Money

Money is a vital commodity in our daily living. The value of it would fluctuate according to the economic situation of the country that produces it.   The Bible mentions a great deal about money both its positive and negative aspects.  Let’s deal first with the negative aspects of money.

Money, considered as unrighteous mammon (Lk 16:9), has the power to control mankind, in that man can pursue it at the expense of all other important things in life. It can even become a “god” in competition with the Almighty God.  Jesus rightly puts it, “You cannot serve God and mammon.” Lk 16:13b (NASB). Here mammon is equated to riches which can have an evil influence over our lives.  The apostle Paul said that the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil and some by longing for it have wandered from the faith (1 Tim 6:10).  Covetousness is a spirit that has to be renounced and Jesus denounced it explicitly and by way of a parable (Lk 12:13-21).  We may think that the rich man was very industrious and entrepreneurial in that he devised a plan to generate wealth.  But God thought otherwise and called him a fool.  He was rich on earth but poor in his soul.

For those under the influence of mammon, the only way to break its power and influence over our lives is to give it away.  The rich young ruler who sought eternal life was told by Jesus, “Go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Mt 19:21 (NKJV). Likewise, Zacchaeus the tax collector broke the power of covetousness by making restitution – half of his wealth given to the poor and those he had cheated, he would pay back four times (Lk 19:8).  Even as we give money away, God searches the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.  Ananias and Sapphira gave out of impure motives and were struck dead by God when they were found to have lied about their giving (Ac 5:1-11).  They wanted to be recognized as great benefactors but still keeping some profits for themselves without declaring. 


Let’s now look at the positive side of money.  The Bible tells us that God has given us the power to make wealth (Dt 8:18).  This is for a reason, that we may support our own families and help those in need (1 Tim 5:8; Eph 4:28). We know that Jesus was supported by well-to-do women and ate with the rich and privileged (Lk 8:1-3; 11:37; 14:1). The apostle Paul has learnt to live in plenty and in want (Phil 4:12).  God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and the wealth in every mine.  He has enabled His people to be blessed so that they could also be a blessing to others.  Both Job and Abram were blessed by God with material wealth.  However, beyond the material blessings, God desires us to remain upright and blameless before Him as the story of Job reveals.  


God expects His children to tithe to His storehouse (Mal 3:10).  This means giving a tenth of all that we have earned or gained to the local church that we belong to.  Just as the children of Israel tithed to the Lord so that the priests and Levites can fulfill their roles and responsibilities in the house/tent of the Lord, we do likewise for the local church to minister to both the spiritual and felt needs of the assembly and the communities beyond.  Beyond the 10% giving would be our offering to the Lord.  This can be given to help others in need outside the local church, be it Christian organizations or other endeavours that support the work of Christ.  Our giving need not always be in cash, it could also be in kind, such as medical or food supplies or even Bibles.  Giving frees us to care and be used by God to answer the needs of His children.    


The chasm between Third world poverty and First world affluence is accelerating at an alarming rate; this is also seen in individual societies between those in the upper and lower classes.  The way to bridge this gap is to find ways and means to help the poor and less privileged to succeed in life.  As believers, we are called to use money without serving it.  Money has to be brought into obedience to the will of God for our lives. For some, this could be working in a job that pays much lesser but we know we are aligned to God’s perfect will. For others, the investment profits reaped could be channeled to more charitable causes or those that extend God’s kingdom.  May God give us wisdom to use the money wisely inasmuch as He has given the power to make wealth!     

Life is in the blood

"For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life."  Lev 17:11 (NIV)

I donated blood yesterday since the mobile blood bank came over to the Community Club near my place; my 15th time since I started giving when I was in the university.  This was also in response to an sms from the blood bank indicating that my blood type (O) was very low.  Looking at the donorweb just now, the A type is also currently at a low level.  You can donate blood if you're in relatively good health and have not contracted HIV or some other specified diseases. 

It takes less than an hour to donate.   There are basically 5 stations in all.
Station 1: Registration (identification card needed): need to fill in a health declaration form
Station 2: Screening by a doctor: checking of weight, blood pressure, temperature and social/medical history
Station 3: Blood test: finger is pricked to check blood haemoglobin level; once cleared, proceed to Station 4
Station 4: Blood donation:  if you've been donating regularly, indicate the arm you'd like your blood to be extracted from as the vein can be seen clearly; after cleaning your arm, a painkiller would be given (that's about the only pain you'd have to endure - ant bite though) to ensure painless donation.  You would be given iron supplements by the nurse and a card to indicate when you could next donate.
Station 5: Refreshments: light refreshment like beverages/packet drinks and snacks are usually provided; at the Blood Bank in HSA, you would be given a coupon to exchange for some refreshment at the cafeteria.

After donation, your arm would be bandaged (which can be removed after about 4 hours) and care must be taken not to exert the arm.  Drink plenty of water and rest; take the iron supplement if needed.  Only 450ml (a pint) of blood is extracted together with an additional amount which would be sent for various tests to ensure that it is safe to be used for transfusion or other purposes.  A normal healthy adult would have his blood replenished in 3 days.  Even as I gave blood, I remembered the great sacrifice of my Master for me - the pain and the agony He had to endure; the scourging, beating and the cross.

The Scriptures tell us that life is in the blood and the soul that sins, it must die (Eze 18:20).  Clean animals were thus sacrificed at the altar to make atonement for sins.  In this case, the life of the animals were exchanged for the life of the humans.  Our Lord Jesus, who became the Lamb of God, was the ultimate sacrifice for human kind.  By His shed blood on the cross, He redeemed mankind from the curse of the law and brought atonement between God and men.  Just as the blood of man (in its various components) can be used to bring life to another human being who is injured and in need of blood, more so the holy blood of Jesus has power to bring spiritual wholeness to those under condemnation of sin.  I often pray for the sick releasing the blood of Jesus into their blood veins to cleanse, purify and make whole the entire body system.
Hallelujah for the precious blood of the Lamb! 

Strength to the Weary

As humans, we all grow tired and weary after we have expended energy doing some form of work, whether physical or mental.  We could also grow tired after doing some spiritual work like prayer.  The most common way in which our body recharges itself is through having proper nutrition and enough rest or sleep.  Elijah the prophet was sleeping under a juniper tree when he was awoken by an angle to eat.  He was provided a bread cake and a jar of water, that sustained him for 40 days and nights until he reached the mountain of God, Horeb (1 Kg 19:5-8).  That must have been some amazing heavenly food.  Talk about weariness, Elijah just concluded a successful campaigne against the prophets of Baal and Asherah (1 Kg 18:19) and became disillusioned just by the mere threat of Jezebel (1 Kg 19:2-3, 9-10).  Certainly, servants of God can become weary and disllusioned when the enemy brings an all-out assault against us. 

What is the antidote to such weariness?  We are told in Is 40:29 that God gives strength to the weary and power to the weak.  It goes on to say, "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  (Is 40:30-31).  If young men who are supposed to glory in their strength can grow tired and weary, what more about us who are not so young anymore?  Just as Elijah was strengthened by God through both physical and spiritual food, so likewise we ourselves.  Elijah had to hear the rhema word of God that there were still 7000 people who had not bowed their knees to Baal (1 Kg 19:18).  God honoured Elijah for his faith by taking him home without seeing death.   

Are you weary of work/ministry, carrying a heavy burden or even waiting for an answer?  Then you need to hear God's perspective on things.  Prayerfully read His Word and ask Him for the strength to sustain you each day.  Because our everlasting God does not grow weary or tired, He is able to supply strength to those in need (Is 40:28).  The apostle Paul puts it, "I can do all things through Christ who strengths me."  (Phil 4:13), reminding us that our true strength comes from God Himself.  When God strengthens us, He does so through our inner man.  The wise man says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."  Pr 17:22 (NIV).  When our inner man is crushed, it would affect our physical frame causing us to be dried up (zapped of energy).  May the good Lord be your strength, song and salvation (Ps 118:14).