PENTECOST • 9

What does being rich in life look like? And what really matters in this life?

SONGS FOR PRAYER

SET PRAYER

Generous God,

in abundance you give us things both spiritual and physical.

Help us to hold lightly the fading things of this earth

and grasp tightly the lasting things of your kingdom,

so that what we are and do and say

may be our gifts to you

through Christ, who beckons all to seek the things above,

where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.


reading for: Tuesday Night, 26 July

Luke 12:13-21

The “Rich” Life

  • READ

    How do we measure success in life? What does being rich look like for you?

    For most Singaporeans, being rich means being able to retire earlier than 65, travel around the world, do what we like and buy whatever we wish. Its the “Singaporean” dream that is so prevalent for most of us. The critique for us this week is, how is that view of a successful life different from the rich man in the parable? And if we are truly honest with ourselves, the rich man in Jesus’ parable is living the kind of life many of us Singaporeans long for, where we can finally say “Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” (v. 19).

    Its important to note first that the person who calls Jesus from the crowd, is likely due the justice in his life. His brother seems to have received all of his father’s inheritance, possibly by using some underhand method. And now, he is left with nothing. So he comes to Jesus seeking for justice, asking for his fair share. (v. 13).

    But Jesus draws the boundary of his role very clearly. He hasn’t come to settle financial disputes between family members (v. 14). He’s come to teach us about what life, what a rich life really looks like (v. 15). And its to this that he warns this man (likely a rich man for why else would Jesus use a parable about a rich man who has already so much) to beware of every kind of greed. And it’s implicit in the story that this man is on the path of greed. A greed that’s leading him to a blindness to how easily life can end, but even more crucially, how life is really about being rich towards God.

    The parable that Jesus tells, is first and foremost about a rich man. And essentially, this rich man is about to get richer. So the question is, what will he do with his riches? (v. 16) The decision he makes, is to tear down his own barns and build bigger ones, so that he can store even more of his harvest and by consequence, riches (v. 18). Why? So that he can say to himself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!” (v. 19).

    What’s wrong with this picture? Is it wrong to be prudent and save money for rainy days ahead? Is there anything wrong if we steward our resources and finances better?

    Jesus warns us about the imminent danger of greed. Greed of every kind. For greed, is ultimately focused on our self. Greed is concerned for the self not just having enough, but having more than enough. And as we all know, its never enough.

    But greed Jesus says, can blind us like this rich man to the imminent end that we all will face one day - death. And death, being the equaliser of both the rich and poor, will bring an end to all things. So much so that the merry life that was planned for, is stolen by someone else.

    The second danger of greed is that it blinds us to God. Instead of being rich with God with His mission and His kingdom, we are busy being rich with things on this earth. And that blinds us to God. Which ultimately leads to a spiritual death that is eternal.

  • REFLECT

    What does being rich look like to you? What does being successful in life mean for you?

    If you were honest with yourself and before God, how much of that picture is about you, your desires, your future and your hopes?

    Or to put it in another way, how much of that picture is about God and your relationship with Him, His kingdom purposes on earth?

    If by the grace of God you have become more aware of the self-centred nature of your dreams, fret not and do not be in dismay. For this is why Jesus has come,

    “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

    Luke 5:31-32

    Come before the Lord, humbling yourself before Him and remember his earlier words and now take 1 step to follow Jesus this week:

    “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

reading for: Wednesday Night, 27 July

Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23

The Temporal, Paradoxical Smokey

  • READ

    What really matters in life and are we really in control of what happens in life?

    Vanity or meaningless is the word that we see appear 38 times in Ecclesiastes. Right at the start of the book, we see it start on this strong tone, “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” (v. 2)

    Although its read as vanity or meaningless in our English translations, the Hebrew word’s meaning, is actually closer to vapour or smoke. Thus depicting the temporary, fleeting nature of things, and also paradoxical. Just like how smoke seems so solid and thick, but when we try to grab it, it eludes us. And this temporal and paradoxical theme then runs through the entire book as the teacher, looks at life and how everything seems to be like smoke and a chasing after the wind.

    The first matter that the teacher looks at is everything under the sun, he does this by searching for understanding and exploring with wisdom, but in the end, he can only conclude that everything is indeed like smoke (v. 13-14). At times it seems so real and understandable, then suddenly, it seems to mysterious and un-explainable.

    Second, looking then at work, he also comes to the conclusion that everything is like smoke. On the one hand, everything seems to real and the work is so challenging and rewarding, but ultimately, a time comes when the work has to be handed off to the next generation. And it must be left to someone else, and who knows what will happen when it changes hands. Thats why, work, no matter how rewarding and how significant, is in the end like smoke. Its here one day and disappears so quickly another. (Isn’t that true when we look at businesses? How many businesses can survive more than 2 or 3 generations?)

    Third, its not just the work itself but the fruits and rewards of the work. The teacher looking at so many who have went before and they are unable to enjoy the fruit of their hard work, leaving it for others. In the end it just shows how temporal things are, and how we can anticipate wrongly that we will automatically enjoy the rewards of our hard work. (v. 22) And in the end what do they get for a lifetime of handwork? Pain, grief and restless nights (v. 23)

  • REFLECT

    In our postmodern world with great and advanced technology we tend to feel very powerful and invincible. But one thing COVID has taught us is how life can be like smoke. In other words, it isn’t as certain and controllable as we would like to think it to be. In Singapore, just when we thought COVID was becoming a new norm, we hear of news that a 18 month old and 4 year old has passed away from COVID. Monkeypox, which initially seemed like a distant, uncommon disease, has just been declared a global health emergency by the WHO. Sri Lanka is in a state of emergency, even as they just elected a new president to tackle its deep political, social, economical problems.

    If there’s any time to think about how life can seem so temporal and paradoxical like smoke, its certainly now. Are we really in control with what happens in life and what really matters? Is the work that we do, job that we have, industry we are in, salary and bonus we are looking forward to - is it really as predictable as we think it is?

    Or if we are living life and working like a “mad dog” night after night, week after week, the question for us to consider this week is - Is it really worth it? Is that pay cheque, that holiday, car, watch, bottle of liquor really worth it?

    Take a moment and allow the Spirit to challenge you and speak to the depths of your heart and life. Consider what is one thing you might do this week to respond to what He’s speaking to you about. If it is the word of God, then your obedience to respond to that 1 thing will bring life to your existence.

reading for: Thursday Night, 28 July

Colossians 3:1-11

Seeking the New Life that Matters and leaving behind death

  • READ

    What is this new life and how are we to go about living it?

    First and foremost, we must remember that we have been raised with Christ. Earlier, Paul reminded us that we have died with Christ and as a result we have been set free (2:20). And now that we have died with Christ and are given a freedom, we need to learn to set our sights on things of God (His kingdom, His country, His purposes). For that is where Christ is seated. (3:1).

    We need to learn to think about things of heaven (God), rather than things on earth. For our real life is now in Christ (3:3). If you are unsure about what the specifics of these heavenly things and things of God are, simply look at Colossians 1-2. Read and meditate on them those are the things Paul is referring to.

    But as we do that, we also need to put to death what is earthly, sexual immorality, impurity, lust and evil desires. And most definitely greed. For greed is idolatry. These were the things we did before we knew and gave our life to Jesus (v. 7).

    In addition, as people who have been raised to new life, we also need to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behaviour, slander, and dirty language (v. 8).

    Why? Because now that we have become God’s children, Christ is now in us, all of us, whatever race, gender, social background. All who have been baptised and are following Jesus, have Christ in us. (v. 11)

  • REFLECT

    What has been occupying your mind lately? Work? Challenges in the family? Boyfriend/girlfriend? Or your Instagram post/story?

    And how has occupying your mind with those things made you feel?

    Although its not wrong to be occupied thinking about these things, there is a danger of being pre-occupied by them. And by doing that, we forget about who we are, who God is and what He has done and is doing in our lives.

    The invitation from Paul is to remember that you have been raised with Christ. There is a new life, a new identity you have been given. And its important to set your minds and thoughts towards God (heavenly things). By meditating on what He has done so that we can being to see what He is doing all around us.

    Take time to re-read Colossians chapters 1-2 and if there are 1 or 2 verses that jump out at you, take the rest of the day to meditate and chew on it. Do this by trying to memorise it, or simply by repeating it several times during the day.

reading for: Friday Night, 29 July

Psalm 49:1-12

Death awaits us all, rich and poor

  • READ

    This Psalmist starts off much like how other wisdom literature starts, Ecclesiastes 1:1, Proverbs 1:1, urging us to take serious consideration to his words.

    Why? For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight. I listen carefully to many proverbs and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp (v. 3-4)

    What does he want to tell us? That death, is the final equaliser of everyone. Even and especially those who seem rich, powerful and wealthy (v. 5).

    Because as great as their wealth is, it cannot buy them an escape ticket from death (v. 7). The price is too steep and no one can afford buying life to escape death (v. 8-9).

    Those who seem wise now or wise in the world, also will die. No different from the supposed foolish and senseless (v. 10). In fact, their grave becomes their home forever. Even if they leave estates and inheritances for the generations after, its not long before its also gone (v. 12). In fact, their death is even similar to that of animals.

    Although the other parts of the Psalm isn’t included, but its appropriate that we turn to them. For the invitation to us who are poor and surrounded by the rich is to not be dismayed, for they will die like everyone before (v. 16-19).

    Yet, for those who trust in the Lord like the Psalmist, can trust that God will redeem their life. For He will snatch you from the power of the grave. (v. 15).

  • REFLECT

    If there is ever a Psalm about death, this could be it. But the context is about how both the rich and poor, wicked and evil, will all end up dead one day.

    In Luke 6:20-21, Jesus’ sermon speaks quite clearly about this,

    “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.

    God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied.”

    In our temporal time on earth, we can sometimes feel that we are in a lousier position than others who seem to be “doing so well”. Whether that be financially, career wise, health wise or even family. But the Psalmist reminds us that death, awaits us all. In fact, just as Jesus came not for the righteous but the sick who are in need of a doctor, he has also promised to bless those who are poor and hungry.

    Remember that life with Jesus, is not about being rich with money, but about being rich with God. So how rich are you with God?

Season of PentecostCNL