DOES GRACE MEAN THE END OF THE LAW?

A Facebook friend shared: Jesus shows us a new way—GRACE—and therefore believers are no longer under the LAW. What she meant is that believers are now living in a period of grace ever since Jesus’ coming AND we are no longer required to obey the law. Is this true?

Let me try to show you why her argument does not hold water.

How did Jesus deal with the lady caught in the act of adultery? https://bit.ly/1eKirzG

Most of us are familiar with the account of the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:3-11). The crowd gathered around her and wanted to stone her. But Jesus showed her grace by saying, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” While He forgave her out of grace, He also required that she forsake her sinful lifestyle. She must not continue breaking the law, Thou shall not commit adultery. So she still had to obey the law though she had experienced God’s grace.

Is Jesus merely the personification of grace or grace and truth? https://bit.ly/2KuShcs

The fact Jesus is the personification of grace and truth—not grace alone—has practical implications in the life of believers. We need to be reminded that Jesus is a reflection of both grace and truth (John 1: 14, 17).

                                                                       

Now, truth requires that we live according to His laws, the Ten Commandments. We will not be living for the truth if we merely accept God’s forgiveness (now who doesn’t want His grace?) but refuse to follow His laws. We would be hypocrites if we only want to enjoy the benefits of grace but refuse to live by demands imposed by the truth in our lives (obey His laws). 

I can almost picture Jesus looking at the adulterous woman in the eye: Can you truthfully say that you will forsake your adulterous lifestyle after you have been forgiven?

What did Jesus say to those who think that He had come to abolish the Law? https://bit.ly/2umnCSP

Believers saved by grace need not arduously keep the law in order to earn our ticket to heaven. As Scripture says, "You are not under law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14).

However, that doesn’t mean we can do whatever we like. We are still held accountable under moral law as revealed in the Ten Commandments. Jesus puts it succinctly: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them” (Matthew 5:17).

                                                                    

Is lawlessness a state that is encouraged and championed in the Bible? No.

We are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law” (Romans 3:28). The paradox is this: “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law (Romans 3:31).”

Shall we continue to sin (break the law) that grace may abound? No. So, despite being saved by grace, we have to abide by the law.  “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it” (Romans 6:1-2)?

Being saved by grace does not mean we are to continue living in lawlessness

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

(Titus 2: 11-14)

Jesus condemns those who are lawless

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

(Matthew 7:21-23)

Will God give grace-obsessed believers a pat on your back on judgment day and say, Well done, my lawless friend, you have been living by grace and have rejected God’s law? Will He say, Enter into eternal bliss with all its rewards?

On the contrary, believers saved by grace who fail to obey (abide by) God’s laws will face judgment. 

To conclude, Christ came to fulfil the Law and we are advised to follow His words for the Law is good. For the Law is a plumb line that enables us to know what is righteous and what is not. So the Law stays; the Law is eternal and relevant for believers saved by grace.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5:17-20)

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WHY GOD SOMETIMES WITHHOLDS GOOD THINGS

                                          

If we do our part (obey God’s laws and do His will), God will do His part. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. How far is this true?

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

“Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey” (Deuteronomy 8:6-8).

“He sends peace across your nation and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat” (Psalm 147:14).

“The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honour and life” (Proverbs 22:4).

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” Matthew 6:33).

“What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:9-11).

In fact, these good things (God’s blessings) might well be a fulfillment of our sanctified desires. “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires” (Psalm 37:4).

Notice that we must first delight ourselves in God and His agenda (Matthew 6:33). As we do that, our desires become shaped and sanctified by heavenly goals (Colossians 3:1-3). When our desires are aligned with God’s kingdom purposes, won’t He grant us our wishes?

Think about how Nehemiah, burdened by the sight of the city walls in ruins, prayed fervently; as a result, he gained the king’s favour and got all the timber and protection he needed for the reconstruction of the city.

Now, that does not mean that He will grant us every delight to make us happy. He knows what is best for us—not to give us too many good things if they would draw us away from him. That won’t be good. Would it be good if we are blessed so abundantly that we become proud, complacent and think we don’t need God? “Beware lest you say in your heart, My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:17).

                                                                           

Between happiness and holiness, God is more interested in nurturing the latter in us.

Many start out well in their faith journey but when they have been blessed spiritually and materially, their spiritual fervour diminishes. As they focus on wealth, power and fame, they lose their first love. Few believers can be like Joseph or Job, who remained upright and humble after having received spiritual and temporal blessings.

                                                                        

Warning against losing our first love

“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent” (Revelation 2:4-5).

Warning not to love the world

“Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

                                                                      

So, in view of the above references, what may seem good in our eyes may not be good from God’s perspective. God might withhold certain good things in our life if we are immature or not ready to receive them. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3).

We need to be thankful and grateful to God for what we already have and not complain that we have not been blessed according to His promise, “No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

If it is meant for us, according to His will, He will grant us these good things.

“Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land” (Psalm 37:34).

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday” (Psalm 37:5-6).

Sometimes we think God is a taskmaster who whips us into submission. Or we think He is a genie who grants our every wish or desire. The truth is that He is far from these contrasting images we conjure in our minds.

He is the gracious, loving heavenly Father who blesses us AND also the One who has to be feared, revered and obeyed in response to what Christ accomplished for us at the cross. 

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CASH IS KING?

Four reasons why cash is not necessarily king

                                                   

In our fallen world, it would seem to many that cash is king. Let’s examine to what extent this statement ‘cash is king’ is true.

Cash is not just the physical currency, a medium of exchange of goods and services. It also refers to purchasing power, financial security and affluence. Thus, to a large extent, most people in the world view cash as one of the measures of a person’s net worth.

In land-scarce Singapore, the city-state south of Peninsular Malaysia, it is the first status symbol among the "Five Cs of Singapore"—namely, Cash, Car, Credit card, Condominium and Country club membership. This phrase is often used in Singapore to denote materialism and success. By and large, some (or rather many) Singaporeans aspire to get the five Cs in order to impress others, to show others that they have indeed arrived. So that is how the term “kiasu” (‘afraid to lose' in Hokkien) came about. Many want to be seen as being more successful than the person next door.

In Malaysia, cash is also used to buy votes or entice elected representatives to cross over to another party, especially when there is a hung state assembly. In the case of the latter, when there is no clear majority to form a state government, cash is used to lure elected representatives to jump ship so that a certain party commands a significant majority in the state assembly. As they say, money talks—more than principles and loyalty to friends or party.

Cash is needed when we travel overseas for our holidays as not every shop or outlet accepts credit card. Furthermore, in times of recession, when real estate prices dip, the one loaded with cash can easily snap up property at rock bottom prices from highly motivated sellers. In all the above instances, cash is king.

But cash has its limitations and the statement ‘cash is king’ needs qualification.

Firstly, cash is subject to the effects of inflation. Thus, cash and investments linked to cash (savings, fixed deposit, unit trusts) are all associated with diminishing returns or loss of purchasing power over time. Even if our fixed deposit gives us a reasonably good interest rate per annum, say 5%, our effective gain will just be 1%, if the prevailing rate of inflation is 4%. Thus, wisdom dictates that we should diversify our investments in other portfolios, like real estate which is a good hedge against inflation. Property or land in a good location usually appreciate in value over time.

Secondly, while cash is king in this temporal world, wealth is useless on the day of judgment (Proverbs 11:4). No matter how much cash we might have, it has no bearing on our eternal destiny, whether we end up in heaven or hell.

Riches will not provide security in the day of wrath and judgment, But righteousness rescues from death (Proverbs 11:4).

When it comes to salvation, cash is certainly not the determining factor. Only those who believe in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 3:16) AND prove their faithfulness by persevering till the end (Matthew 24:13, Hebrews 10: 26, 27, 36, 39) will be able to inherit eternal life.

How we choose to use our cash can determine whether we receive great or paltry rewards in heaven. If we are generous to the poor, our eternal rewards might abound. Note that I use the word, “might”. If we have ulterior motives while helping others, we might not be rewarded at all (1 Corinthians 3: 14-15). 

In the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25: 14-30), the men with five and two talents put them to good use, multiplied them and was commended by their master. This account tells us that we must be good stewards of the time, talents and material resources (read cash) that God has given us. Thus having cash alone but not putting it to good use can spell disaster. The one-talent man who buried his talent was subsequently severely condemned by the master, “You wicked and slothful servant” (Matthew 25:26).

Thirdly, while ‘cash is king’ is true to a large extent today, we can’t say that this will be so in future. When Christ returns, He will be King—at His name, every knee will have to bow.

For this reason, God highly exalted Him

and gave Him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee will bow—

of those who are in heaven and on earth

and under the earth—

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

(Philippians 2:9-11)

Fourthly, while cash is king to a large extent today, there will come a time in the future when no one can buy or sell except by subjecting themselves to the Mark of the Beast. Cash, then, is no longer legal tender. Cash or credit will not be useful then when the Antichrist imposes the dreaded mark as a condition for man’s survival during the Great Tribulation.

The antichrist will unleash his wrath on believers in the Great Tribulation. Many will have to choose between their allegiance to God or their survival. Why? Because no one can buy or sell unless they receive the antichrist’s ordained mark of the beast, a sign which when received would mean everlasting damnation for believers. Pushed to the brink for the sake of self-preservation, many believers will give up on God and allow the mark of the beast on themselves—never mind the eternal consequences (Revelation13:16-17, Revelation 14: 9-10).

If they choose God and refuse the mark, they might die of starvation or get killed by the antichrist. Conversely, if they choose survival by taking the mark, it will lead them down the path of everlasting damnation. But many whose faith is not strong enough will choose the latter. They would rather give up on God. That’s why there will be such a great falling away from the faith.

Abba’s catchy tune, “Money, money, money … it’s a rich man’s world”, rings true to a large extent in the world we live in. We are often judged and measured by the amount of cash we have or the symbols that cash can purchase for us, more so in a highly materialistic society such as Singapore or Hong Kong.     

But the statement ‘cash is king’ is not entirely true—both in this world and the hereafter—and hence must be qualified. 

To reiterate, cash is not necessarily king for the following reasons:

• Cash and cash-linked investments lose its value over time due to inflation.

• Cash cannot save us on judgment day.

• Cash won’t be king when King Jesus returns.

• Cash won’t be legal tender with the advent of the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation.

                                                                

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CEREMONIAL LAWS VS MORAL LAWS

Why is it important to differentiate between God's ceremonial laws and moral laws? Are they equally relevant to believers today?

Does the Bible draw a distinction between its moral laws and ceremonial laws? Does the Bible clearly state that these two laws are different? Yes, absolutely.

The history behind two sets of laws

On Mount Sinai, Moses received two different sets of instructions: Moral laws (Ten Commandments), which were written by God on tablets of stone and the ceremonial laws which Moses wrote in the Book of the Law.

Moral laws (Ten Commandments): And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God (Exodus 31:18).

Ceremonial laws: When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book to the very end, Moses commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, “Take this Book of the Law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against you (Deuteronomy 31:24-26).

In what ways are they different?

The Ten Commandments define what constitutes sin whereas the ceremonial laws set forth the solution to the sin problem—how to deal with sin.

Without the Ten Commandments, there was no standard or plumb line by which thought, word, and behaviour can be judged.

How was the sin problem addressed in the sanctuary? The Hebrew high priest’s duty was to minister at the altar, a function he shared with his fellow priests. He alone was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies once a year during the Day of Atonement, not without presenting a blood sacrifice (goats or bulls) first for himself and then for the sins of the people (Hebrews 9:7).

When Christ came, He entered the Holy of Holies, not with the blood of animals, but through the shedding of His own blood. Through a single sacrificial act, death at the cross, unlike the human priests who had to sacrifice repeatedly, He atoned for man’s sin for all time (Hebrews 9:11-12). Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

(The Holy of Holies refers to the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle where God dwelt. The Tabernacle was the portable earthly dwelling place of God among His people from the time of their exodus from Egypt up till their invasion of Canaan).

Why is it important to differentiate between God’s ceremonial laws from His moral laws?

The reason is obvious. With the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross, the ceremonial laws (which outline the rituals needed to atone for man’s sins) have been abolished (Hebrews 8:13, Hebrews 10:9). Christ’s sacrifice is superior and final. He relieves human high priests of their ritualistic duties and makes animal blood sacrifices redundant. Thus, there is no scriptural basis for modern-day Christians to celebrate the Hebrew feasts, which are a part of the ceremonial laws of Moses and which belongs to the Old Covenant.  http://bit.ly/2rpTCcu

Why moral laws superior to ceremonial laws

The first law—Ten Commandments—was written by God in stone, signifying that its precepts it would stand eternally. The second law—ceremonial laws—was written by Moses on parchment, implying that its precepts would be temporary.

The way these laws were placed also attests to differences in their significance. There were two sets of laws in the Holy of Holies—the Ten Commandments, written in stone by the finger of God, and placed inside the Ark of the Covenant, AND the ceremonial laws, written by Moses on parchment and placed outside the Ark.

After Christ’s death, the ceremonial laws were discontinued (Hebrews 8:13, Hebrews 10:9) because they foreshadowed the cross, but the moral laws (Ten Commandments) still remain. The latter is upheld in the New Testament and believers must continue to live by these laws. ***

To recapitulate, while the ceremonial laws have been abolished, God’s moral laws still stand. The latter, the Ten Commandments, have been simplified into two great commandments:

Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22: 37-40).

   

                                                                     

“The Gospel proclaims liberty from the ceremonial law but binds you still faster under the moral law. To be freed from the ceremonial law is the Gospel liberty; to pretend freedom from the moral law is Antinomianism.”

— Methodist commentator, Adam Clarke

“We are saved not by keeping the Law but by grace through faith. Though saved, we are still subject to God's moral laws but not the ceremonial and ritualistic laws. The foregoing sums up, in essence, the sticky debate on the role of the Law in the life of believers. Unless one differentiates between God's moral laws and ceremonial laws, one can be pretty confused. The ceremonial laws, such as circumcision, are no longer binding on modern-day believers.”

— Porridge for the Soul

CEREMONIAL LAWS VS MORAL LAWS—IN A NUTSHELL

The ceremonial laws of Moses, which belong to the Old Covenant, have been abolished (Hebrews 8:13, Hebrews 10:9). Paul also reinforced the fact that we are now living under grace and are no longer under the legalistic demands of these ceremonial laws, including circumcision (Galatians 5:1-6).

How about God’s moral laws? Are they relevant for believers today?

Paul stressed that we are justified by grace through faith (Romans 3: 21-24) BUT the law (God’s moral laws) still stands: “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law” (Romans 3:31).

Jesus echoes Paul’s teaching that God’s moral laws continue to be relevant today:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished?” (Matthew 5:17-18).

When Christ came, He simplified and condensed the moral laws of the Old Testament (The Ten Commandments) into two great commandments:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22: 37-40).

TEN COMMANDMENTS (ANCIENT MORAL LAWS) UPHELD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT        ***

After Christ’s death, the ceremonial laws were discontinued (Hebrews 8:13, Hebrews 10:9) because they foreshadowed the cross, but the ancient moral laws (Ten Commandments) still remain. The latter is still found in the New Testament and believers must continue to live by these laws.

Let’s now quickly run through the Ten Commandments and see how these Old Testament (OT) moral laws are upheld in the New Testament (NT):

In the temptation in the wilderness, Jesus upheld the first commandment (have no other gods) by refusing to worship Satan (Matthew 4:10).

Paul emphasised that no idolater will inherit God’s kingdom (Ephesians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 6:9), thus upholding the second commandment (do not make idols).

In the Lord’s Prayer, “hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9) means we must revere and honour God’s name, in keeping with the third commandment (do not take the Lord's name in vain).

In Luke 4:16, as was his custom, Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, thus fulfilling the fourth commandment (keep the Sabbath day holy).

In Ephesians 6:1-3, Paul echoed the fifth commandment (honour your father and mother), adding that such obedience may lead to blessing and longevity.

Jesus told the rich young ruler in Luke 18:18-20 that he must follow God’s commandments, including the sixth commandment (do not kill), in order to inherit eternal life.

Paul taught in Romans 13:9 that believers should not commit adultery, in line with the seventh commandment (do not commit adultery).

In Ephesians 4: 28, Paul taught that ex-thieves must stop stealing and find honest jobs, in keeping with the eight commandment (do not steal).

Paul exhorted believers to put away lying and speak the truth in Ephesians 4: 25, thus reflecting the ninth commandment (do not bear false witness).

In Luke 12:15, Jesus warned against covetousness, stating that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions, in line with the tenth commandment (do not covet).

Thus, if we examine the NT, we find so many references that endorse the Ten Commandments of the OT. If God’s moral laws no longer apply to believers saved by grace, why are the Ten Commandments mentioned, directly or indirectly, in the NT?

The Ten Commandments in a Nutshell

Do not have any other god before God.  

Do not make yourself an idol. 

Do not take the Lord's name in vain.

Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.   

Honor thy Mother and Father. 

Do not murder.

Do not commit adultery. 

Do not steal. 

Do not bear false witness 

Do not covet

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PROSPERITY AND SECURITY

Prosperity is the prevailing mood during Chinese New Year. But does wealth equal genuine security?

Tis’ the Chinese New Year season once again! Caught up in its festive mood, Christians of Chinese descent often wish one another a blessed new year filled with peace and prosperity.

Actually, there is nothing wrong with wishing our friends and family members, “A Happy and Prosperous New Year”, for it is a socially acceptable greeting akin to what John wrote. “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).

Certainly, there is no inherent virtue in poverty. And we, in our right mind, would not wish that our family or friends remain poor like a church mouse.

But a rethink is needed. Is this emphasis on prosperity, which is ingrained in Chinese culture, correct in light of biblical teaching?

As believers, how much significance should we attach to prosperity?

Wealth is positive in many ways. It protects us and our family from danger and ill health. We can live in secure, guarded and gated homes. We can afford insurance, more nutritious food and better healthcare. It grants us opportunities to pursue tertiary studies and widens our options for work and leisure. Going on a holiday overseas, which would not be possible if we are poor, may help us to manage stress and improve our overall health.

The rich man’s wealth is his fortress, the ruin of the poor is their poverty (Proverbs 10:15).

A rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination (Proverbs 18:11).

But if he is haughty and thinks that wealth makes him absolutely secure in life, he is wrong. In many ways, wealth is like a fortified city, but clinging to riches as our security blanket is most unwise.

Christ warns of the danger of attaching too much importance to wealth in the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16-21):

Following a bumper harvest, a rich man thought that he should tear down his barns and build larger ones. He trusted in his wealth and told himself, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” But God told him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ Self-centered and covetous, he did not realise that wealth is transient, uncertain and will lose its value the moment he dies.

This reminds me of those who keep on accumulating freehold property, not realising that they themselves are “leasehold”. God holds the “title” (our life) in His hands and He can choose to terminate the lease period anytime.

Like the rich man in the parable above, those who find security in possessions are constantly driven to acquire stuff. Sadly, they are often insensitive to God’s calling on their lives or the needs of others. And when they die or their empire collapses, they lose everything they hope will grant them security.

Our riches won’t help us on Judgment Day; only righteousness counts then (Proverbs 11:4).

We are warned: "Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist" (Proverbs 23:4). The principle here is that we must be wise and not relentlessly pursue wealth. This does not mean, however, that it is wrong to make money through hard work and legitimate means—or even to have a lot of money. Money in itself is not evil; it is the love of money which is a root of all kinds of evils (1Timothy 6:10).

Those who are consumed by a desire for riches without God in the picture, neither consulting Him nor living for Him, are foolish from a biblical viewpoint. Why? We brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world. Instead, we should demonstrate contentment, set our hopes on God, be generous and be rich in good deeds (1 Timothy 6: 7, 1 Timothy 6: 17-18).

Honest work and an enterprising spirit are good and bring honour to God’s name. In fact, businessmen and entrepreneurs can play a vital role in the marketplace by creating job opportunities and funding corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects. Laziness and indolence, on the other hand, should be condemned.

The danger lies not in the abundance of wealth we possess but how much the wealth possesses us. The issue is not how much money we have; it is the state of our heart—whether it is covetous/self-centered or God-centered.

           

A splendid example of a rich man who was unaffected by his wealth is Job. Though wealthy, Job was blameless, upright and feared God. Even when he was afflicted with many woes, including disease and the loss of his children and wealth, he did not curse God when pressured to do so by his wife.

In fact, he accepted his losses with a philosophical approach that reflected God’s sovereignty in His dealings with man:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

(Job 1:21)

“I know that You can do all things,

And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”

(Job 42:2)

How many of us (myself included) would be able to maintain our integrity like Job in the face of such monumental losses, pain, heartache and misery?

If our security is tied to money, things or self, we'll be badly shaken, even panicky, if one or more of these props are removed.

However, if God is the centre (not money, things or self), we know that His peace, presence, wisdom & strength are with us as we go through trials in life.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (Isaiah 26:3)    http://bit.ly/2EkhpAm

Because of his integrity amid adversity, Job was vindicated. God not only restored his fortunes but blessed him with twice as much. He started a new family and died in fullness of age. Thus God blessed Job’s latter years more than his early days.

Here was a man who had absolute trust in God. He trusted not in gold; neither did he rejoice because his wealth was great (Job 31: 24-25). Even in the storms of life, he was not overwhelmed because he had deep spiritual roots. His security was primarily in God, not in money, things or self.

Is the prevailing mood of prosperity during Chinese New Year aligned with biblical values? Or is it mainly cultural?

Jesus came that we might have an abundant life. But we must not hastily equate abundance with material wealth. That said, Jesus also taught that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions and we are to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.

‘Seek first’ does not just merely imply the sequence of things: We seek God and then we can do our own thing. Rather, ‘seek first’ means that we must give God the priority over our concerns, legitimate though they may be.

• “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10b).

• “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).

• “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

Let’s be reminded that when we love the world and the things of the world, our love for God diminishes. And we cannot love God and money to the same degree.

• “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father, but is of the world. The world and its desires are passing away, but the one who does the will of God lives forever" (1 John 2:15-17).

• “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money"(Matthew 6:24).

• “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God"(Colossians 3:1-3).

Clinging to material wealth as our security blanket is unwise. We certainly do not want to be like the self-centered man in the Parable of the Rich Fool, whose end was most tragic.

During this season of celebration, let’s be reminded that while there is nothing wrong in greeting one another, “A Happy and Prosperous New Year”, we must not get carried away by the prevailing mood of prosperity, which is more cultural than biblical. 

Wealth may make us more secure, but it does not mean prosperity will invariably guarantee security—now or in the hereafter.

FAITHFULNESS AND PROSPERITY

The life of Job is the embodiment of the following verses:

“The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honour and life.”

(Proverbs 22:4).

“Praise the Lord!

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,

    who greatly delights in his commandments!

His offspring will be mighty in the land;

    the generation of the upright will be blessed.

Wealth and riches are in his house,

    and his righteousness endures forever.”

(Psalm 112: 1-3)

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers.

(Psalm 1:1-3)

EXTERNAL LINK

HIGH DEMAND FOR PROSPERITY

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/02/11/high-demand-for-prosperity-playing-an-auspicious-figure-calls-for-dedication-says-exchef/

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