I am often asked in passing how married life is going. I never know how to answer such a loaded question in a brief sentence. I think most of the time I am asked out of courtesy, like how’s it going, or how are you. It would be polite to just reply “fine,” but there is more space here than four characters, so here’s what I have to say:
Kevin and I are opposites in many ways, and that tension brings out the worst and best of us, often resulting in a literal tug of war of blankets, clothes, and chores. And, I think these are the moments that test the marriage–not the fancy sparkly anniversary celebrations planned by Kevin that I admittedly sometimes daydream about.
In Joshua 6, the obedient, mundane, silent marching of the Israelites for six days around Jericho led to a victory delivered by God. This reminded me that keeping up with the mundane and repetitive tasks that make an organized and functional home are the elements of a victorious marriage in the Lord. It’s not easy because little things that are ignored pile up–I know because the last load of laundry is still unfolded, the stack of bills is like a rising tide, and every chair in the living room is occupied by papers, books, and boxes. On top of that, Kevin and I are trying arrange time to pray and read the Bible together every day, the “ark” of our daily march which should be prioritized before any other to-do.
Where Kevin takes me for our next vacation or for a fancy anniversary celebration will be great, but more important are how we handle the routine tasks of cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, ironing, and managing our budget.
So the next time you ask me how married life is going – make sure you’ve also got time to hear out my reply.
March 11th, 2010
jty
When I was little I use to have a fear of being lost and not finding my way back home. In an attempt to quash those fears my brother gave me some sage advice (which he probably stole from a Disney cartoon): when you’re lost, follow the North Star, it will always lead you home.
Now that I’m older I’m not so sure if my brother’s pearl of wisdom is 100% accurate, but I can see where that idea came from. In the past, voyagers would use the stars as navigational tools for their journeys across the seas. They looked at the stars in the dark night sky to help them find their way to new land or return back home. The stars were excellent guides!
In last year’s YTTC one of the main messages that seemed to crop up was this idea of shining for God. But how do we shine? In Matthew 5:16 Jesus tells us to “shine before men so that they may see your good works and glorify God.” We shine through our good works, we shine through the goodness of our words and we shine through our good thoughts towards others. Ultimately we shine because we have God in our lives (cf. Jn 1:9).
The world is getting darker and the need to shine has become more important. We shine, not only because Jesus has instructed us to, but because from our light those who are in darkness may be led to God. We must be those diamond guides in the dark night sky. We must shine brightly so that others can find their way to God, it may be new land for them or it may be returning back home after becoming lost at sea.
We must aim to become a blessing to others… we must aim to be someone’s North Star!
March 9th, 2010
Yvee
But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mk 4:40)
Mark 4:37 reads, “and a great windstorm arose,” a storm so threatened their lives that the disciples asked their sleeping Master if He did not care that they perished. Some of life’s storms such as job loss, family illness or death, financial difficulty, accidents, or pestilence may come upon us suddenly. In the midst of a storm, we are scared and cry out to God. We pray earnestly but if God does not give any apparent response or delay His help, we may ask does Jesus care? With great fear, His disciples woke Jesus up and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” In our distress, we ask the same question, “Lord, do You not care my grief and my difficulty? I need Your help now.”
Jesus’ reply was: “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
When we can not hold on to the security of this world, we need to hold on to our faith. Faith must endure trials. You must trust when all else fails. When it is hopeless, remember what Jesus told Jairus, the father of the dead girl, “Don’t be afraid; just believe” (Mk 5:36). But if you are still afraid, simply look up and say, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” as David did in Psalm 56:3.
When disturbing things come our way, remember to “take heed and be quiet.” The Lord assures us that “‘in returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.’ But you would not” (Isa 30:15). Yes, indeed it is we who refuse, not God. The Lord is our strength, but it is up to us to find that strength through prayer and communion with God. God is always ready. Jesus took the lifeless girl’s hand and said, “Little girl, arise.” (Mk 5:41) The question is, are we ready to take His hand?
Do not look ahead to the changes and challenges of this life in fear. Instead, as they arise look at them with the full assurance that God will deliver you out of them. So hold His loving hand tightly and He will lead you safely through all things.
Do not look ahead to what may happen tomorrow. The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you His unwavering strength that you may bear it. Be at peace then, and set aside all anxious thoughts and worries.
“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Pet 4:1-2)
Our fear of loss may be relieved if we are armed with the same attitude as Jesus Christ – a willingness to suffer. Some people are used to live in big houses or drive a nice cars. When they lose their jobs or businesses, they may use illegal methods to gain money to maintain their living standard–thus they sin against God because they are not willing to suffer. We need to adjust our lifestyle and living standard according to what we have and be content.
We may not necessarily suffer in our lives, but as Christians, we must have the willingness to suffer. This determination is a spiritual weapon, for it means that whether in prosperity or tribulation, we stand rooted, focused on the eternal. We are not afraid of present and momentary sufferings.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phi 4:4). Don’t become discouraged. Always rejoice in the Lord, and He will be your source of strength to overcome any fear.
March 1st, 2010
tjcslin
“Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.’ And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out…” (1 Kgs 19:11-13)
Do we hear the voice? If we were Elijah, would we have ran after the fire, chased after the wind, looked into the earthquake? Let us learn to be still and create in ourselves a quiet heart and a gentle spirit, because maybe only then we will truly seek and find God. Especially in a world filled with excitement and distractions, it is crucial that we receive this spiritual peace that God gives us. Maybe instead of judging our own actions and making our own decisions, we should stop for a moment and listen to God–listen to the still small voice that is often washed out with our worries and our ambitions. We need to have a heart of quietness to hear because in the end, all that matters is you and Him alone and nothing else.
February 26th, 2010
timhw
(41) Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much.
(42) Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans.
(43) So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;
(44) for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mk 12:41-44)
This is a familiar story that most Christians probably have known since they were in elementary school. The main takeaway is God doesn’t look at the absolute quantity of our offerings, but rather the amount we offer in proportion to what we have. Yet, that is not all that God looks at. Read verse 41 carefully:
“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury.”
Yes, Jesus did see the amount and proportion that people were giving, but his intention was not to observe how much people were offering, but rather the manner in which they offered. Not how much, but how.
We often regard the monetary offerings as representative of other things like time and energy. Since I officially became a “working youth,” I think I’ve started to better understand the members in church who work and manage their families and all sorts of matters like various errands and bills. To my shame, I’ve begun to realize how much I’ve misjudged many of them.
As a student somehow I was under the impression that students were busier than those who were older and were working (maybe other students feel this way too. Or maybe I was just weird and liked to pity myself). As a result, I would look at the older members’ contributions in church and would be unimpressed. Sometimes I would find myself thinking along the lines of, “They do so little even though they have so much more time than me.” Yeah, I am really naive.
After living for a couple months relatively independently, I’ve been able to understand/observe just how busy some members really are–how much work and stress there is involved in maintaining a house and car and other properties, tending to and caring for little kids, managing finances and bills, and preparing and cooking wholesome meals, all in addition to working a full-time job. These people, when all is said and done, really don’t have much time for themselves at all. Unlike the majority of students, who easily defer projects and still find hours to binge-watch a TV show, they really can’t afford to put off the things they need to do. When it comes to the time they have left after getting through the day, they are just like the poor widow in Mark 12:42. All they have left is the equivalent of two mites.
And yet, some of them, like this poor widow, are willing to give what they have left to the church. Maybe they only cook once every two quarters. Maybe they only come to service a few minutes early to help set up. Maybe they only spend their few spare minutes to pray for the church.
Obviously I cannot tell for sure when this is the case and when it is not, but I really do think there are truly those who fall under the above description; genuinely pressed for time, but humbly offering the little they have left, even though they are most justified in keeping it for themselves (student or not).
We often echo James’ words: “Faith without deeds is dead.” To me, the seemingly insignificant offerings of these people reveal a beautiful and sincere faith that I was previously oblivious to. To me, these people actually offer more not just because percentage-wise it’s true, but fundamentally because they love God more. And I think this is what Jesus noticed about the widow, when He saw how she offered her two mites.
Ironic, how an inferior offering in the material sense can be the manifestation of a greater love towards God and His church.
February 26th, 2010
leehsueh
My single years have so far been the most productive in my faith. Prior to falling in love with Kevin, I fell in love with Jesus Christ. I had time to serve God with greater flexibility when I only had one schedule to consider – mine. I found him. Remember the Creator in the days of your youth. I enjoyed that time in singlehood and I enjoyed praying to God to find me spouse and to bless my future marriage. I can’t say that one part of my life is better than the other because both were given by God and through both, God walked by my side. Married life is wonderful, but don’t waste away single life fantasizing about married life. Single life is also a blessing, so use it to be productive for Christ. I had crushes and I dated other guys briefly, and I thank God that none of those experiences led to sin. Those experiences are things I want to share with my younger sisters and brothers in Christ to let them know the dangers of college dorms and even “casual” relationships and how God protected me.
Now I really look forward to serving God with my new partner, but this might take some time as even the Israelite army in the Old Testament excused soldiers from active duty for one year from their wedding.
February 23rd, 2010
jty
“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” (Deut 20:1 [NKJV])
In hurry for a quick verse for the day I stumbled over this one under the heading of “Principles Governing Warfare”. It is amazing how the Bible can inspire you even if you do not expect it.
After a day peppered with the daily warfare against my own weaknesses, the expectation of others and other seemingly random things it was a joy to read this verse. God is the LORD, who was so powerful, that He could deliver the Israelites from the land of Egypt. Today He is still the same for me: strong and faithful so that I can face the world without fear for God is with me.
February 23rd, 2010
Keith Fayyaz
One of the most unforgettable and drastic changes in the religious life of Kent Hardy is that the knowledge of God has shined upon him. He started embracing Christianity during his formative years. Like many Christians, he thought, though without true knowledge, to have been saved by the power of God’s grace through his own genuine confession and acceptance of Jesus as his personal Saviour.
He studied the concept of grace and knew of its many meanings: Grace, in the OT expresses the unmerited favour of God to His people (cf Gen 6:8f; Jer 31:2; Ex 33:19). Many words such as ‘faithfulness’ and ‘loving-kindness’ are ‘grace words’, even though the word ‘grace’ does not form part of them. It includes, in the NT, doing a favour for others; having attractive appearance and making convincing speeches; showing gratitude, etc. However, in the sense of salvation, he failed to realise that the greatest gift (grace) of God given to man is through the redemption of Jesus’ atoning blood, shed on the cross.
His initial exposure to this truth came from a leaflet, which later helped him establish a firm understanding that a person can only be made righteous or consecrated upon accepting God’s grace with faith (Rm 5:20f; Gal 2:21; 5:3f; Heb 12:14f). He read the leaflet with the intention of contending for his own belief. It then became, in sliding succession: a sense of pragmatism, contradiction and utmost despair. But then, Kent did possess, as Paul suggests, “the determination to allow God to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil 2:13). He was never a hardhearted person who refused the Bible to speak for itself, but a humble person who always submitted to God to the best of his ability.
Amidst his morbid pessimism for not even starting the journey of faith, nevertheless, he genuinely responded to the words from within his heart, which miraculously renewed his belief. He realised on the universal level that one is saved by grace (Acts 15:11; Eph 2:8) through believing in Jesus (Acts 18:27f). The reason is that Jesus has brought God’s grace to humanity (Jn 1:14, 17; 2 Tim 2:1; Tit 2:11ff), while He was on earth. The universality of this truth is fully exemplified by Paul, in that God’s calling demonstrates His grace for man (Gal 1:15f). God in His grace considers him sinless though he is a sinner (Rm 3:21-4:25) and shows that His favour is perfectly free (Eph 1:1ff; 2 Tim 1:9; Tit 3:5).
However, with regard to specific biblical points he was convinced that man should never overlook his duty as well. And faith is essential (Rm 1:5; 6:17) in obeying the pattern of His words (Rm 6:17; cf Acts 14:3; 20:24) and for him to receive His grace. He found himself at a point at which he could truly begin his belief; and that the correct path to salvation – eternal life – is the result of finding out that point with faith (cf Rm 5:21; 1 pet 1:13ff; Jn 3:3, 5, 7).
His astuteness, with divine assistance, enabled him to make use of that knowledge – one cannot enjoy God’s grace without accepting that baptism (the point to begin) saves those who believe in Jesus (Mk 16:16; 1 Pet 3:21). So Kent, in his continual search, made himself see the link between the death of Jesus and His grace: “Even when we are dead in trespasses, He made us alive together with Christ”. Paul considers this as having been saved by grace (Eph 2:5). The only possibility of dying together and rising together with Christ alive, is in baptism (Rm 6:1-5; Col 2:12).
Kent further discovered that grace includes the components of redemption by the atoning blood of Jesus and righteousness (Rm 3:24f; Gal 2:21; 3:14f). This grace according to God’s prerogative is receivable only ‘in Christ’ (2 Tim 1:9; 2 Tim 2:1; Eph 2:7). This ‘in-Christ’ position occurs only when one is baptised into Him (Rm 6:3; Gal 3:27) and that produces the forgiveness of sins through His blood (Eph 1:6f; 2:13; Col 1:14; Rm 3:24) – the baptised is thus made righteous.
In defending justification by faith (Rm 4:1ff), which was Kent’s other clue to his understanding, Paul expounds that God imputes righteousness apart from works (Rm 4:6). This righteousness of faith is the mark of the heirs of Abraham that is according to grace (Rm 4:13ff; 4:15). Even when one intends to receive the blessing (Gal 3:13f) and the grace of becoming an heir of Abraham, he has to start from the fundamental point, i.e. to receive baptism (Gal 3:27ff).
Kent’s enlightenment emerged from his simplicity of faith and humility towards divine revelation. He may have been very cautious, but there was an element of TRUST in the authenticity of the BIBLE, amid his confusion. He was a skeptic with a sincere and prayerful heart, a true believer of God who desired to have a better insight into the Scriptures. He considered himself plain ordinary before the Lord, but his contemplation was instrumental in getting him to find the truth of divine grace.
He accepted what the Bible says and is now truly saved by grace. And he is determined to remain humble towards God in his faith’s journey ahead.
February 3rd, 2010
Jachin
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil 4:6)
Some may recognize God as a just and rigid heavenly father but fail to recognize Him as a compassionate friend. When there is a gap between two persons, it is more difficult for them to communicate effectively. They tend to have more concerns about what to say, how to say it, when to say it, and what subject or expression to avoid. If we recognize Jesus as a kind and compassionate friend, then we will pray to Him and express ourselves more freely and openly. The frequency, duration, and depth of our prayers reflect our relationships with Him.
“Let your requests be made known to God.” Other than praising, thanksgiving, and supplication, what else must I tell Jesus? I must tell Jesus my trials, my troubles, and my temptation, as He is a kind and compassionate friend.
Sore relationships may be one trial that we may encounter from time to time at different places with different people. They could be our family members, church members, co-workers, friends, or relatives. It can come and go or it could remain, with bitterness harbored in our hearts. Prayers can release our tensions in times of emotional stress. In our spiritual journey, we may be entangled by sore relationships. If we cannot solve the problems on our own, then we must rely on prayers.
There are many troubles in this world. The trouble could occur unexpectedly at any time. When it takes place, we need to face it with perseverance. Yet we are limited in wisdom, capabilities, and strength so that we feel weak and helpless. The support and help that our friends can offer could also be limited. In our distress, let us turn to God as He understands our sorrow and burden.
If we are spiritually alert, we may sense that this world is full of all kinds of temptation. If we are not alert, we may step into temptation either without knowing it or giving in easily. When we struggle with temptation, prayers can help us win our spiritual battles. Matthew 26:41 reads, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
God is not only just, but full of mercy as well. Only if we recognize Him as a kind and compassionate friend, then we could pour our hearts to Him and tell Jesus all our trials, troubles, and temptation.
February 1st, 2010
tjcslin
Most people know Horatio Gates Spafford for the hymn he wrote in the title. But if you haven’t, you should read more deeply into his biography, because it is a story that will put our lives and its myriad trials quickly into perspective.
This was a man who was a prominent lawyer, who had many successes not just in his profession but also in his many business ventures. He had a lovely wife, whose faith complemented his, and they raised altogether 7 children – 6 girls and 1 boy. Two years before the drowning of his 4 daughters at sea, a fire swept through his hometown of Chicago, and all the investments he made in real estate were lost. This alone would’ve driven many people into a frenzy – this alone was a trial too difficult to survive. (Take for example the recent stock market crash and the global recession we have spiraled into – and the many CEOs, CFOs, and company heads who have lost everything, and some who have taken their lives, e.g., the suicide of billionaire Adolf Merckle, the owner of the generic-brand pharma giant Ratiopharm.) But that wasn’t the breaking point when Mr. Spafford’s faith was challenged and he penned this timeless hymn. It was the tragic loss of his beloved children two short years later that broke his heart and drove him to his knees to re-evaluate his faith and pour out his anguish in song.
If it wasn’t painful enough to lose his 4 daughters, he would later suffer the loss of his only son, whom his wife bore to him after the tragedy. But what is so amazing is that nothing broke his faith. All these tragedies – they took place one after another, just when there seemed enough time to heal and to catch his breath from the previous loss, another would strike. But nothing broke his faith. Nothing tore down his spirit. Not the loss of his significant possessions and successes, not the loss of his children, not even the personal illness that struck with finality when he moved his entire family to Jerusalem to set up the American Colony – a Christian-based philanthropic group that headed many charitable works in the land. Life kept on going. Nothing was held at a standstill. There were no years of disillusionment, bitterness, anger, or drunken mess. There was no self-pity.
And thus, it was a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful life. A miraculous story of herculean faith and perseverance.
And of all the things he did, all his accomplishments, what is he remembered most for? His unshakable faith. His commitment to God. His full and exemplary acknowledgement that God is in control, and all is well with his soul.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pain shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
And Lord haste the day, when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Do take in the lyrics carefully. This was not a contemplation of his tragedies. This was a focused and unobstructed contemplation of his salvation; this was what he saw, this was where his head and heart space went every time he met with trouble – be they minor calamities or those of epic proportions.
When we are faced with trials, where do our head and heart space go?
January 18th, 2010
jywlee
I continue to work my way up the mountain,
Walking along the steep path
Following the narrow road.
Such a difficult path is walked
Sometimes painfully
Often wearily
Always determinedly
By faith.
I look around at my fellow climbers
Many have fallen
Prey to the lions, pitfalls, and storms.
Too many no longer get up.
Sometimes I stumble,
But my guide picks me up
Again and again.
However, as time passes
And the climb continues
I grow weary
I grow weak
I grow burdened
Down with life’s worries and cares
What a heavy load.
Why go on?
Once more, my guide encourages me
Once more, He gives me strength.
I will help you each step of the way
I will always be there for you
I will never let you go
You must move on.
He reminds me that
Although we have troubles
We are not defeated
Although we are lost
We do not lose hope
Although we are attacked
We do not falter
Although we suffer
We are never alone.
I walk on.
January 13th, 2010
Mwaji
‘God’s forgiveness is unfathomable’. ‘It is for everyone’. We believe that God has forgiven us in baptism and will continue to forgive our sins after conversion. But, from the Bible, it seems, we can be deprived of this everlasting forgiveness, not on account of wilful sinning, but rather by merely being unforgiving.
‘To forgive others’ is the only part of the Lord’s Prayer that demands our compliance and action. It is neither something conceptual nor just a pattern of prayer. It has to be translated into concrete actions, if we are to take prayer seriously and earnestly want God to forgive.
“And forgive us our debts. As we also have forgiven our debtors” (Mt 6:12).
The word ‘debts’ is a common expression for sins in the Gospels. Jesus explicitly states that it is necessary to forgive in order to receive forgiveness. Many other examples in the Gospels testify to this infallible truth: “Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Lk 6:37; Mk 11:25; Mt 6:14). Our forgiveness of others becomes the condition attached to God forgiving us. God forgives when we have willingly forgiven those who have crossed our ways.
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Lk 11:4).
Human forgiveness and divine forgiveness are closely connected. Jesus indicates that they are inseparable in the spectrum of a God-man relationship. Divine forgiveness bases not only on the magnanimity He has for us, but also our will to live out this divine virtue. In other words, God is more than willing to forgive but His forgiveness of us rests completely on our forgiveness of others. Sometimes, our reluctance and inability to forgive causes Him to withdraw His forgiveness from us.
” … ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his Lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every on of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart” (Mt 18:33-35).
This parable teaches the danger of being unforgiving and its tragic consequence. Being unforgiving places our accountability back in place for past sins, of which the Master has once forgiven us (Mt 18:23-35). It further shows that for God’s forgiveness to be lasting there must be love toward others on our parts. This love is part of a reciprocal relationship: God has forgiven (loved) us that in turn we forgive (love) others (Eph 4:32; Col 3:13; Lk 7:47).
The forgiveness of man covers two aspects: we forgive when we are offended (Mt 18:35), and we ask for forgiveness when we offend others (Mt 5:23-24). Regardless of what our position is, be it right or wrong, it calls for us to forgive – we must forgive each others, as Christ has forgiven us (Eph 4:32). The rightness of a case in which we are does not at all justify us, if we are being unforgiving.
The crucial concern of this short article is not just about how and when God forgives, but the practice of forgiveness. It is insufficient to beg for forgiveness alone from God, to stay in a good relationship with Him, while remaining unforgiving. The continuity of this relationship depends on our acts of forgiveness. It is enormously essential to forgive so that we can receive forgiveness; to forgive while we are being forgiven; to forgive because we have been forgiven.
Remember! Being unforgiving means a withdrawal of forgiveness from God.
And to receive a shower of forgiveness from God requires us being forgiving.
January 11th, 2010
Jachin
Mat 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Mat 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Maybe this is an obvious realization to other people, but recently I started to think about this serving two masters concept differently from how I used to think. I used to think that this passage was saying serving two masters is wrong; that it is a sin to serve both God and mammon (or money, wealth, etc). Serving two masters is akin to idolatry, and God deserves our undivided heart.
That’s all true and I’m not disagreeing with any of that. But upon reading the whole worrying segment of Jesus’ sermon with a clean slate, I felt that these verses were plainly emphasizing a slightly different concept.
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
This verse doesn’t say it is wrong to serve two masters; it’s saying we can’t. As in, it is impossible to actually serve two masters, and even if we tried to, we’d end up serving one. We can relate this to the thorny soil in the parable of the sower.
“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Mt 13:22)
This can be thought of as a person who was trying to serve two masters. He heard the word and wanted to grow in it, but the cares (or worries, anxiety, etc) of the world made him spiritually unfruitful. In other words, although he tried to serve both God and riches, he ended up serving riches.
What does this mean for us? I’ve already mentioned how much we tend to worry about our education and careers–after all, these are for our livelihood and future prosperity. But is our livelihood taking priority over our desire to grow in the Lord? Are we trying to bear fruit among thorns?
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life…”
The fact that this immediately follows vs.24 was a bit jarring to me. If we find ourselves worrying often, that is a symptom of trying to serve two masters. If we let this worrying continue, most likely the deceitfulness of riches will win out. “How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven!”
Knowing this, how can we get to a point of not worrying? One way is to learn from the multitude of the 5000. They valued the words of God more than their livelihood, and followed Jesus for three days and did not have food. Some of them may have worried about not having anything to eat and may have returned home on day 2. But for those who worried and endured till day 3, Jesus had compassion on them and filled them, and they realized their worrying was needless. Once we experience and are aware of God’s grace, I believe we can leave behind a lot of worrying.
——————————————————————————
Note, not worrying is not equivalent to being complacent (and lazy) and not working hard, thinking we’ll get food or riches or whatever spoonfed to us (that was a lot of “not’s” in that sentence!). Being diligent and being worrisome are obviously two different things. Jesus concludes Matthew 6 with “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.” That means that today, we still do what we need to do to carry on, without getting caught up in worries over the future. God has many promises for us; but in order for us to obtain those promises, we must pull our own weight.
January 9th, 2010
leehsueh
“…casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Pet 5:7)
This is a popular verse encouraging us to pray and entrust everything to God. Every burden that weighs on our minds, every ailment that eats at us, every setback that frustrates us–we ought to cast all of those upon God–”for He cares for you.” Our high and almighty God can also be so small and so low so as to listen to our problems and concerns. He understands and cares.
We can also gain a deeper appreciation for this verse when we look into the context of this exhortation. Peter speaks a lot about submission in his first epistle: citizens ought to submit to governments (1 Pet 2:13-17), servants ought submit to masters (1 Pet 2:18-25), wives ought to submit to husbands (1 Pet 3:1-6), and youths ought to submit to elders (1 Pet 5:5). Apostle Peter not only stresses the importance of submission, but also the different circumstances of who ought to submit to whom. Submission then isn’t weakness, but a precious sight in the eyes of God (cf 1 Pet 3:4).
With the final pairing–for youths to submit to elders–Peter encourages youths to then “cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Pet 5:7). It is with this notion that this popular verse was written. Apostle Peter understands how tough it can be!
Indeed, among the many attributes we need to cultivate as servants of God, one of the hardest to learn is how to be submissive. As youth, in some circumstances, we may not fully understand why our elders do things the way they do. We may not agree with their thinking, with their decisions, or with their methods. We sometimes think we have better and fresher ideas to prosper the Holy work. So sometimes, our ideas and thinking may clash with the older generation of believers. But it is at this time, that we as youths need to learn the discipline of submission and yielding. If there still remains anguish and frustration in our hearts, then we quietly bring those cares and worries before God, “for He cares for you.” Rather than fiercely insisting on our opinions or campaigning for the merits of our thought pattern, God desires that we learn a heart of obedience and submission. Perhaps, indeed we may have a better idea, that was prayerfully derived, but have we considered maybe it just isn’t God’s timing yet?
It is learning to humbly yield to our elders that we show that we also submit to God and respect the authority the Holy Spirit has given to them. It is in submitting to those that can be seen that demonstrates that we indeed also submit to God who cannot be seen. Of course in matters of errors in doctrine and salvation, we should not submit, just like we shouldn’t heed any laws that conflict with our faith. However in matters of style and method, we can all learn to have a little more of the heart of Christ, to submit to God and to one another, for it was in humility, submission, and obedience that Christ was–and we shall be–ultimately exalted (cf Phil 2:3-11, 1 Pet 5:6, Eph 5:21). Until then, let us cast all our care upon Him, for He cares for you.
January 7th, 2010
samooer
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