My dear readers,
1. “Get Rich Fever” grips many
The love of money needs no nurturing. It is in every breast. Many succumb to it, it’s only natural. But the wise stay clear. Singapore has never had it so good. People are getting rich and the rich are getting richer. Everywhere apartment blocks are being torn down, not because they are old, but to make way for developers to build better and higher, both in height and in price. Big businesses are booming, raking in unprecedented profits. The stock market is on the boil. The bulls are having a field day. Everywhere the New Year is ushered in with smiling “Gong Xi Fa Cai” greetings.
But what about you and others who are perhaps out of the “swing of things”? Are you worried? Let’s hear what God’s Word says.
2. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6)
The true riches is not measured in dollars and cents, but in one’s heart condition toward God. He is our true riches. It is He who gave us life and health, and the ability to work and get wealth. He holds the key to peace of mind and happiness which is better than money.
The apostle Paul has godly counsel for us: “Having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Tim 6:8).
Also listen to what Pastor James Smith says in Daily Remembrancer (May 8 Evening):
“GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN.” They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare. God knows best. We cannot really want more, and if God sees fit to withhold, we ought not even to wish for more. Our food may be sparse, and our raiment coarse. What then? If we have God's blessing, if we enjoy His presence, we are better off than if we possessed a kingdom without them. If God gave us no more, we ought to believe that more would be injurious to us. God either loves us, or He does not. He cares for us and provides for us, for He leaves nothing to chance. If we are believers in Jesus, God certainly does love us, He does care for us, He does provide for us; if He has numbered the very hairs of our head, fixed the bounds of our habitation, promised to supply all our needs, He cannot have left anything to chance. But such is the case. Let us then be content with such things as we have. Let us learn in every state therewith to be content. Let us bear in mind that godliness with contentment is great gain, or a good future. Remember that it is written, that “all things that pertain to life and godliness,” are given to us through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. “Farewell China!”
(Memoirs continued from February 4, 2007)
For Father and Mother, their sole source of support was cut; their meagre savings would not last long. By 1931 they had three more hungry mouths to feed. The family had left the homeland and its natural disasters of earthquake (1918) and typhoon (1922) and political turmoil for Nanyang’s “greener pastures.” The drastic southward move was taken after months of deep soul searching and careful “weighing the pros and cons,” fully persuaded that it was God’s will.
But now things seem to have gone wrong. Was it a big mistake?
The family were marooned, abandoned by God and forsaken. So it seemed to be the case. Father found help from a few friends in Singapore, but the long term solution was nowhere in sight.
During those anxious moments, our comfort and assurance came only from God’s Word: “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (Matt 6:26).
In their forty-year wilderness sojourn, two million Israelites were sustained. God sent manna, the bread from heaven, wholesome and fresh everyday. Can the same God not keep you supplied also, O ye of little faith?
Thank God, He sustained the family through the dark days of the Great Depression which lasted for most of the decade of the nineteen thirties. Like Job the patient, we learned to wait upon the Lord, and to say with Job, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).
He who had called us out of China to Nanyang will surely see us through the days ahead. The Depression was great, but our God is greater. Only trust and be not fearful. Our God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. What He did for the Israelites, He will surely do for us, for we also are His people.
The love of money needs no nurturing. It is in every breast. Many succumb to it, it’s only natural. But the wise stay clear. Singapore has never had it so good. People are getting rich and the rich are getting richer. Everywhere apartment blocks are being torn down, not because they are old, but to make way for developers to build better and higher, both in height and in price. Big businesses are booming, raking in unprecedented profits. The stock market is on the boil. The bulls are having a field day. Everywhere the New Year is ushered in with smiling “Gong Xi Fa Cai” greetings.
But what about you and others who are perhaps out of the “swing of things”? Are you worried? Let’s hear what God’s Word says.
2. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim 6:6)
The true riches is not measured in dollars and cents, but in one’s heart condition toward God. He is our true riches. It is He who gave us life and health, and the ability to work and get wealth. He holds the key to peace of mind and happiness which is better than money.
The apostle Paul has godly counsel for us: “Having food and raiment let us be therewith content” (1 Tim 6:8).
Also listen to what Pastor James Smith says in Daily Remembrancer (May 8 Evening):
“GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN.” They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare. God knows best. We cannot really want more, and if God sees fit to withhold, we ought not even to wish for more. Our food may be sparse, and our raiment coarse. What then? If we have God's blessing, if we enjoy His presence, we are better off than if we possessed a kingdom without them. If God gave us no more, we ought to believe that more would be injurious to us. God either loves us, or He does not. He cares for us and provides for us, for He leaves nothing to chance. If we are believers in Jesus, God certainly does love us, He does care for us, He does provide for us; if He has numbered the very hairs of our head, fixed the bounds of our habitation, promised to supply all our needs, He cannot have left anything to chance. But such is the case. Let us then be content with such things as we have. Let us learn in every state therewith to be content. Let us bear in mind that godliness with contentment is great gain, or a good future. Remember that it is written, that “all things that pertain to life and godliness,” are given to us through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Great things are not what I desire,
Nor rich repast, nor gay attire;
Content with little would I be;
That little, Lord, must come from Thee.
Nor rich repast, nor gay attire;
Content with little would I be;
That little, Lord, must come from Thee.
3. “Farewell China!”
(Memoirs continued from February 4, 2007)
For Father and Mother, their sole source of support was cut; their meagre savings would not last long. By 1931 they had three more hungry mouths to feed. The family had left the homeland and its natural disasters of earthquake (1918) and typhoon (1922) and political turmoil for Nanyang’s “greener pastures.” The drastic southward move was taken after months of deep soul searching and careful “weighing the pros and cons,” fully persuaded that it was God’s will.
But now things seem to have gone wrong. Was it a big mistake?
The family were marooned, abandoned by God and forsaken. So it seemed to be the case. Father found help from a few friends in Singapore, but the long term solution was nowhere in sight.
During those anxious moments, our comfort and assurance came only from God’s Word: “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” (Matt 6:26).
In their forty-year wilderness sojourn, two million Israelites were sustained. God sent manna, the bread from heaven, wholesome and fresh everyday. Can the same God not keep you supplied also, O ye of little faith?
Thank God, He sustained the family through the dark days of the Great Depression which lasted for most of the decade of the nineteen thirties. Like Job the patient, we learned to wait upon the Lord, and to say with Job, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).
He who had called us out of China to Nanyang will surely see us through the days ahead. The Depression was great, but our God is greater. Only trust and be not fearful. Our God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. What He did for the Israelites, He will surely do for us, for we also are His people.
Lovingly in the Lord
Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor
Dr SH Tow, Senior Pastor
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