we don't expect anything in return because God's grace will continue to abound in us. We cannot outgive a God who is generous towards those who exercise faith (Jas 1:5). God provides seeds for us to sow or bread for us to eat (v 10). For all of us who are able to work to earn a living, we should be thankful that Jehovah has given us the ability to make wealth (Dt 8:18). We are to be wise stewards of the manifold blessings (be it money, goods or services) God has bestowed on us. Certainly we can put bread on the table for our family to eat and at the same time give of our additional resources to help others. That's should be a good working model for a believer (Eph 4:28).
Ask God to show you whom you can bless today. For some, it may be a financial need and yet for others, it may be an encouraging word or help that could be rendered. As we give, God will enlarge the harvest of our righteousness. Hopefully the people whom we touched would be drawn closer to the Lord.
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