Dear Brothers and Sisters, Shalom.

I am Won KIM voicing Pastor Caleb Soo Lee Chong. Let’s pick up from our last discussions on “Values for The Modern Disciple”.    

We know from the last session that values are yardsticks by which one measures the gravity, significance, and worth of an issue at hand. If I consider something as important, I come to a decision, make time for or even give up my life for it. Conversely, I would pay scant attention to or even put it aside if it means nothing to me. Thus, values have a bearing on the way we decide; the resulting daily decisions would lead us into a happy or unfortunate state of affairs. They are also linked to whether we can be good witnesses of God.

We have considered many examples, including the relationships between Abram and his nephew Lot at a time when they had to part ways as their flocks became too numerous to stay together. Abram put kinship before wealth, but Lot thought differently. In the end, Lot met with a sad ending: he lost all he had, including his own family. On the other hand, Abram pleased God with his decision, and as promised, his descendants became as numerous as the stars in the sky and as uncountable as the dust on the land.

How we thank the good Lord! His blessings will be upon us only when we observe His values. We must have faith in God as the One who created the Heavens and Earth, including all that is in between, or even beyond. He is also the Giver of all wealth. There is no need for anyone to be greedy. I will have everything that God wants me to have, if such is my due. Otherwise, I would have no part in it, no matter hard I try. We must hold firmly to this.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us turn to the teachings in our Bible on the three important rules or principles to help us make the right decisions. Our values would be right if we go along these guidelines.

First, let us look at the Bible in the book of Philippians chapter 3 verse 8, “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” Next, we have in the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 20, “For you were bought at a price, therefore honour God with your bodies.”

Two principles stand out here. One: we are to glorify God and honour Jesus Christ in all that we do. In other words, my first reaction before coming to a decision is: “Would this decision and how I go about this matter glorify God? Am I seeking honour for my own self or for the Lord Jesus Christ?”

John Calvin, a major figure in the early Presbyterian church, said, “The highest aim of a man’s life is to glorify God.” Karl Barth once said, “The world is a stage for us to glorify God.”  How we go about glorifying God is related to the daily choices that we make in our lives. Should I take on this business deal today? If there is something shady in this, I would give it avoid it. Yes, some losses may be incurred on my part, but my decision will bring glory to God. Those around me would see how Christians abide by their principles -- they would not make money when they should not, and readily dismiss what is not due to them. This is what glorifying God is all about.

To benefit or edify others. As taught in the Bible in the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 24: “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others….” Then on to chapter 10 verse 33, “…even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” And back to 1 Corinthians chapter 9 verse 19: “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a servant to everyone, to win as many as possible.”

Principle Two: will my choice bring benefit to or will it edify anyone? Will it bring good to others? Needless to say, the term “others” refers to family members, relatives, friends, believers and non-believers alike. In the example last week, we asked if a husband or father should be making his living in his own country or seeking his fortune abroad. If he is clear that he wants to bring blessings and benefits to his family, he should decide to be with them within his home-ground, rather than being far apart from them in a foreign land. The choice must take into account the benefits for his wife and kids – not just at the financial level, but should include the mental as well as spiritual dimensions, too.

 Dear brothers and sisters, we are making choices every day. Does my job bring glory to God? Surely not, if you are making a living in a casino. Naturally, I will turn that down. If my job contributes to the protection of our environment, makes the world a better and more sustainable place to be in, gives others a happier life – yes, that edifies other people, and I would take up such an offer. When others get to know that I am a Christian who is willing to forgo high-paying jobs in lieu of something that blesses our society, they would appreciate my choice. God is thus glorified.

Bringing benefits to oneself without coming under its control. In the Bible in the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 23, it says: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” And in chapter 6 verse 12, it says, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” No longer should I be brought under the power of any as a Christian today. Why? Because I am now a free person in Christ.

Martin Luther once said: “A Christian is a totally free man; he is not under the power of anything, including law.  Therefore, be it in work, money, feelings and so on, a Christian cannot be brought under the power of these things.  On the contrary, he can put them to good use, to bring benefits to himself, as well as bring blessings to others while glorifying God.” This is very, very important.

For example, Christians can make decent money without being greedy and put himself under the power of money. However, if I continue to fixate myself on money and nothing else, I would end up under its bondage. Relentless insisting on worldly possessions would put me under its power, it would rob me of my freedom. No, we would want to move on, like Martin Luther did, and say, “Although I am a free man, I am willing to be a servant of everyone, and come under some restrictions.” Why? In the words of Paul, to get more people. On his part, Martin Luther said that we are totally freemen in the Gospel, and are not subject to edification by anything. However, I am willing to let go of this freedom for the love of others, choose to serve others and come under some restraint. That is exceedingly precious.

As Christians, therefore, we should see things from this perspective, so that we can glorify God, edify others and bring ourselves to be blessed. In selecting one’s career, for instance, we should go for jobs that glorify God, edify my family and bring them benefits: they would live with peace of mind because I am working.  In other words, they are not burdened because of financial worries. The family is taken care of and the kids can focus on their studies. My work thus edifies my family. On the other hand, I do not “come under any power.” In other words, this work does not tie me down, take away my freedom, stop me from serving with all my heart, or separate me from my family.  As such, I have made a wise choice, if these three conditions and principles are fulfilled.

 Paul is someone who lives in awe of God. Thus, he placed these three principles right in front of us. As a legalist, he had put the law above everything else in the past. However, since the day he came to know Jesus Christ, he gave up the law and sought glory in the gospel of Christ. We, too, need to give up some of the things in our lives. You will have to abandon the wrong values of your past after becoming aware of these new values.

Giving up is a struggle, so is making a choice. A right choice will lead us on the road to happiness. Moses could have made the choice and continued to stay in Egypt, and even looked forward to inherit the position as the next Pharoah.

However, he did not choose to do so, but went along to suffer with his people instead. He glorified God and held fast to the call of God. He edified others, suffered along with his fellow men, brought unto himself a fully blessed life; people have him in their hearts, even to this day.

Dear brothers and sisters, your choices make a huge difference. You should decide after Moses, Abram and Paul, none of whom seek anything for themselves, but worked towards the glory of God. Let your family, friends and the freedom of your life occupy centre stage within you. If we do that, our choices shall lead us to a life of great blessings. May God bless you all.

Let us pray

Dear Heavenly Father,

We are truly grateful to You. Through the three principles by the apostle Paul, you have shown us the way to handle the situation each time we have to make a decision. You have provided us with clear directions to follow, and given us a willing heart to follow these teachings.

Although every decision we make may appear to lead us to losses, and even paying a price for them, we are willing to obey you all the way, glorify you every day, let others benefit from our lives every day, even to become a free person in Christ forever, never to be fettered by money, nor allowing it to weigh down our lives.

May You hear our prayers, O God Almighty, May every one of us who hear Your Word be led by Your Way, to become a disciple of Christ with the right values within us. We pray this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

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 Disciple” 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 of the Modern Disciple” 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]