Dear Brothers and Sisters, Shalom.

I am Won KIM, voicing Pastor Caleb Soo Lee Chong. In the previous session, we took up the topic on “Values of The Disciples”.  A disciple of Jesus Christ is one who imitates Christ and lives in a Christ-like way. And living in a Christ-like way requires of them to possess the right values.

The term “values” refers to the yardstick used to determine the weightage, worthiness and significance of the matter at hand. We are deeply aware that this is no minor issue: indeed, it has an impact on us, is significant and, therefore, we need to work at it. Moreover, having a clear and correct set of values provides us with a well-thought-out and long-term bearing on the way ahead.

Earlier on, I have shared my views on the selection of courses for our children after their high school education prior to their enrollment into an institution of higher learning. This is the time when your values will impact what course and subjects that she decides to take up. Closely linked to her values would be her choice of career path thereafter. She could be making a decision to take up a highly-paid post that she has no interest in, with her focus fixated on the attractive rewards put out on offer. If truth be told, such a choice goes against her interest, what the family truly needs, and how she relates to God and the opportunities to serve Him. Imagine this: How could she be happy when she finally lands into a situation like this?! What a shame!

Case discussion

Let us turn to another case for now.

Brother Chen is a senior employer in an NMC. The Board of Directors had requested him to consider relocation to a new company based in China as a manager, with a generous salary to suit. After due deliberations, he decided to take up the offer, leaving behind his two primary school boys in the care of his wife, so that their education would not be disrupted. The couple could come together for just two weeks every year. During this time, communications between the couple became few and far between as they drifted apart. In this period of extreme loneliness, another woman came into the man’s life and his marriage was irretrievably ruined.

My first question is: what would you choose if you were in the shoes of Brother Chen? Why? Would you accept an offer made by your company to grow your career in another country as it dangles a handsome package as reward right before your eyes? The decision that you would be making has plenty to do with your values. Secondly, what is more important to you: career or family? Thirdly, what do you think the strained relationships within Brother Chen’s family leading up to its final breakdown has to do with his decision? Why?

Dear brothers and sisters, the facts speak for themselves here. Brother Chen’s values are coupled to or have even led to his decision to make the move. He put his career and money-making well above the welfare of his own family. That choice was the poison dart that brought the family down. How did it happen to begin with? We must recognize that a marital relationship is dynamic in nature and not like a pool of stagnant water. Mutual communications must be kept going between the parties so that the relationship can be sustained and strengthened. In this case, the couple only comes together for two weeks in a year, causing their relationship to wither and eventually cease to exist altogether. Besides, during those moments when the kids need their dad most, he is not around to offer comfort and guidance as well.

Meanwhile, a husband needs encouragement and support from his other half when he hits a tough patch but, alas, she is not there for him. In the course of time, temptations in other various disguises beckon, and he looks up to these to seek momentary relief. When the other woman comes along, well, the beginning of the end is in sight.

Given his fallen nature, Man falls prey to the temptations that cross his path so very often when the spouse or other family members are not by his side. He who had turned down such enticements the first time or even the second, may not be able to hold his fort on the third occasion. So, brothers and sisters, how are we to have the correct values within to empower us, help preserve our family unit during our time on this earth? May our children see in our lives a worthy example and be blessed as a result.

How to be on guard against greed

Let us see what the Bible has to say on this. In the Bible, in the Gospel of Luke chapter 12 verse 15, say, “Then Jesus said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And again, in the Bible, in the book of First Timothy chapter 6 verse 10, it says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Do Christians covet for money? Judging by these two verses from Scripture, they apparently do. We, too, are aware that we have greed lurking within our hearts. How should we rid ourselves of such greed, then? If everyone follows the teachings of the Lord and is on the guard against greed, do you think the three questions that I brought up earlier would crop up? What correct decisions would you have made, as in what subjects would you have encouraged your child to take up in my earlier example?

If you stand by the correct values, if you are not greedy, I believe that you would have supported her to go for the subjects where her interests lie, even if these comprise of music and literature. You would say, “My child, this is where your interest lies. You will need to follow your heart, for therein lies the treasure that God has placed in your life.”

In the same vein, if your values are correct, i.e., without greed, your choice of career would automatically fall in line with your interests. Imagine your frustrations if you had to work at least eight hours a day, day in day out, on something that you do not any interest in whatsoever. You would be bored to death, to say the least. How could anyone ever be happy in such a situation?!

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, if you are clear where your own interests point to, and you are not greedy, how different your life would be! Obviously, you would have turned down the overseas posting that Brother Chen took up, leaving his own family at home to fend for themselves for prolonged periods of time, leading to the demise of what was once a happy family.

Recently, someone posed me this question, “Pastor, a friend of mine left China to accompany her child studying in Singapore. Upon return after her child has completed her studies, she was shocked to see another woman in what was once their marital home. She was totally devastated. Pastor, do you think this is fair to her?”

I told her that she had to pay the price arising out of her own decision. To begin with, she chose to leave her husband to be with her child, rather let him remain in China to pursue his study there -- in which case, she could be with her husband at the same time. This fateful choice has brought about the situation that she is facing today. As it turned out, she went whole hog, put all her stakes on the child and what she believed to be the child’s future. Family life was sacrificed as a result. The truth is that every child needs a father; every wife, a husband, and vice versa. Once again, it confirms that one’s values set the tone, and that greed would drag the parties involved into a tragic ending.

Brothers and sisters, everyone can turn greedy; Christians are no exception either. But are Christians in a better position to handle the question of greed? First and foremost, we must be very clear that no one, Christians included, is immune to greed. The words spoken by Jesus and Paul are important to Christians; they show us how to guard against the curse of greed.

The Bible states clearly, in the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Thus, we need to become the new creation in Christ, cease to be greedy as in the past, and take care of ourselves well. We should accord God the honour that is due to Him. We would have a new life -- one that glorifies the life of Jesus. Hence, to reference the Bible in the Gospel of John chapter 3 verse 3, I have to be born again.

The term “to repent” refers to a transformative change of one’s heart, and is known as Metanoia in Greek. It means a turning of thoughts, heart, emotions, grit, mindset and so on towards God. In the past I used to behave and go along with the worldly yardstick. Today, I want to make a change and turn to Christian values to guide my walk. I resolve to be in constant awareness of His presence as long as I live; I shall guard myself against greed and follow Christ instead.  As we obey His Word along the way, we shall undergo a transformation by and by, and become clearer as to where our values are leading us on. We believe that our minds will not dither, but help battle our way out of this state of mindless struggles.

Brothers and sisters, we are most grateful that we have the Word of God as the lamp to our feet and light to our path. With Christ in our lives, we are able to continuously reflect, re-examine, rethink, re-look and introspect into our inner selves. The Holy Spirit will continue to help us repent, restart and gain new strength, so that we can put the values of God into practice as we live each day.

Life Experiences of Abram and Lot

Next, I will move on to the life experiences of Abram and Lot as told in in the Bible in the book of Genesis chapter 13 verses 5-18. Dear brothers and sisters, Abram has shown that we can truly do away with greed. As Abram led Lot into the land of Canaan, their lives got better and better as their sheep and cattle continued to multiply greatly in numbers.  As a result, more land is now needed for grazing, given that the current pastures could no longer support them.

Quarrelling arose between the shepherds on both sides. At that juncture, Abram stepped forth and spoke to his nephew, saying, “Lot, let us not have any quarrelling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go the left, I’ll go to the right; If you go the right, I’ll go to the left.” Yes, he offered the right of choice to Lot!

We see how generous, gracious and big-hearted Abram was here. Why? What do you think matters more to Abram when it comes to choosing between familial relationships and pastoral land in this case? Obviously, the Bible tells us unequivocally that Abram had placed kinship over wealth.

Abram was the elder, or to be more precise, he was Lot’s uncle. He was the one who led Lot out of their homeland; in other words, what Lot had achieved so far was largely due to the earlier efforts on the part of Abram.

However, Abram treasured kinship above everything else and forefeited his right at this critical juncture. Earlier on in the book of Genesis chapter 13 verse 18, we saw how he had lived in awe of God and obeyed all His commands. He held the firm belief that the promise of God will not leave him worse off than before – an understanding that led him to make such a wise move. Dear brothers and sisters, would you have done likewise if you were in Abram’s shoes?

On the other hand, we witnessed Lot making a decision that would bring him tremendous material wealth. His own interests came first; he ignored those of his own uncle and threw kinship to the winds. Now, let us look what his choice had led him to. He moved to Sodom, a city of great sin. (Gen 13:10), and met with his tragic ending. The bible, in the book of 2 Peter chapter 2 verses 7-8 says “that the righteous man… was tormented in his righteous soul”. In other words, Lot was someone with the vitality of life, and he wasn’t that evil either. He was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard around him. We see how he and his family came to a most terrible end in the book of Genesis chapter 19.

On the other hand, Abram made a decision that had pleased God. We see in the Bible in the book of Genesis chapter 13 verses 14-17 that he was rewarded by God with a bigger piece of land in the end. God also promised that his offspring would be numerous like the stars in the sky, the dust on the earth. We thank God as these are His promises. May God help us to make wise decisions all the time. Amen!

Let us pray

Dear Heavenly Father,

We learn from Abram how wise decisions were made. Paul, too, had reminded us not to covet wealth in his epistles. May these words remain in our hearts for ever more! May You be always in the centre of our lives. May human relationships take first priority when we deal with situations and the people around us, and never to be led by the nose by the pursuit of wealth. You hear our prayers, O, Lord, teach us to become people of wisdom, so that our lives may be filled with joy and happiness. We pray these in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Recommendations by Rev. Dr Caleb SOO Lee Chong

The three books “The Gospel for the Modern Man”, “Faith of the Modern Believer” and “Values for the Modern Disciples” by Rev. Dr Caleb SOO Lee Chong are worthy book to edify disciples. In order to minimize differences in the qualities amongst Christians, our churches need to set up basic courses to address these issues. In turn, this will enable all disciples to incorporate their faith into their lives and allow changes to take place through renewal of minds. May God make use of these basic courses to edify more disciples to strengthen His soldiers and claim victory on His battle-ground!

The three books “The Gospel for the Modern Man”, “Faith of the Modern Believer” and “Values for the Modern Disciples” are suitable course materials for anyone who wish to acquire understanding of the Christian faith in a more comprehensive manner. The contents are easy to grasp and relate to the real world that we are living in. They are written with an eye for the man-in-the-street and explore how to make our faith come alive in our daily social interactions.

In particular, these are suitable if you  

1. are someone who wants to understand the Christian faith or,

2. are someone who has just accepted the Christian faith or,

3. have been a Christian for many years but still hungering for a firmer grounding in the faith or,

4. are a pastor or co-worker who plans to use these materials for teaching purposes,

If you need to take up learning or use these materials in a systematic manner, please us contact at this email address： [email protected]