Sharings from Bangkok
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
- Deuteronomy 8:10-18
God has a purpose for all of us. As such we dun want to invest our life in something that never lasts long, which is not what God intended for us. God's purpose for us is an eternal one, that's why the Great Commission, that's why He asked us to go make disciples, that's why He asks us to go save the lost for Him. I went to Bangkok and received 2 teachings which I think can be quite relevant to me as a student as well as a future business person and a future politican.
1. Remember the Lord my God
Think about it. God blesses us abundantly. He blesses us an environment where we can study at tertiary and university level, ie He gives us an education. He blesses us with results that a lot of them out there are unable to attain (but God has other plans for them). Sometimes when we are blessed with good results, do we remember Him for the blessings or do we think that we have achieved this all by our own ability? Even if we have achieved the good results with our own ability, who is the One who blesses us with such abilities? Henceforth, in view of our own academic success, or difficulties, it is imperative that we remember the Lord our God.
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
2. Humble ourselves to the Lord
In view of our own academic success, there is a danger of us becoming prideful, and hence forgetting God, or even if we remember Him, we may not be even willing to listen to His words. This will lead to our own destructions as the writer of Proverbs has warned. We ought not to think that our own intelligence has brought us this far. Instead, we ought to realise that humility will come before honor. The danger is real, as I know it and experience it. Sometimes it's only when we depend on God's providence alone that we can humble ourselves (or it's rather everytime).
3. Believe in God's anointing on our studies, business, and ministry
We also need to know that God is the only one who can give us power and anointing to produce our wealth, and success, cos through Him all things are made, and without Him, nothing will be made. God's anointing will involve His presence and His favour. We know that as C.O.G (children of God), we have His anointing to go and do His work for His kingdom, and we need to believe in that, in whatever place we are serving, be it the skyscraper buildings, or the rubbish dump. And what do you think will happen with God anoints us? What do you think will happen if God's with us, if God's favour is with us?
I think this sharing from Ps PN, the founder of the international Hope movement has been very inspiring for me, with regards to my own ministry in NUS. I basically, in view that most people who read this blog are students, have translated this sharing, which is mainly for businessmen, to suit the needs for the brothers and sisters from NUS who may be reading this post at the moment. What perhaps would amaze you is that you will realise God's principle is so universal. No matter what settings, God's principles will still apply, that should be the basis of our work in our ministries.
Ok, as I need to move on for lesson soon, I will post the 2nd sharing from Ps Jeff in due time.
Till then, adios.
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