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How would you describe where your spiritual life and ministry is at today? Is it in pause mode? Is it in hibernate mode? Locked down mode?  Is it in TV static mode?  Jerky.  4-cylinder engine with 2 pistons running?  Are you fed up with being at that mode?   It is time to fan aflame any flickering embers, or stuttering pistons in our journey of faith.  2 Timothy is a letter from apostle Paul to his disciple Timothy who had been sent to Ephesus to help sort out some challenging issues in the churches there.  Paul had been imprisoned for preaching the Gospel and this letter is written near the end of his life under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.   We will learn some ingredients that will help us fan aflame our spiritual life from 2 Timothy 1:1-7.  Which I will call the 3 S.   2 Timothy 1:1-7 (ESV) 1  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2  To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3  I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4  As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5  I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7  for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.   SINCERE FAITH IS FOUNDATIONAL   2 Timothy 1:5 (ESV) “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”   Paul saw sincere faith in both Timothy’s mother and grandmother.  Possibly because he either personally led them to Christ in Lystra when he planted a church there in Acts 14, or because he got to know them during his trips to Lystra (also in Acts 16).  Paul pointed out that he saw the same sincere faith in Timothy.  He then wrote, “For this reason...”.  It was upon that premise that he began to challenge Timothy to fan the gift of God.  This tells us that a sincere faith is foundational for fanning aflame the gift of God.  It is the starting point.  Some important questions to ask ourselves:   What is sincere faith?   Basically, it means a genuine, authentic faith.  No hypocrisy.  The real stuff. To get to the real stuff, we have to strip away all our outer layer of Christianese.  We may not realise it but sometimes the layer can be pretty thick in our lives.   Many years ago, I was involved in a scientific project at Argyle Diamond Mine in Western Australia, which was then the world’s largest producer of diamonds by volume.  For every single tonne of ore processed, they get 0.5g of diamond or 2.5 carats. Size for a nice engagement ring.  They have to strip away all the layers of rock to find the little diamonds. It was literally finding the proverbial needle in the haystack.  What faith will we find under the layers of Christian façade?    What faith will we find under the layers of Christian façade?  For sincere faith is not based on how well we have perfected our Christian lingo. Such as “Praise the Lord, Hallelujah, God bless you brother”, etc!  It is not how conservatively well behaved we are.  It is not even whether we listen to good Christian music and have nice safe Christian tastes in clothes and accessories. It is not even measured by whether we have a deep grasp of theology and have great apologetics on why we believe and what we believe.  It is not even how much we have achieved in our ministry.  Now, there is nothing wrong with any of the above.  In fact, it would be great if you have all the above. The sincerity of our faith is measured by the commitment we have in our hearts to Christ.   But these are not the true measure of the sincerity of our faith, though they may provide some indicators.  The sincerity of our faith is measured by the commitment we have in our hearts to Christ.   My mother had gone to the Methodist Church since she was a toddler.  In fact, most of her relatives go to church, going back generations. Some of her relatives were very prominent in the church.  I just found out a few months ago that if we trace on her side of the family, from her grandfather all the way down to my generation, there are some 24 pastors, not even counting me and Lai Ling. My mother would piously go to church and pray every night!  Almost 30 years ago, I asked her how certain she was that she would go to heaven. I asked her whether she trusted in Christ to save her.  She did not know, she could not tell.  And she had been going to church for almost 60 years then. I had the privilege of leading her to Christ a few days later.  And what a difference it made to her faith until the day she went to be with the Lord.   God is very concerned about the sincerity of our faith.  Hebrews 10:22 (ESV)  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.   That brings us to the next question:   How sincere is our faith?   Once we remove all the layers, it all boils down to our relationship with God.  What is God to us and what is our commitment to Him?  I have been a Christian for over 40 years now.  I accepted Christ in 1983.  And in that time, I learnt a lot of Christianese.  You got to know a lot of these if you are going to be a pastor.  And when it comes to Christian ministry, I think I’ve got quite a lot of brownie points.    But you know what?  At the end of the day, when I come before Christ, it is about the sincerity of my faith.  Sometimes I forget, and God will remind me! Its like God will give me a slap in the face to wake me up from getting caught up in my own achievements. In God’s eyes, sincerity comes before success.    In God’s eyes, sincerity comes before success.  Luke 10:17–20 (ESV) 17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”  20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”   How sincere is our faith in Christ?  What is our heart commitment to Him? Our heart commitment can be illustrated by us letting Christ drive our car while we sit beside Him. Now how many of us have ever let someone else drive our car, we sit beside them and we discover they don’t drive it like we prefer?  We have this urge to take the car keys from then and take over the driving?   Have you ever found yourself edging Jesus out of the driver’s seat? Time to let Him back in! How sincere is your faith?  Perhaps it is time to take stock! And fan it aflame! Are we sincere enough to ask God  - what would you like me to be? And to move towards it? Are we sincere enough to ask God – what would you like me to do? And to do it? Sincere faith is foundational to having God’s gift fan aflame in our life.    Sincere faith is foundational to having God’s gift fan aflame in our life.  Get that right, and the rest comes much easier.   STIR THE GIFTEDNESS FROM GOD   2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV) “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands…”    Paul challenged Timothy to fan aflame the gift God had given to him.  Perhaps under the pressures he faced in the Ephesian church, he had been less than aflame.  What we can learn from this is:   God gives us giftedness.   God gives us natural gifts which we have to develop in our lifetime.  It may be a giftedness in music, or writing, or in speaking, analysing, in leading, etc. God also gives spiritual gifts when we first come to Christ.  These often add upon our natural giftedness.  God gives gifts along the way through prayer or impartation.  1 Timothy 4:14 (ESV) Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.   Timothy received certain spiritual gifts as a result of the elders praying over him.  Possibly this is what Paul was referring to in v6.  Paul was probably part of that eldership that prayed over him. God gives to every believer giftedness, so that we may effectively serve the church. To serve together.  To serve with your leaders. There is a minimum of one key spiritual giftedness that God has given you.    One of the keys is to recognise what God has gifted you.  It can cause a real excitement to rise up in your hearts. There is something exciting about discovering what God has gifted you!  Something special that God has especially gifted you for.  There is a minimum of one key spiritual giftedness that God has given you.  I encourage you to seek to discover it.   How do you discover it?  Perhaps God may tell us.  Sometimes you discover it as you try different things or others may discern it.  There are some assessments that help unearth it too.  In our church we encourage every member to get involved in at least one ministry.  Give it a go and you may discover your gifting.   Our responsibility is to stir it.   Romans 12:6–8 (ESV) 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. God will provide us gifts, but it is our responsibility to stir it aflame.    God will provide us gifts, but it is our responsibility to stir it aflame.  To bring it to its appropriate fruition. God gives but we need to apply it. To start using it faithfully, to learn how to use it wisely and more effectively.  To activate this giftedness, it usually requires us to apply faith.  It requires some courage, self-discipline and so forth.  Sometimes we get stuck precisely because we seem to lack some of these things.  I believe God has given me a call to lead and pastor the church.  But to do so, I had to step out in faith.   Some of you may be gifted by God to be evangelist, but if you lack the boldness to step out in the first place, your giftedness is not going to develop much.  If God has given you the gift of healing, you need to step out in faith to exercise it. Even when you don’t immediately see the results. John Wimber shared how he felt convicted to believe for the power of supernatural healing.  He started praying for lots of people.  But nothing happened for a long time.  He was so discouraged that he almost gave up.  But he persisted until finally he saw the first miraculous healing.  That finally started his healing ministry that became one of the hallmarks of his ministry.   God has given creative gifts to you.  Use it for God’s glory. Leaders, it is crucial that you learn to spot and discern giftedness and help them draw it out!  Let’s fan aflame our giftedness!    Sometimes we might find it challenging when we face difficulties, but God has provided us the answer.  God has provided His Holy Spirit.   SPIRIT TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES   2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) “…  for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”   Sometimes as we step out to serve God, we can face obstacles.  Discouragement.  Disillusionment may arise.  It is not easy.  I have had to face many challenges in my own ministry yet by the power of the Holy Spirit in me, it has helped me gain victory.   God did not give unto us a timid Holy Spirit who simply retreats into a safe shell.  No!  God’s spirit in us helps us, empowers us to overcome the challenges that we face.  In v7 alone, we discover that it is a: When we allow the Spirit of God to stir faith in our hearts, courage begins to arise.    Spirit of courage.  When we allow the Spirit of God to stir faith in our hearts, courage begins to arise.  Courage to stand tall because you have the conviction that God is backing you up.  Those who know me, know that I am generally a cautious person.  But when I am certain that God has spoken, I begin to step out with much greater boldness.   Something stirs in my heart, and I am able to say, “Let’s do it!”  Planting our church in Brisbane was very much such a courageous step of faith, birthed out of the Holy Spirit’s leading.   Spirit of power.  The Holy Spirit brings spiritual authority and power.  You may look at yourself and think that you have no power, nor authority to get things moving.  But the Holy Spirit has all the power and authority to get His agenda moving.  You just have to flow with Him.    Spirit of love.   Love is the highest and purest level of motivation.  1 Corinthians 13:1 - 3 (NIV) 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.   God desires love as a key motivation.  Sometimes we struggle with our motivation.  Let God get involved in your motivation. Let Him transform our heart motivations.  I discovered from my own experience, that I need go to God every so often and ask Him to adjust my heart.   Spirit of self-control.   Galatians 5:22–24 (ESV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.   It is when we walk more and more with the Holy Spirit, that we will find more and more of His fruit will become evident in our lives, including self-control.  The self-control we need to harness the gifts God gives and to develop in it.   The above is not a comprehensive list but to point to fact that God has actually given us what we already need to stir the gifts in our lives.  The Holy Spirit in us.  Remember how the Holy Spirit came upon Gideon in power and a nobody turned into a somebody!   That is why we need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. A major area of empowerment is to be baptised by the Holy Spirit.  Another way the Holy Spirit empowers us is through spiritual people who are available to encourage us.  Therefore, step out to support one another!  Step out to help shoulder burdens.  Let’s fan aflame together!    CONCLUSIONS   Don’t get fed up with a lack of progress in your spiritual journey but get fired-up.  Let’s make sure we have a sincere faith, looking beyond the fluff in our lives into the core of the matter.  How sincere is our heart-commitment to Christ?   Realise that God has already given you gifts, but you have to discover it and activate it by applying those gifts with faith.  That will help fan aflame your spiritual life. Recognise also that the Holy Spirit is able to provide all you need to fan aflame the gift of God.  Get together and support one another in your church, encourage one another forward in God.  A good spiritual community can help fan the flames. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

It was reported in May 2008 that man is suing JetBlue airlines for $2 million in the New York State Supreme Court.  He is suing for the extreme humiliation he suffered when he was forced to give up his seat for a sick flight attendant.  The alternate seat he was given? The toilet!   The man, Gokhan Mutlu checked in for a jetBlue 5 hour flight from San Diego to New York and was told the flight was full. Mutlu was allowed to board after a jetBlue flight attendant agreed to give up her seat and travel in an airline employee "jump seat." However, 90 minutes into the flight, the pilot told Mutlu the flight attendant was feeling uncomfortable and he would have to give up his seat and "hang out" in the bathroom for the remainder of the flight, the lawsuit said.   The pilot "became angry at his reluctance to comply" and said Mutlu "should be grateful for being onboard," the lawsuit said. When Mutlu volunteered to sit in the "jump seat," he was told it was reserved for airline personnel. At one point, the airplane experienced turbulence and Mutlu sat on the toilet seat without a seat belt, causing him "tremendous fear," the lawsuit said. The lawsuit claims JetBlue negligently endangered him by not providing him with a seat with a safety belt or harness, in violation of federal law.   We live in an era where lawsuits are common and perhaps sometimes over the board.  In fact, there is a website called overlawyerd.com that compiles lawsuits to show how ridiculous some lawsuits have become.  Nevertheless, much of the concepts of compensations do derive from the Bible. It is important to understand some important principles when injuries do happen.  From it, we can also learn a lot about taking personal responsibility for our actions.   From Exodus 21:18-36 we will highlight some key principles. I must highlight that these laws were meant to help bring fairness and consistency for the Israelite community to function while they were in the desert.  These laws were given in a context of the existing social practices.  God did not intend to radically over-turn every practice hence He allowed certain practices to continue during that time.  God just modified it to improve it.   1.  TO WHAT EXTENT ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE?   Basic principles for determining extent of responsibility   Exodus 21:26–29 (NIV) 26 “An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth. 28 “If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. 29 If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death.   Examples given here outline some key principles for determining the degree to which we are responsible for an injury.  We may conceptualise the extent of responsibility according to 3 broad categories.   Intentional.  In v26-27, the slave owner beats a slave and brings permanent injury.  Then the owner is held fully responsible for the injury.  For the owner clearly inflicted the injury by beating the slave.   Accidental.  In v28 gives an example of a bull that unexpectedly gores (pierce or stabs) someone to death.  In this incident there was no possible prior knowledge that the bull would behave in this way.  It was unexpected.  Hence, the owner will not be charged for causing death but the dangerous animal is to be put down. Note the bull’s meat is not to be eaten is a precaution against diseases such as rabies.   Negligence.  In v29 gives an example where the owner did know that the bull had a habit of goring people. The owner had been warned previously to keep it penned up because it can be a danger to others.  Yet the owner failed to do so.  If the bull does gore someone to death, then the owner is held fully responsible and face the death penalty.  This is the principle of negligence.    It refers to a criminally careless or reckless act that results in injury to others.  They should have known better. It was reasonably foreseeable.  But nothing reasonable was done to prevent the possibility of injury occurring to others.   Negligence can also occur when a person, such as doctors, owe a certain duty of care but failed to reasonably deliver it.    Taking responsibility.   Courier Mail On Aug 2008 reported that cartwheels, handstands and somersaults by children were banned at a north Queensland school last week.  Education Minister Rod Welford admitted that fear of legal action was partly behind the decision.  Nearly 100 lawsuits were filed against the State of Queensland for injuries suffered by schoolchildren in the last financial year.   One child is asking for $280,000 plus interest after she hurt herself playing tiggy (a tag chase child game) in the Bribie Island State School in 2004 when she was six. She tripped on a metal bar "comprising part of the playground equipment" during her lunchbreak. It is alleged she suffered a shortening of her right leg, disuse osteoporosis and a deformity at the neck of the right femur as a result of the fall and then inadequate medical treatment by Queensland Health.  The girl claims that she was not supervised adequately and the playground equipment was not safe.   What has happened to taking personal responsibility? God determines responsibility on the basis of how much we should reasonably have known about the consequences of our actions.   Throughout Scriptures we find that God determines responsibility on the basis of how much we should reasonably have known about the consequences of our actions. Job 4:8 (NIV) As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. Also, Psalms 126:5 (NIV) Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.   God is the ultimate judge of our actions and our responsibility. Galatians 6:7 (NIV) Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.   God holds us responsible for our response to the Gospel. John 3:16 - 18 (NIV) 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...  18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.    If we choose to believe, God will save us.  If we choose to reject, we stand condemned already.  It is our choice because of our preference. God gives us choice.  And He holds us responsible for our choices.    God gives us choice.  And He holds us responsible for our choices.  We will reap what we sow!  Unfortunately, too many people try to avoid responsibility for their actions.  “My parents made me do it.  My circumstances forced me to do it.  The Devil made me do it!  My anger, my depression, my hunger, etc.  It is everybody else but me!”  But, it was me!    Despite our shifting the blame, God knows everything and He will judge us accordingly.  In the Garden of Eden, when God confronted Adam about his sin, Adam quickly pointed the finger to Eve and said, “It was the woman you gave me!”  And Eve quickly pointed to the serpent and said, “It was the serpent you made!”  And the serpent had no one else to blame. We cannot escape God’s judgment, though we may escape men for a while.    We cannot escape God’s judgment, though we may escape men for a while.  2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.   If we sin, we better genuinely repent before God! Also, until and unless we take proper responsibility, we will never begin to address the problem properly.  Perhaps if we have a smoking or drug addiction, we could blame work, spouse, stress but until we take ownership, we will not address our problems.   On the other hand, there are some things we should not take full responsibility for.  Sometimes we torture ourselves by blaming ourselves for things that we are not really responsible.  For example, when driving your car, your tyre blew up because there was a small sharp object on the road.  Your car swerved uncontrollably and smashed into a pedestrian who became paralysed for life.  Should you blame yourself and feel guilty for the rest of your life?  No. It was not your fault. We should be willing to take responsibility and know what to take responsibility for.   We should be willing to take responsibility and know what to take responsibility for.     2.  TO WHAT EXTENT WAS LOSS SUFFERED?   Basic principles to determine loss   What is loss?  Loss is the state or feeling of grief when deprived of someone, or something of value. The Scriptural examples provide for us aspects to consider types of loss a person can suffer.   Exodus 21:18–19 (NIV) 18 “If people quarrel and one person hits another with a stone or with their fist and the victim does not die but is confined to bed, 19 the one who struck the blow will not be held liable if the other can get up and walk around outside with a staff; however, the guilty party must pay the injured person for any loss of time and see that the victim is completely healed.   Loss of productive time or income (v18-19).  The injured person suffers loss because he is not able to work.    Exodus 21:20 (NIV)  “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, 21 but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.   Loss of life (v20). If someone is killed, then the wrongdoer must face the consequences.  A loss of life affects the family and possibly the broader community. When an army man dies in war for his country, the Australian Government compensation is paid to his wife and family because there is great loss.  While we can still legitimately claim our ‘right’ for compensation, we can also respond like Jesus in the matter.  When Jesus was crucified, He did not seek compensation.   While we can still legitimately claim our ‘right’ for compensation, we can also respond like Jesus in the matter.  When Jesus was crucified, He did not seek compensation.  Luke 23:34 (NIV) Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”   A member from one of our centres tragically lost her parents in a car accident, due to negligent driving from a young girl. She wrote a heartfelt letter to the judge, police and girl responsible to express her forgiving the girl. Many months later the police let the young girl go free without even a fine.    This may seem unfair, and you are right.   This is an act of grace (unmerited favour).  Was it fair that the Son of God be butchered by his own creation? The answer is clearly no, it is not fair.  Some “rights” are not worth claiming.  We can leave it to the Lord to judge.  Sometimes man’s judgements seem unfair when some seems to get away with it.  We can take comfort in Romans 12:19 (NIV) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.    We should entrust it to God. He is able to deal with matters with grace, justice and wisdom, far better than we could ever deal with it.   Exodus 21:23-27 (NIV) 22 “If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. 23 But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. 26 “An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. 27 And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.   Loss of function of body (v22-27) When a person loses some body function, whether a limb or other part, it can have devastating effects.  Perhaps they will not be able to perform their work or live life normally.   Exodus 21:33–34 (NIV) 33 “If anyone uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, 34 the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange.   Loss of resources (v33-34) such as livestock. If someone hits a taxi, not only does he ought to pay for the damage, but also for the loss of income when the taxi is off the road.   Becoming aware of loss inflicted. As a community we must take responsibility not just for ourselves but also how our actions affect others. As a community we must take responsibility not just for ourselves but also how our actions affect others. Especially when it causes loss. Usually, our society is preoccupied with how other people’s actions affect us.  But as Christians let us operate God’s way. Turn the world’s way around.  Be more concerned about how our actions affect other people!  Be more considerate.   If I am mean to others, how will it affect them? If I am negligent, how does that affect people around me? If I am forgetful how does that affect people around me? What if as Christians we go beyond what the law teaches and get to the heartbeat?  Out of genuine love for people? To care for people around us?   3.  TO WHAT EXTENT SHOULD YOU COMPENSATE?   There are some crazy compensations awarded to people today by the courts. In Lancaster, Pasadena, USA, Jeffrey Klein and Brett Birdwell were 17 “when they trespassed onto railroad property and climbed atop a rail car” because they wanted to see the view from there. They were electrocuted by a 12,500-volt wire and apparently severely injured. Their attorney said the railroads (Amtrak and Norfolk Southern) should have posted signs for the benefit of trespassers warning of the overhead hazard and also should have had the electricity turned off at the time.   Did they get anything? They were awarded US$24.2 million. How severe were their injuries? Birdwell, who was awarded $6.8 million, had his injuries miraculously improve enough to join the Army in Afghanistan.   Basic principles to determine compensation   3 basic principles in determining compensation.  Extent which a person is responsible, the extent of actual loss suffered or will be suffered and the appropriate compensation for the loss. There are 3 basic principles in determining compensation.  Extent which a person is responsible, the extent of actual loss suffered or will be suffered and the appropriate compensation for the loss.   Exodus 21:35–36 (NIV) 35 “If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. 36 However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.   In v35-36 we see these various elements being put into consideration.  In v35, we find extent of loss: a bull.  Extent of responsibility: the owner of the bull is not charged for negligence for the actions of his bull, yet is held partially responsible.  Extent of compensation?  Sell the live bull and split the money between both parties.   In v36, it makes it clear that if the bull has a known habit of goring, then the owner is held fully responsible for the loss suffered.  Because it is negligence.  So the owner is to pay fully for the loss of an animal.   Exodus 21:29–32 (NIV) 29 If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. 30 However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded. 31 This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. 32 If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death.   In v29-31, if the owner’s bull kills a person, the owner is punishable by death.  But if payment is acceptable, the owner may redeem his life by making an acceptable payment.   In the case of the slave of v32, we may ask why a price of 30 shekels was set?  The value of 30 shekels is not easy to define.  Some believe it may be worth as much as a year’s wages.  Joseph was sold for 20 shekels (Genesis 37:28).  Jesus was betrayed for a princely sum of 30 silver shekels (Matthew 26:15).   Hence it is likely that the sum was set to 30 shekels, to ensure a slave is not under-valued but in fact to ensure a reasonable minimum for compensation.   Indeed, v26-27 tells us that if an owner inflicts permanent damage upon a slave, such as knocking out a tooth – the slave must be set free.  In v20, if an owner kills a slave, then the owner must face punishment too.  This gives protection and value to the slave.  In the surrounding culture of the time, that would be radical.   Making up for the loss suffered. God’s principle is if we cause injury, we must compensate for the loss in some reasonable way. God’s principle is simply this.  If we cause injury, we must compensate for the loss in some reasonable way. Every person is valuable. If we cause them injury and hamper their ability to function as they should or they go backwards in some way, let us do it God’s way.  Take responsibility to correct the situation as much as we can.   Compensation is not always in monetary terms.  Sometimes it requires a simple yet genuine apology.  Perhaps if we injured some one’s feeling’s, like our wife – bring flowers!? Perhaps it requires giving of our time and energy to correct the situation.   When one of our leaders was shooting a short film about stones, an opal shop owner kindly lent her some valuable opals.  He also explained they were of great personal value to himself.  Despite being careful with the gems, someone stole them from her bag when she was not looking.  Although the police said it was not her fault, she personally had nonetheless decided to compensate the shop owner the full costs. She prayed to the Lord almost all night and got others to pray also because she would have struggled to pay the full compensation. Thank God after much prayer for the conviction of the Holy Spirit and some police work, the thief returned the stones.   Too many people are disconnected from a sense of responsibility today.  By requiring them to be personally involved in the compensation will help them gain a deeper sense of the loss they caused.  Hence, the compensation can also serve as a deterrent to future negligence or intentional harm.  If they vandalise a building, they should do community work, cleaning up graffiti or helping to rebuild buildings.  They are to repair the damage done.   If they drive recklessly, they should do community work such as assisting injured people.  If someone did harm, they have to help bring restoration of some kind.  This is the concept of restorative justice.   Have we brought injury to anyone?  Did we injure them physically, emotionally or mentally?  Did we cause loss to what they owned?  What have we done to compensate for it?  God expects us to do the right thing.  As Christians are we motivated by God’s law to compensate people around us or by Christ to love those around us? Let us operate on the higher law of love.   CONCLUSION   For a community to function properly there must be a well-developed sense of responsibility. Especially when we have cause injury or loss to others. Let us develop a clear sense of the extent of our responsibilities and make compensations appropriate to the extent of loss caused.   Let us be a righteous people that make just compensations.  Let us be loving people and take care not to bring harm to others. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

Have you ever wished you were rich?  If only we had a fat bank account?  That we could walk into a department store and buy stuff without even looking at the price tag?   There are numerous people who dream of becoming rich.  There are get quick rich programs that says, “Be a Millionaire before 30”.  My Dad said that the closest he ever got was to have a millionaire . And to own a Mercedes, even though it was a second hand 20 year-old car!    There is so much out there that urges us to get rich, invest into all kinds of wealth generating schemes, etc.  And it can all be so tempting.  But what does the Bible have to say about all this?  So today we will put Wealth In Its Proper Place.   As we examine the Scriptures, we find 1 Timothy 6:17-19 addressing the issue of wealth.  1 Timothy 6:17–19 (NIV)  17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.   The city of Ephesus was a centre of commerce.  It was a prosperous city and there were some wealthy members in the church.  The instructions given in Scripture to them are instructive to us as well today.  Let us look at some of these principles.   HOPE NOT IN WEALTH   Scriptures puts it very clearly – do not put our hope in wealth.  Why?   Wealth is uncertain   1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV)   Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain…   Scriptures throw a very different light on wealth. For material wealth is a temporal asset.  It will come and go. Proverbs 11:28 (NIV) Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.  Proverbs 23:4 - 5 (NIV) 4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. 5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.   There will be those who race up the mountain of wealth and seem to bask in the limelight, but soon they fade away.  Eddy Groves was the founder and CEO of ABC Learning, once one of Australia’s largest companies and one of the world’s biggest childcare providers.  The company was worth $2.5 billion at one point making him one of the richest man in Australia. He lived a lavish lifestyle and was known as “Fast Eddie”.  He even bought the Brisbane Bullets basketball team and made them a successful team. But in 2008, everything fell apart.  ABC Learning went into bankruptcy with debts exceeding $1 billion and Eddy Groves lost almost everything.  He was pursued in court over many millions of debt.  It was then revealed that his marriage to his wife was a sham for business reasons.  They had actually separated in 1998 but never made it known until last year. Australia has a whole list of people who became incredibly successful and almost disgustingly rich, only to fall into hard times.  The disgraced Alan Bond and Christopher Skase were the most well-known in Australia.   Even though the wealthy and famous may be admired, often their personal lives are in disarray.  Wealth does not guarantee us happiness nor peace in our hearts.  Eddy Groves with his sham of a marriage, Tiger Woods with his broken marriage.   In fact, often wealth can create incredible stress. There was an interview at 96.5FM, where a young man was once a very successful marketing manager at Harvey Norman.  He was instrumental in marketing of the Computing Division at Harvey Norman.  He helped grow the company from scratch to a highly successful, multi-million division.  He had a wonderful reputation.  Then one day his wife gave him a short business proposition.  Quit his job or be divorced.  His success was limited to only one facet of his life while he was failing in his family life.     Those who place their hope in wealth will be greatly disappointed.   Beware arrogance of wealth   1 Timothy 6:17 also warned the wealthy not to be arrogant.  Why this warning to the wealthy? No doubt, those who have worked hard and grew wealthy often did this through hard work and by having insightful business acumen.  Through smart business deals, wisely reading the sign of the times, by building strong business relationships and so forth.  No doubt, evidence of wisdom.   Yet what does the Bible have to say?  The Scriptures gave a warning to a wealthy man in Ezekiel 28:2 - 5 (NIV)  2“Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.”  But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. 3 Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you? 4 By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. 5 By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud. We can become rich because of natural wisdom.  But natural wisdom can lead us down the path of pride.   This ruler had great skills, wisdom and understanding!  He became exceedingly wealthy.  And he became exceedingly proud!  There is a difference between natural wisdom and godly wisdom.  We can become rich because of natural wisdom.  But natural wisdom can lead us down the path of pride, where we may begin to think too highly of ourselves. Proverbs 28:11 (NIV) A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.   A poor man with discernment sees an arrogant man, not a wise man.  One danger of having built our wealth is that we may begin to think too highly of ourselves. I am not saying only the wealthy face this problem.  Many other people can become proud.  But for the rich, this is a particularly strong danger.  If we have been fortunate to be wealthy or to become wealthy one day, it would be good to remember to keep humble before God!   For some of us perhaps not being wealthy may be a blessing. Otherwise we may easily become arrogant! Though some of us may wish, can we just be a little rich?   HOPE IN GOD   1 Timothy 6:17b (NIV) “...but to put their hope in God...”   The Scriptures urge us not to put our hope in wealth, but to place our hope in God.  We are to take our focus away from wealth and towards God!  Why?   God has the final say, not wealth.   Luke 12:16 - 21 (NIV) 16And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  17He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  19And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”  Wealth is like a painkiller, it can help dull the pain of sin but it is no cure.    Wealth is no saviour, it saves no one.  Only God can.  Wealth is like a painkiller, it can help dull the pain of sin but it is no cure.  In fact, it often hides the fact there is a serious problem.  Wealth is no panacea, but in fact may be a drug.  On the other hand, God loves us enough to want to help us deal with our root problem.  And that is sin.  God is faithful and will not let us down, if we would trust in Him.    God provides generously   1 Timothy 6:17c (NIV) “...who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”   When we pursue after God first, rather than wealth – it does not mean we become poor and destitute because we run away from wealth.  The Bible never speaks about fleeing from wealth.  It speaks about feeling idolatry, sexual immorality, wicked deeds, greed, but never wealth. It is ok to be wealthy and God does bless some of His people to be wealthy.   For some of us, God probably knows better that we should not be wealthy – otherwise we may become proud, etc.  But nevertheless, when we walk with God properly, we will experience God’s blessings.  For God will provide generously.  God wants us to be able to enjoy the fruits of our labour. Isaiah 65:22 (NIV) ...For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the works of their hands.   God knows what we need.  He will provide as we seek Him first. Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.    It is fine to be wealthy, but make sure it is never at the expense of our focus on God.   BRING HOPE WITH WEALTH   Be good stewards of wealth   1 Timothy 6:18 (NIV)   Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. The rich are to be commanded to be rich in good deeds.   The rich are to be commanded to be rich in good deeds.  They are to make use of their wealth generously to bless others.  Why?  Because we must understand that we are merely stewards of all we have.  You see, God owns everything. Psalms 24:1 (NIV)  The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;   Everything we have comes from God, our giftedness, even our personality comes from God.  James 1:17 (NIV) Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights...    God has allowed, even blessed some of us to gain wealth.  But we should understand that we are called to be stewards of all that we have.  That we may use it wisely for His glory and for His kingdom. 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.      For example, the parable of Matthew 25:15 tells us different servants being given different amounts of talent.  One is given 5 talents, another 2 and another 1.  When the master returned, he expected each to have been faithful with these talents.  The one with 5 gained 5 more and was rewarded by the master.  The one with 2 gained 2 more and was rewarded as well.  When we are faithful stewards, God is pleased and reward us.  Hence, should we have wealth, we should be wise stewards and use it wisely to be a blessing to others.  Be generous to help. God will not measure how much wealth you generated.  But how much of your wealth did you use faithfully to bring glory to God.   In the end, God will not measure how much wealth you generated.  But how much of your wealth did you use faithfully to bring glory to God.  I believe that God wants to bring wealthy Christians together to strategically make an impact for His Kingdom.  If God has given you funds, perhaps you can consider how to strategically sow it in the Kingdom.   Sow to build people’s lives.  Perhaps to encourage different ones to grow in God’s Word.  Helping fund them for conferences.  Perhaps to help certain ministries – helping them to purchase equipment or fund them to get training. Perhaps fund different community projects that help the needy.   Seek eternal treasure   1 Timothy 6:19 (NIV) In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Put priority into building their treasures in heaven, more than treasures on earth.    The Scriptures urge the wealthy to put priority into building their treasures in heaven, more than treasures on earth. For the treasures in heaven is eternal.  Matthew 6:19 - 21 (NIV) 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   It is far more important to build treasures that last, than treasures that are fleeting, quickly gone.  I rather be a poor man on earth and a rich man in God, than a rich man on earth who is poor in God!  There will be many today who are not wealthy on earth, but wait till they get to heaven.  God will roll out the red carpet for some of them.  The angels will give them a celebrity treatment.  They will cheer them on as they walk past the pearly gates.  They will be awarded the Heavenly Oscar awards for Best Giver, Best Steward, Best Builder of the Kingdom.  Perhaps an award for being the Richest Poor Believer.   When we do what is right before God.  When we bless others.  When we do good deeds, God will give a tick! You gain heavenly brownie points!   CONCLUSIONS   Wealth must be put in its proper place.  Wealth can be a curse if approached wrongly.  It can be a blessing if approach God’s way.  Wealth when properly used for God’s Kingdom can be a blessing to many.  Most importantly, build treasures in heaven first rather than on earth. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

What is your relationship to New Year resolution? Wonderful? Bittersweet?  Love-hate?  Indifferent?  Or as my daughter said, “Why wait till the New Year?”  Obviously, my daughter is into goal-setting and resolutions.   Many people make New Year resolutions.  Like I will exercise more and lose weight.  I will be nicer to my family or colleagues. I will spend less and save more! And most people get off to a decent start, until the second week!    Sometimes the same can happen to believers too.  In terms of their Christian faith. In this article I will look into keeping true to our Christian faith.  Many people start out well, or at least enthusiastically with some noble aims.  But how well do we end the race?   So how do we keep true to our Christian faith?  What are some aspects that we should keep in mind?  What are some aspects in our hearts that we should look out for? Let me suggest some areas to consider by examining 1 Timothy 6:11-16.   1 Timothy 6:11–16 (NIV)  11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.   BE KNOWN BY WHAT YOU FLEE FROM   1 Timothy 6:11a (NIV) ‘But you, man of God, flee from all this...” There are things to fight for and there are things to flee from, as a man of God. We do not run because we are fearful.  But because we are wise to protect ourselves.    Apostle Paul urged Timothy to flee from the sins of the unrighteous.  There are things to fight for and there are things to flee from, as a man of God. It is not being a coward to flee from certain things.  There needs to be wisdom to discern between battles that we should fight for and battles we should flee from.  We do not run because we are fearful.  But because we are wise to protect ourselves.    We should not be embarrassed by the fact that there are certain things we avoid.  Some people think it is a sign of cowardice or weakness to step away from something.  That is how some people are taunted into doing something they later regret.  “Are you afraid?  Are you a chicken?”  Consider these wise thoughts.   “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”, Alexander Pope.    Proverbs 14:16 (NIV) A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hot-headed and reckless.   In the Australian Black Saturday bushfires of 7th February 2009 in the state of Victoria, 450,000 hectares of land were burned. A total of 173 people died and 414 were injured. Over 1 million domesticated and wild animals were lost.  Wind speeds reached over 120km/h and fuelled a massive fire front destroying over 2000 houses and damaged thousands more.  In the face of such a fire, it would be folly to try to fight it head on.  It is wiser to flee to protect ourselves.   Sometimes it is a reflection of greater wisdom and greater strength to step away from something. The Bible is very clear that there are unrighteous things that we should flee from.  To keep well away from.  We should not imagine that we can keep walking along the cliff, looking down into the abyss of unrighteousness and think that we will not tip over.  The slightest error of judgment, the slightest gust of wind, the slightest misstep and we fall headlong into it.   We should not imagine that we are so strong that we can surround ourselves amongst temptations and not fall eventually.  It is like choosing to live amongst patients infected with the worst contagious diseases known to mankind and thinking we will not get infected.  Flee says the Bible, from unrighteousness!  Keep it as far away from our hearts as we know how.   The immediate link to this verse in v9-11, is the preceding problem of greed that has snared many.  We are to flee from greed.  Financial success can be a wonderful thing and there is nothing wrong to have wealth.  But should our hearts become infected with greed, then it will lead to great problems.   There are also several things the Bible clearly states we should flee from.  1 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV) Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.  1 Corinthians 10:14 (NIV) Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.  2 Timothy 2:22 (NIV) Flee the evil desires of youth...   Sexual immorality, idolatry, youthful lust and other such behaviours will ensnare us on a downward path of destruction.  That is why the Bible warns us strongly. Are you known to be someone to keeps well away from such things?  Are you making sure that you are not entangled in such compromises?  Are we in situations right now that we should flee from? Keep true.  Keep away from unrighteousness.   BE KNOWN FOR WHAT YOU PURSUE AFTER   1 Tim 6:11b (NIV) “...pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” We should be known even more for what we pursue after, rather than what we flee from.    We should be known even more for what we pursue after, rather than what we flee from.  Would you rather be known for outrunning the Black Saturday bushfires or for outrunning Usain Bolt, the world champion runner for 100 and 200m? Not many will remember you for the first because you were fleeing.  But many will remember you for the second because you were pursuing.  Hopefully what you pursue after will be well known because it reflects your passion.  Because it is inspirational!  Perhaps you can be a legend! Righteousness is about right behaviour before God while godliness is about right character before God.   The Bible urges us to pursue after things which are virtuous, of eternal value.  Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness are some of these.  Righteousness is about right behaviour before God while godliness is about right character before God, ie god-likeness.  Godliness will be evidenced by righteousness.   There was a season of 15 months which was an extremely challenging time for me.  It drove me to evaluate what I stood for.  I have been fortunate to experience many successes.  Yet as I evaluated myself before God, my conviction is that righteousness and godliness is far more important than success before man.  It is success before God that is most important. God challenged my wife and I to stand rightly before Him.  Pursuing success before man could have been an easier option, but not a route I want to take.  I don’t want to appear before God with my successes and when God puts it to the test, it all burns up!  To keep to my convictions, I had to make tough decisions.  I had to stand up for righteousness.  I had to put many cherished things I had worked so hard for years on the line.  And I am so glad I stood up for righteousness.  God proved Himself faithful.  I hope one day I will be known for pursuing righteousness and godliness.  That my convictions were to maintain integrity before man and God.   Billy Graham, in his younger days was tall, charismatic, dashing evangelist.  Even Hollywood and political parties tried to woo him to join them.  But he turned them down because he would not divert from God’s call upon his life!  Despite being the most influential evangelist ever, he only received a modest salary all his ministry.  He pursued after the call of God upon his life with dedication and sacrifice.  He fled from greed and unrighteousness.  These virtues the Bible talks about are not gained easily nor is it maintained easily.  Maintaining spiritual virtues and godly character requires focus, consistent spiritual disciplines and exercise.    If we are to maintain our muscle tone, we need to be involved in consistent exercise that stretches our muscles.  If we fail to maintain regular exercise, our muscles start to lose their tone.  Eventually we start to lose muscle mass and it starts being replaced by fat.  In the same way, maintaining spiritual virtues and godly character requires focus, consistent spiritual disciplines and exercise.  That is why we are urged to pursue!  It requires some effort, some determination and some discipline.  Even courage.  God is there with us.  God is backing us.  God provides us all that we need to pursue these virtues.  God provides His grace to do so.  We just have to apply it.   What are we pursuing after in our lives?  Are we pursuing career, success, relationships?  And there is nothing wrong in pursuing some aspects of these.  Yet the greater thing to pursue after are eternal things.  And God will bless us in return.  Proverbs 21:21 (NIV) He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.   Why don’t we consider this year to pursue more diligently what is virtuous before God, those of eternal value.  Make it one of our New Year resolutions! Keep true.  Keep pursuing godly virtues!   BE KNOWN FOR WHAT YOU FIGHT FOR   1 Tim 6:12 (NIV) “Fight the good fight of the faith.”   Now it is interesting that the NIV translates this in the same way as in 1 Tim 1:18. However, the Greek is quite different.  That is not to mean the translation is incorrect.  Just that the nuance is different.  In this verse it is actually agōnizomai kalos agon pistis . From agonizomai is derived the English word agonize.  Really the word means to contend but more in terms of an athlete. Contend for the noble contention of faith.  While in 1:18 it is actually strateuomai kalos strateia .  War a good warfare.   In this verse Apostle Paul was likely instructing Timothy firstly, to contend for his faith personally in terms of maintaining purity of faith and practise as we see in v11. Secondly, Paul was also reminding him to fight for the integrity of the Christian faith.  Remember that at that time there were false teachers who had made significant inroads in the Ephesians church and Timothy was to deal with the false teachers as well as all the problems that they had caused in perverting the Christian faith.   While v11b urges us to pursue after virtuous behaviour and character, aspects that characterise who we are, v12 urges us to fight for the faith.  I wish to focus on the second aspect today.  Fight for the Christian faith that it will not be compromised by false teaching, not diluted by luke-warmness, not sidelined by apathy amongst believers,   As God’s people, we should contend for the faith.  We should fight for the Christian faith that it will not be compromised by false teaching, not diluted by luke-warmness, not sidelined by apathy amongst believers, that souls be damned because the church cannot get its act together.   When I watch the greenies fight for climate change, when I read about the exploits of the Greenpeace International or the Sea Shepherd Society as they fight against the whaling industry – I admire their passion and dedication.  Though I don’t share their perspectives.   As Christians, we have a far more important fight on our hands.  A fight that has eternal outcomes.  It is crucial that Christians fight to maintain the purity of our faith.  That we fight against the Devil’s attempts to muzzle the church and to sideline it.  That we fight to bring the Good News in a way that is relevant to all kinds of people in this city and beyond.  That we fight the spiritual warfare against the kingdom of darkness that seeks to destroy lives of many through all kinds of perversions.   Ephesians 6:11 - 12 (NIV) 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.    We cannot stop while there are still so many without Christ.  2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV) For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all...    Many godly men who were greatly used of God had such deep convictions.  William Booth, founder of Salvation Army was asked by the king of England what was the ruling force of his life.  “Sir, some men’s passion is for gold, other men’s passions is for fame.  But my passion is for souls.”  George Whitefield, one of the greatest evangelists in the 18th century saw many tens of thousands of people come to Christ. `Lord, give me souls or take my soul.’   Let us be known for what we fight for!  A worthy cause.  An eternal cause!  Keep true.  Keep fighting the fight for the faith!   BE KNOWN FOR WHOM YOU ARE FAITHFUL TO   1 Tim 6:13-16 (NIV)  13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.   Apostle Paul rounded up his charge to Timothy before God.  Why?  Because Paul knew that Timothy’s heart was to be faithful to God.  That was why Paul referred to Christ’s example, who was faithful in everything including His confession of His heavenly Kingdom to Pilate. Paul charged Timothy to keep to God’s commands without spot or blemish until Jesus returned.  In the same way, will we continue to be faithful to Christ until the very end?  Just as Paul was able to say in 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.    I have passed the half-way mark.  I still have a long way to go. My heart is that at the end of my days, when I go to heaven, I will meet God and He will say, “My good and faithful servant!”  Why so?  Because He is the giver of eternal life to us.  Because He is the Ruler, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Because he is the eternal and majestic God who lives in unapproachable light!  He is the Almighty God. There is no person more worthy than God to whom we should be faithful.    There is no person more worthy than God to whom we should be faithful. He is truly deserving of my honour and truly deserving of my faithfulness. At the end of my days, I want to be known to be faithful to at least 2 key persons in my life.  My wife and my God.  So let’s keep true.  Keep faithful to God.   CONCLUSIONS   Let us keep true to God.  By fleeing from unrighteousness.  By pursuing after godly virtues.  By fighting for the faith.  By being faithful to God. Copyright©️2025 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

In the famous cartoon strip Calvin & Hobbs, young Calvin once made a dazzling observation, “I’m always right and everybody else is wrong! What’s to argue about?”  Calvin is so arrogant, isn’t he?   Have you ever been around contentious people?  They seem to be constantly stirring up controversy or disputes.  In fact, they seem to even enjoy it.  But perhaps if we look at ourselves.  Could we be a bit contentious?  Might we be considered contentious to others?   In 1 Timothy 6:3-5 we learn about a group of people who are contentious and have caused many problems in the Ephesian church.  These false teachers stirred up contention in the church.  Here, Apostle Paul was giving some instructions to Timothy on dealing with them.  From this passage, I unpack 4Cs that characterise a contentious person.   CONCEITED   1 Timothy 6:3–4a (NIV) 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing.   Apostle Paul was referring to false teachers who were creating issues in the church with their unhealthy and controversial teachings.  Instead of sticking with sound and godly doctrines, they preferred to stir up controversy from obscure or irrelevant details by making a lot out of little.  1 Timothy 1:3 - 4 (NIV) 3... command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer  4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith.    Paul identifies a key attitude in these teachers that has fuelled their contentious behaviour.  It is conceit.  An egotistical, arrogant attitude.  What they had was …   An over-rated sense of self-importance   Simon the Sorcerer was such a person. Simon thought a world of himself because he could do some things that others could not.  But, God thought very little of him.  Acts 8:9 (NIV) Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great… Those who are conceited are blinded to their pride and arrogance.   Paul was referring to those proud of their own importance or knowledge.  They place their own interpretations and views of Scriptures above what the Scriptures actually teach.    Often those who are conceited are blinded to their pride and arrogance.  They do not see it.  As far as they are concerned, they deserve to be where they are because of their giftedness or greater knowledge.  Proverbs 12:15 (NIV)  The way of a fool seems right to him...   But in reality, their boasts are often empty.   2 Peter 2:18 (NIV) For they mouth empty, boastful words...   Do you know what the irony is? The sad irony is that actually ...   They understand nothing   The conceited become so self-absorbed that they can't recognize the truth, losing themselves in their own misguided perceptions. The conceited become so self-absorbed that they can't recognize the truth, losing themselves in their own misguided perceptions.  They know a lot, but understood nothing.  Romans 1:22 (NIV) Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools...    Due to their attitude, the arrogant dismiss anything that does not align with their viewpoint. Like a huge filter, only certain things can get through.  Facts that support their perspective!  In my time as a research scientist, I encountered a number of huge egos.  Some scientists even created their own scientific journals so that they can promote their own theories more! And they condescendingly reject other theories that contradict theirs.  The result?  Incorrect conclusions due to selective facts.   Sadly, when I analyse what has happened in certain segments of Christendom, I see it happening too where certain leaders and scholars have huge filters.  Consequently, they filter out anything that does not fit their perspectives. I have come across many websites that major on criticising others for any doctrine or practise that does not fit theirs.    Some shoot down ministers like Reinhard Bonnke because he emphasizes on signs and wonders.  They are all out to find fault simply because they do not believe in the power of the Holy Spirit moving to heal people today.  They claim that Reinhard Bonnke is false because less than half the people who thought they were healed actually were! Even if it was half, it in an incredible number of healings!   Some others criticise Rick Warren and Bill Hybels because they are too pragmatic in growing the church.  Some criticise Billy Graham because he is willing to work with the Catholic Church.  Instead of being willing to learn more or to investigate deeper in an honest way, whether there is some truth in what others are saying or experiencing, they simply write others off. And they do this, they claim, to protect the church.  They have closed their minds to some things the Scriptures have to say and rejected it.   We should examine our own hearts to see if there is conceit.  Do we have an over-rated sense of self-importance?  We think we are always right, or almost always?  It is like those who think with self-confessed humility, “I am more than willing to admit I am wrong, just that I am never wrong!”   Do we have a rigid perspective in our hearts and write off everything else or anybody who has a different view?  Without seriously attempting to understand their point of view?  If so, perhaps we are having some conceit in our own hearts.  What then is needed?   Humility is needed   Humility is the antidote to conceit. Humility is the antidote to conceit.  Humility begins when we begin to realise that there is much we do not know nor understand.  Humility begins when we recognise we need God.  When we begin to humble ourselves, God begins to guide us. Psalms 25:9 (NIV) He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.   God will bless the humble.  James 4:6 (NIV)  “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Let us be humble and find the grace of God.   CHAFING   1 Tim 6:4b (NIV)  “They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions…”   Chafing means to be abrasive.  These contentious people had an unhealthy interest in anything that stirs up contention.  They pick fights over small matters.  They are constantly causing friction with others.  Like sandpaper rubbing against everybody.  What is the Bible’s view?  Proverbs 20:3 (NIV) It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.   Why does this happen?  Because they believe they are right.  Contentious people refuse to accept different perspectives.  They go to great lengths to prove themselves right. Even if it means getting into an argument with others.  They are not that concerned whether it causes others to get upset, as long as they win their case. It is a really matter of, “If I feel good, that is good enough!”   Once in CSIRO, I was involved in a meeting where a number of scientists were discussing a certain project.  A certain scientist began to strongly put forth his view in a long-winded way.  And when anyone else tried to interject or interrupt, he simply raised his voice loudly and drowned the others out! No one could get a word in until he was finished! What low Emotional Quotient!   As God’s people we should not be abrasive, rubbing people the wrong way. It is important that we love people enough to desire to be sensitive to their feelings.  We may be right about something, but we should not step over people’s feelings to prove it!   Just because we are right does not make the means right! 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) “ Love is patient, love is kind”. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) “Be kind and compassionate to one another...”   The more we mature in Christ, the more we mature spiritually, we should love others more.  Loving more means to become more kind.  Part of being be kind is to be sensitive to other’s needs.  To be aware when we may be rubbing people the wrong way.  It means developing our EQ at least to a reasonable level so we do not be abrasive.  In fact, we should learn to smooth things over.  Those who do so are called peace-makers.  Matthew 5:9 (NIV) Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.   Peacemakers are valued by God because they bring peace, reconciliation, rather than disputes, quarrels and division. Why not seek to be a peace-maker?   CORRUPTED   1 Tim 6:5a (NIV) “... and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth...” False teachers have been corrupted in their minds. They replace the real Truth with a shiny imitation they proclaim to be “truth” – which they peddle to others.   These false teachers have been corrupted in their minds.  They have been deceived.  Truth has been taken from them.  Because they lack truth, they make up their own truth.  They replace the real Truth with a shiny imitation they proclaim to be “truth” – which they peddle to others. They claim to have knowledge and wisdom.  Yet as stated in  James 3:15 (NIV) Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.    Their knowledge and wisdom has been distorted.  They have built up a huge storehouse of distorted information and perspectives.  The atheists have done that, surrounding themselves which distorted information so they can reinforce their stance.  They get caught in many idle notions and speculations. Colossians 2:18 (NIV) Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.    In the church in Colossae, there were false teachers who encouraged the worship of angels. Apparently, the archangel Michael was worshipped in Asia Minor even until AD 739. There are people who go into great details about the visions they saw or experienced. They get so caught up with such things which are but a minor aspect of the Christian faith. It could go something like this, “I saw an angel and his wings look like an eagle’s!  Perhaps eagles and angels are related.  Did you realise that both words have 5 letters, and they share almost all the same letters except for one?”   The Scriptures warn us that those who choose not to acknowledge God will eventually end up with a depraved or corrupt mind. Romans 1:28 (NIV) Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.    This happens because they lose all bearings to understanding Truth.  They just keep going around in circles.  If we want to find our bearings, we need to go to God.  Only God has the absolutes.  Only God has the Truth.  Only God can get us out of our confused state.  But we have to be humble to receive God’s truth.  Humility opens our hearts to learn.    Anne Rice, was a famous author for vampires stories. She has sold over 100 million books making her one of the most widely read authors.  She wrote Vampire Chronicles which included Interview with a Vampire, Queen of the Damned which were made into movies. She had a Catholic upbringing but totally rejected it in her late teens and became an atheist.  In 1998, she turned around and returned to Catholicism.  She then wrote 2 novels about the life of Christ.   Let us keep our hearts open, so that we may learn more of God’s truth.   COVETOUS   1 Tim 6:5b (NIV) “...and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” To the covetous teachers, godliness is a means to tap into the gullible religious desires of various followers.    The false teachers also had an added interest to make financial gain from their version of godliness.  To them, godliness is not about becoming more like God in character.  For it is not their genuine intent.  To the covetous teachers, godliness is a means to tap into the gullible religious desires of various followers.  Like some yogi that teach their philosophy of life and the thereafter and made millions.  Their concern is for personal gain.  Whether it be a name for themselves or financial gain.  Like Balaam in 2 Peter 2:15 (NIV)  They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.    Hence, they will fight furiously, they will contend furiously against anything that they perceive may reduce their personal gain. Thus, I am very cautious when I see a Christian leader make lots of money out of their ministry and keep it for themselves. God calls us to be sacrificial, to be giving for the cause of the Gospel.  When we give out of our hearts, we will receive due rewards in heaven.    CONCLUSIONS   Could we be conceited? So certain about our perspectives and readily rejecting other perspectives without honestly and seriously considering other viewpoints?   Could we be chafing others?  So strident in defense of our opinions, so aggressive in proving our views right that we ignore the feelings of others?   Could we possibly be corrupted? Could we possibly have been so focussed on our own version of truth that we have missed the real Truth?   Could we possibly be covetous? That we have allowed personal gain to muddy the waters of pursuing godliness?   Beware lest any of the above puts us on the path of being contemptibly contentious. Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

This article concludes the article series Relationships Commandments.  In the first article, we showed how the loving God fulfils the first 4 commandments in Exodus 20.  Today we will show how loving your neighbour fulfils the rest.  Jesus had tied these 2 together as the greatest commandments in Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV) 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”   In this article we will unpack the significance and implications of the 6 commandments on how we love our neighbours.   THE PLACE OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS   Before we proceed further to examine how the remaining 10 commandments relate to our loving others, it is important to explain the relevance of the 10 Commandments to us Christ-followers today. For the Mosaic Laws including the 10 Commandments are applicable only to the Jews. One reason is that the Mosaic Law is like a marriage covenant made between God and the Israelites. A careful study of Scripture reveals that.  Not to Gentiles, not to Christians.   Another reason is because the 10 commandments and the rest of the Mosaic Laws are an inseparable unit.  This unity is evident by noticing that the 10 commandments are expanded upon within the rest of the civil and ceremonial laws. We cannot adequately understand the 10 commandments without studying the rest of those laws.  The 10 commandments are like an executive summary of the Mosaic Law.  In other words, we cannot separate the 10 commandments from the rest of the Mosaic Laws.   The 10 commandments are like an executive summary of the Mosaic Law.  In other words, we cannot separate the 10 commandments from the rest of the Mosaic Laws, as some scholars have attempted to.  If we believe that the 10 commandments still apply, then so must the rest of the Mosaic Laws.   There are further reasons why we should not be obligated to the Mosaic Laws, including the 10 Commandments.  I explained that in much greater detail in my articles on Refuting Christian Sabbath Teachings Parts 1 and 2. The 10 commandments reveal eternal principles and standards behind these laws.   Since the Mosaic Laws do not apply to us, does this mean we can ignore the 10 commandments?  No. Because the 10 commandments reveal eternal principles and standards behind these laws.  A much fuller explanation of this concept is found in another article Covenant in the Bible (Part 6): How The Old Became New. God’s eternal principles never change. God is immutable, unchanging.  His principles never change. While his application of rules and regulations can change according to the context of the people He is dealing with and His purposes.   God’s eternal principles still apply to us today.  In fact, God’s eternal principles often set a higher standard than that required by the Mosaic Law. Matthew 5:21-22 (NIV) 21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.   The difference is the Mosaic Law set a legalistic standard which no man can fully keep.  But God’s New Covenant provides grace to move towards a higher standard, motivated by love.  God helps us!  Further, the 10 commandments are convenient to refer to due to its compactness when attempting to express something about God’s standards.   We will examine the remaining 6 commandments and discover some of the eternal principle behind it to understand what God desires in our attitudes and actions – when we love our neighbours.   GIVE DUE HONOUR   Exodus 20:12 (NIV)  Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. To give that respect and honour to authority is a reflection of our respect for God’s authority.   The Scriptures teach that we should honour all those in positions of authority.  This includes institutional, governmental, spiritual and parental.  The principle is the same.  Authority is to be respected, honoured and obeyed.  Because to give that respect and honour to authority is a reflection of our respect for God’s authority. Romans 13:1 (NIV) Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Our respect for parental authority often sets the tone for our response to all other authorities.   Parents are given particular emphasis because it is the first authority we come under and a life-long one.  Our respect for parental authority often sets the tone for our response to all other authorities.  Further, our relationship with God is described most vividly, amongst several imageries, as that of a child to a father.  Hence, the importance of our respect towards our parents.   In fact, this is the first and only commandment that directly comes with a promised blessing. Ephesians 6:2 (NIV) “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise.  This is why parents should teach children from young, to respect and honour them.   To deliberately and blatantly dishonour our parents is deserving of death in the Mosaic Laws. Exodus 21:17 (NIV) “Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.” Also in Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (NIV).  If we still follow the 10 Commandments we should put to death any person who dishonours their parents.  That may mean a significant chunk of the population of Australia. Fortunately, we don’t follow the command but the principles behind it.    Scriptures teach that we should give honour to all in authority, even if they are doing a terrible job because we respect the office.  Indeed, the Scriptures teach that if they do a good job we should give them more honour.  1 Timothy 5:17 (NIV) The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.    This Scriptures highlights a number of key principles in giving extra honour.  Consider the quality of their work when giving extra honour.  Consider the nature of their responsibility, those who responsibility is greater or more influential, and consequently weightier on their shoulders, should be given more honour. Loving others involve consideration of their authority roles and giving them appropriate honour.    Loving others involve consideration of their authority roles and giving them appropriate honour.  For it shows our esteem of them.  It shows that we love them for who they are, for their responsibilities and for their faithfulness in carrying it out.  In Australia, our society is very egalitarian/classless and do not appreciate nor esteem roles of authority sufficiently.  The church can lead the way forward by showing by our example.    VALUE SANCTITY OF LIFE   Exodus 20:13 (NIV)  “You shall not murder.    You shall not rasah The Hebrew word used in rasah which can mean murder, slay or kill.  However, in the context of the 10 Commandments, most scholars agree that it is best translated as murder.  Rather than the too-general “kill” as used by KJV.  That is why most newer translations, including the NKJV uses “murder”. God clearly differentiates between accidentally killing someone, negligently killing someone and deliberately killing someone.    But what does rasah actually mean? The actual scope of this word and hence commandment has to be understood within the context of God’s commands in the Mosaic Law.  Without the rest of the Mosaic Law we would not understand the scope of this commandment.  Scriptures shows that God clearly differentiates between accidentally killing someone, negligently killing someone and deliberately killing someone.  The last is today known as murder while the other 2 are known as manslaughter.   God deals with murder, the deliberate intent to take a life because of malice, with the most severe penalty. Exodus 21:14 (NIV) But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death.  (see also Exodus 21:12, 14-17, Numbers 35:20-21).    God distinguishes that from accidentally taking a life where protection is offered. Exodus 21:13 (NIV) However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate.  (see Num 35:22-25).   On the other hand, if death is caused by negligence then the person is fully responsible and also faces he most severe punishment.  Exodus 21:29 (NIV) If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull must be stoned and the owner also must be put to death.    The difference between all the above is motive.  Murder is due to malice.  Negligence is due to “I don’t care if it hurts anyone.” Accidental is due to not having reasonable knowledge. Those of us who have some familiarity with the Commonwealth law can immediately see the same principles behind our laws.  For much of our laws were based on Judeo-Christian concepts in the past. There are other forms of killing which are legitimate, such as during war or in carrying out the death penalty, but I will not go into the intricacies of these today.   What is the true intent behind this commandment?   You shall value life   It is about the sanctity of life.  Scriptures teach that human life is valuable.  For life is given by God. Man should not take matters into his own hands to take away life. Human life is incredibly valuable not because of our inherent value but because of the value God places on human life. Psalms 8:4 - 6 (NIV) 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:   Abortion is choice for the mother, but leaves no choice for a helpless human life.   Nowadays, people are often valued in economic terms.  Actually, that de-values human life into dollars and cents.  Scripture lays the foundation of understanding that if we love others, we will value their right to life. We will not treat their life lightly but give it due respect. That is why God considers abortion a blatant disregard for human life if it is done in order to provide choice, avoid responsibility or embarrassment for the mother, in contrast to saving a mother’s life.  That is why abortion falls under “you shall not rasah”. Abortion is choice for the mother, but leaves no choice for a helpless human life.   A professor at the UCLA Medical School asked his students this question: "Here is the family history: The father has syphilis. The mother has TB. They already have had four children. The first is blind. The second had died. The third is deaf. The fourth has TB. The mother is pregnant. The parents are willing to have an abortion if you decide they should. What do you think?" Most of the students decided on abortion. "Congratulations," said the professor. "You have just murdered Beethoven!"   Nothing is so final as murder, even when it is done very early in a life.  Terence Patterson   Chances of your being killed by terrorists overseas: 1 in 650,000  Chances of your being aborted if you are in the womb of an American woman: 1 in 3.3. -- What Are the Chances? by Bernard Siskin (Crown, 1989); U.S. Today, 1/26/89.  Leadership, Vol. 10, no. 4.   Let us value human life.   RESPECT BIBLICAL RELATIONSHIPS   Exodus 20:14 (NIV)  “You shall not commit adultery.   Why did the commandment not state, “You shall not commit sexual immorality?” After all, adultery is a sexual sin??  There is a difference!  What is the nature of adultery? It is the breaking of a covenant between a husband and a wife to maintain faithfulness to one another.  Adultery damages the relationship between a husband and wife.  It also damages the family.  So is this commandment about sexual sin?  It is, but more, it is about respecting relationships that are important to God.   If we love our neighbour, we will not damage their marriage relationship.  And for the same reason, we will not damage their relationships even with others.  Whether it be with family, friends or colleagues. Instead, we will respect it and seek to nurture healthy relationships.   Does this mean we respect and nurture all kinds of relationships?  No.  The Scriptures is clear that there are certain kinds of relationships that God is not pleased with.  Adulterous relationships, sexually immoral relationships, incestuous relationship, homosexual relationships, paedophilic relationships, bestiality (man and animal).  Any kind of unnatural relationships, we cannot condone. We are to respect any relationship which falls within what the Scriptures condone.    We are to respect any relationship which falls within what the Scriptures condone.  That is why I said “biblical relationships” to mean relationships acceptable to God.  In Hope Church, we support all the married couples and families.  Their marriages are important.  Their relationships with their families are important.  That is why in our church, we do all we can to offer support, whether through spiritual or practical means.  Because we respect and value all biblical relationships.   RESPECT OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY   Exodus 20:15, 17 (NIV) 15 “You shall not steal. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”   This commandment is about respecting the property of others. Hence, we should not rob someone of what is theirs. When someone is robbed it hurts them.  Hence if we truly love others, we will never do that to them. Stealing anything hurts the human spirit and brings separation between God and ourselves.  For stealing is against God’s very nature.   This Commandment applies to even the smallest things. Stealing anything hurts the human spirit and brings separation between God and ourselves. For stealing is against God’s very nature. John 10:10 (NIV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”  God’s way is to give rather than take!   We should not even covet someone else’s property. To covet is to desire to have the possessions of others. It goes beyond simply admiring someone else’s possessions or thinking, “I’d like to have one of those”.   Covetousness springs from a selfish nature. Because a man is selfish, he covets. Because he covets, he steals, lies, commits adultery, murders and disregards others. Jesus said in Luke 12:15 (NIV) "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consist not in the abundance of the things which he possesses"    Sometimes, we may spend our lives comparing ourselves to others as we covet what they have. Yet, God knows that possessions never make anyone happy of long. Only God can supply all our needs, true contentment is found only in Him.  Let us maintain our contentment in God who will bring eternal rewards, rather than covet and steal from others which brings no rewards but judgment.   VALUE OTHER’S REPUTATION   Exodus 20:16 (NIV)  “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.   To give false testimony is to tell untruths, lies about someone else. To do so is to injure the reputation of someone. To do so is to destroy someone’s good name is as if the person has been attacked maliciously.  It can be a very painful experience.  It is as if we have plunged a dagger in the person’s heart.   Colossians 3:8 (NIV) But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.    Slander is saying unkind, malicious things about others.  Usually it is distorted truths, half-lies.  Slander is like attempting murder with words.  Gossip is like negligently killing someone.   Gossip too is sin because it is passing on unpleasant information about others, without care about their reputation. Passing on to people who cannot help at all.  Gossip is like negligently killing someone. If we love others, we would respect their reputation and not tarnish it.  In God’s family, we must not have slander and gossip.  Instead let us speak words of affirmation, life, encouragement and seek to build others up in the Lord!  Church would be a safe place.   CONCLUSION   Let us love our neighbours.  Give them due honour.  Value the sanctity of their life.  Respect their relationships that are acceptable to God.  Value their property and their reputation. Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

One day, my friend's daughter, Britney, came up to her and said, "Mom, I know that Jesus lives inside my heart. But how do I tell him I love him? Do you think if I write 'I love you' on a piece of paper and eat it, he'll get the note?" [Donna Hutchinson, Today's Christian Woman]   Do we love Jesus enough to eat a piece of paper?  How much do we love God?  How do we know?  How important is our relationship with God?  Today we will address some of these questions through this passage in Exodus 20:1-11   Most people approach the 10 commandments and the rest of the Mosaic Laws as exactly that – commandments.  Commandments to be obeyed, rules to be followed.  Like traffic laws. But when Jesus came, he shocked everybody by giving it a totally different perspective. Matthew 22:35-40 (NIV) 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.  39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”   What are the two greatest commandments about?  It is about loving God and loving others. Instead of rules and regulations, Jesus lifted it to a higher level. Showing it is about the quality of our relationship with God and the quality of our relationship with others.   In our 2-part series on Relationships Commandments, we will look at the first part of the 10 commandments, the first 4 commandments and begin to understand its implications in our relationships.  This first article will focus on The Epicentre of All Relationships.    GOD SHOULD BE CENTRAL TO OUR RELATIONSHIPS   Exodus 20:1–2 (NIV) And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”   Before God gave the first commandment, He reminded the Israelites that He is the “Lord your God”. Not just God, but your God.  A personal God.  It reveals God seeks to have a relationship with us.  God invites us to relate with Him.  It was God who took the initiative to bring us into a commitment with Him.   Consider how significant our relationship with God should be.  What did Jesus say in Matthew 22:37-38?  Loving God was the first, the greatest, the most important relationship we could ever have!  Loving God captures the essence behind the first 4 commandments. In fact, if we truly love God, we will fulfil the first 4 commandments! The Greatest first commandment without the second is incomplete.  The second without the first loses its bearings.   When we examine Matthew 22:34-40 do you realise that the expert of the law asked for the greatest commandment? Yet Jesus gave also the second greatest commandment.  When He was not asked for it?  Why?  Because both are inter-related.  The Greatest first commandment without the second is incomplete.  The second without the first loses its bearings.   For the way we relate with God affects the way we relate with others.  The quality of our relationship with God determines the quality of our relationship with others.  Why?  It is like a compass of our lives.  A compass must be calibrated so that it points to true north.  Once that is accurate, the rest of the directions on the compass will be accurate.  But if a compass does not get its true north correct, every other direction will be misaligned. Our relationship with God is the epicentre of all our relationships. The shockwaves from our relationship with God impacts our relationships with others.   Get your vertical relationship with God right, and you begin to get horizontal relationships around you into proper perspective.  That is why the next greatest commandment is about relationships, relationships with others.  The second greatest commandment cannot come before the greatest.  That would put it the wrong way around. Hence, our relationship with God is the epicentre of all our relationships. It is central, it is the focal point.  Just like an earthquake has an epicentre, so all our relationships has an epicentre.  The shockwaves from our relationship with God impacts our relationships with others.   Saul’s deteriorating relationship with God led to deteriorating relationship with others, notably with David and even his own son Jonathan. Those that have no relationship with God, will find all their relationships distorted.  Those who have minimal relationship with God will find minimal improvements in their relationships.   When we truly experience God’s mercy upon our lives and understand its significance, it will motivate us to show mercy to others – God’s way. Luke 6:36 (NIV) Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.  We are enabled to be merciful because we experience God’s mercy to us.   On the evening of April 25, 1958, a young Korean exchange student in the University of Pennsylvania, left his flat and went to post a letter to his parents. He stepped into the path of eleven leather-jacketed teenage boys. Without a word they attacked him, beating him with a blackjack, a lead pipe and with their shoes and fists. Later, police found him dead in the gutter. All Philadelphia cried out for vengeance. The district attorney secured legal authority to try the boys as adults so that those found guilty could be given the death penalty. Then a letter arrived from Korea. It was signed by the parents and by twenty other relatives of the murdered boy.    "Our family has met together and we have decided to petition that the most generous treatment possible within the laws of your government be given to those who have committed this criminal action. In order to give evidence of our sincere hope contained in this petition, we have decided to save money to start a fund to be used for the religious, educational, vocational, and social guidance of the boys when they are released. We have dared to express our hope with a spirit received from the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ who died for our sins." [A. Leonard Griffith, Beneath the Cross of Jesus.]   We learn to love others because of our relationship with the God of love. Having experienced true love, we begin to genuinely love others. 1 John 4:7-8 (NIV) 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.    Our relationship with God is central to all our relationships. Get the vertical right and eventually the horizontal will be right! The question is this: what are we doing about it?    WE SHOULD PRIORITISE GOD AS CENTRAL   Exodus 20:3–6 (NIV) 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.   In what ways is God to be central in our relationships?  The commandments help us understand what is required.   Love God foremost (v6) “…of those who love me…”   In Matthew 22:37, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV) Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.    It means to love God with all that we are.  Every fibre of our being. Even when the hair drops off our head, it should cry out, “I love God!” That is loving God foremost!  Only by loving God foremost can He be placed in the centre of our lives. If we love anything more, then that is at the centre of our lives.  It could be love for fame, wealth, power, or even for ourselves. Let’s beware.   Apostle Paul’s love for God was so great that he wanted to go all the way in following Christ. Philippians 3:10 (NIV) I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  When we love God foremost, it would be obvious in most things we do.   French illustrator/painter Gustave Dore (1832-1883), one of the patron saints of the DreamWorks team, was handed a painting of Jesus just finished by one of his students. Asked for his critique, Dore studied it, his mind searching for the right words. At last he handed it back to the student. "If you loved him more," he said, "you would have painted him better." When we love God foremost, it would be obvious in most things we do.   Before I married Lai Ling, I told her that she can only be the second greatest love of my life.  For God will be my greatest love. My life and ministry is an outworking of my love for God! I wasn’t always like this – I too had my struggles to love God foremost. But as I gradually gave my heart over to Him and as I experienced more of Him, I grew to love God more and more!   You too can journey to the point where God is your foremost beloved! You must see the importance and the urgency.  Cry out to God and He will help you!   No other competition (v3) “You shall have no other gods before me.” God is number one and the only one.   What is the first commandment saying?  You shall have no other gods before me. Is that referring to some linear sequence of priority? Does that mean God is first then we can have some other gods second, or third?  In the NIV footnote is says “besides”. Exodus 20:23 (NIV) “Do not make any gods to be alongside me...”  We are not to have any other god besides or alongside Jehovah!  No second or third!  God is number one and the only one.  Nothing else! Anything we worship is an idol.  Anything we cannot let go of is an idol!   God warned the Israelites in v4-5a that we are not to make idols of any kind nor to worship them.  What does this mean to us today?  It means we are not to let anything in our life to take on a status of a god or idol in our life. Even if it is second to God. Is our spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend an idol in our lives?  Is our job or accomplishments an idol in our lives?  Are our dreams or desires an idol? Anything we worship is an idol.  Anything we cannot let go of is an idol!   I have determined that I will not allow anything to become an idol in my life.  I have to be ruthless with myself so as not to allow such thing to take root. Jesus highlighted this principle when He taught in Luke 16:13 (NIV) “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” By money Jesus was referring to greed.   Why can’t we love God and be greedy at the same time?  Or even God first and have greed second?  Just a little greed!?  Because both are in opposition.  As long as we nurture greed, it will eventually seek to dethrone God from our lives.  There will be continual conflict! Yet sometimes, we go to God and bargain for a little idol in our life.  God, I will love and serve you IF you would let me marry this person, or have this job or win lottery or keep this hobby!   When you marry a girl, do you tell her that you love her the most and that there is another girl you love too, just not as much as her? I love Lai Ling and no other woman. The only 3 other women in my life that I love are my mom, my sister and my daughter.   Is there anything competing for your affection against God?  V5 declares that God is a “jealous God”.  It is not a jealousy in the sense of envy or because God feels threaten.  God is jealous to protect us from idolatry that will destroy us. Let God be central in our hearts. Love Him with all our heart.   TREAT GOD AS CENTRAL   Exodus 20:7–11 (NIV) 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.   When we put God in the centre of our lives, in the centre of our relationships – it becomes evident in a number of key areas by our actions and attitudes.    By honouring God (v7) “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God…”   The third commandment commands that God’s name must never be used in vain, as a swear word! It is not to be treated with disrespect.  It is meant to convey that God’s name should be honoured, for this honours God.   When we truly put God in the centre of our lives, we will honour God in everything we do.  Be careful not to merely honour God on the outside while our hearts are not sincere.  Like when we open up a chocolate wrapping to find out it is not as the cover states?  Consider this: Do we seek to give Him glory or do we take it for ourselves?  Lucifer started to flirt with taking glory due to God and ended up wanting it all for himself.    When we serve God, especially in up front ministry – give the glory to God where it is due. Jesus said in John 7:18 (NIV) He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.   Billy Graham was a man who kept himself humble and gave glory to God in everything he did.  He honoured God by being faithful to God’s call upon his life.  He did not hype up his ministry.  He did not take advantage for personal gain.  His concern was God’s purposes.  That honours God. And God used him mightily.  As a preacher I spend many hours to prepare the best sermon I reasonably can.  Yet many times, I feel inadequately prepared.  But God comes and lifts the whole standard and impact of the sermon. I know when God helps me. So I honour God by giving thanks to God. I must not take the glory! When our focus is to honour God, it will keep us on the right track.    When our focus is to honour God, it will keep us on the right track.  Let us choose to honour God in everything we do!   By keeping His commands (v8-11) “Remember the Sabbath by keeping it holy.”   The fourth commandment basically instructs us to obey God’s commands about the Sabbath. We will not explain the whole purpose of Sabbath and its implications here.  Do refer to my articles expounding the proper significance of Sabbath and address some errors in understanding it [Refuting Christan Sabbath Teachings Parts 1 and 2].  The main principle is to keep God’s Word.  Jesus said in John 14:15 (NIV) “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” Jesus made it clear that if we truly love God, we will obey Him.   Our obedience is a measure of our love for God. It is an outcome of a conscious decision because we trust Him enough and care enough about His desires to want to carry it out.  Often when someone dies, the family will try their best to carry out the deceased’s last instructions.  Why?  Because of their love for the deceased.  Further, the more we relate with God, the more confident we are in obeying Him even in the most challenging circumstances. Because we trust Him more! By the grace of God, we can keep His Word!   CONCLUSION   The Koh-i-noor diamond is among the most spectacular in the world. Queen Victoria received it as a gift from a maharajah when he was a lad. Later as a grown man this maharajah visited Queen Victoria again. He requested that the stone be brought from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace. The maharajah took the diamond and, kneeling before the Queen, gave it back to her, saying, "Your Majesty, I gave this jewel when I was a child, too young to know what I was doing. I want to give it to you again in the fullness of my strength, with all of my heart and affection, and gratitude, now and forever, fully realizing all that I do."   As we come to a deeper understanding of what it means to love God, let us go to Him and seek to grow deeper in that love.  Ask God to give us power to love Him with all our heart!  And if we truly love God, we will keep the principles embodied by the first 4 commandments. We will not have any other gods or idols before God.  We would not worship any other thing.  We would give honour to God.  We will keep God’s Word. Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

In the movie “The Devil Wore Prada”, Meryl Streep plays Miranda Priestly, a ruthless editor-in-chief for a famous fashion magazine. Priestley makes the job for her new assistant Andrea, played by Anne Hathaway, a hell of a job!  She makes some impossible demands upon the new assistant.  And Andrea begins to realise that the job millions of girls would die for might just kill her.   Have we ever faced difficult employers or superiors?  Have we ever felt our superior deserves our bad attitude?  As Christians, we need the right theology of work.  To understand that work was created by God for our good.  And as part of that, the employee-employer relationship is very important.   In the time of Apostle Paul and Timothy, slavery was an integral part of the Greco-Roman society.  Slaves were the employees who worked for their wealthy masters.  It was a key part of employment framework in those times.  The economic structure of the Roman Empire depended on it. Most of the seasonal work and part-time labour were done by hired day labourers. While much of the permanent employment were by slaves who functioned as household managers, cooks, cleaners, artisans, teachers and many became almost like family. The system was not perfect and open to abuse.    It is interesting to note that the Old and New Testament never forbade slavery but carefully guarded the rights of slaves.  No Jewish slave could be held more than 6 years unless they choose to remain voluntarily.  They were not to be abused. They had religious, civil rights and even economic rights. Clearly, Jewish slaves had far more protection than the Gentile slaves.   Although slavery is not practised in civilised nations today, the principles involved still relevant to how we respond to our employers.  We examine 3 key principles involved in giving respect to our employers from this passage.   CONSIDER EMPLOYERS WORTHY   1 Timothy 6:1–2 (NIV) All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect… It is not a question of whether masters behaved in a way worthy but for the slaves to consider their masters worthy.   This verse encourages all Christian slaves to consider their masters worthy of full respect.  It is important to note that it is not a question of whether masters behaved in a way worthy but for the slaves to consider their masters worthy.  It is not conditional upon their masters’ behaviour.  But what if they were incompetent?  Or unjust?  Or unkind or unreasonable? What a radical expectation of attitude.  Why is this so?   Because of the principle of authority The position of authority of a master or employer or supervisor should be respected.    The master of the slave is in a position of authority over the slave.  Purely on that basis, they should be respected.  Just as the office of a spiritual leader as in any leadership should be respected.  Similarly, the position of authority of a master or employer or supervisor should be respected.  Romans 13:1 - 2 (NIV) 1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.    God instituted authority.  Authority is a Kingdom principle.  Without authority and respect for authority there would be chaos.  When we rebel against authority it breaks down the principle of authority and leads to many problems.  Imagine if we do not obey the police man.  If we ignore traffic signs?  If we pooh pooh the laws of the country?  What if your employer or supervisor does not treat you well? What if your boss was like Miranda Priestly in the movie “The Devil Wore Prada”?  Who simply makes your job unattainable or almost unbearable?   1 Peter 2:18 - 20 (NIV) 18 Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.  19 For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.  20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.    What a challenging word!  Regardless of how our employers treat us, we should still give them respect because of their authority. Even if we suffer unjustly, we should behave righteously, that is commendable before God. So if our employer does not treat us well?  Well, you could quit and leave the job.  Or you could pray about it and see whether God has higher purposes for you to remain there.  Perhaps the difficulties could teach you some valuable lessons or perhaps God may wish you to accomplish something there despite the opposition. But no matter which option we choose, we should continue to treat them with respect.   Now I am not suggesting we simply be mats for people to step all over us and wipe their feet upon.  There is a place to stand up against unjust treatment.  Yet it should always be done with respect for authority.  That is a topic for another occasion.   Because it returns blessings   When we give proper respect to our employers or those in authority over us, it helps them feel more comfortable with us.  They feel assured that we are not attempting to work against them or make things difficult.  As employees, we should aim to be an asset to our employer.  That is, we aim to make things work better for our employers. Sometimes, we may want things to work better but the way we bring it up can seem like we are working cross purposes to our superiors.     Consider an example where our superior wants to implement something that we think is not that good an idea. Some will simply say: “It is a bad idea.  It will not work well at all.  That it will waste resource and time.”  That will probably not go down well.  Instead, we could offer it in a form of a suggestion. “I think you have identified a great objective.  Do you think that if we tried tweaking the approach, it would improve our effectiveness?”   “To gain respect – first give it”.  Anonymous.   When our approach is to add helpful suggestions in a helpful way, rather than in an unhelpful way – it will be better appreciated.  When they are assurance that we respect them and want to be an asset, they tend to treat us better.  “To gain respect – first give it”.  Anonymous.   Further, when our attitude is to work with them, things tend to flow smoother and things get done better.  Perhaps we may discover that what they wanted may be better overall after all.  The Bible records the story of Joseph sold to be a slave. Genesis 39:2 - 4 (NIV) 2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.  3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.  When we give respect as we should before God, we will be blessed.    Joseph could have been bitter, upset with his lot in life and be a grumpy and unhelpful slave.  Yet Joseph gave respect to his master and did his best.  And God blessed him greatly.  When we give respect as we should before God, we will be blessed.    TO HONOUR GOD   1 Timothy 6:1–2 (NIV) All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.   Another reason for giving respect to our employers is because it honours God.   Because God requires it “...God’s name and our teaching...”   As mentioned earlier, God instructs through His Scriptures to honour those in authority.  When we persist to honour those in authority, despite huge challenges, it ultimately reveals our deep convictions to honour God and to keep to biblical principles.   In the story of Joseph we see the depth of his convictions.  Genesis 39:19 - 20 (NIV) 19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger.  20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.  Determining to honour those in authority reflect the convictions by which we honour God.   Though Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of wrongdoing and Joseph’s master did him wrong by not checking the story, Joseph did not accuse his former master of wrong doing. Determining to honour those in authority reflect the convictions by which we honour God.   It aids our witness “...will not be slandered.”   If we are disrespectful to our superiors, to others, it will not gain us respect.  In fact, others may think, “And he claims to be a Christian!” But when employees behave with integrity, with respect in their workplaces – it eventually gains them respect. Titus 2:9-10 (NIV) 9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,  10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. Do not under-estimate the impact upon observers of the respect we show to others.    When we approach our workplace, our employers and our colleagues with an attitude that communicates respect and value of others, people will take notice. When I was a research scientist, my supervisor had a number of inadequacies as a manager that brought about some level of frustration amongst my colleagues. When the opportunity arose for them to vent their frustrations, they were surprised that I refused to do so. Instead I spoke truthfully yet graciously about my supervisors limitations. It won me some begrudging respect. Do not under-estimate the impact upon observers of the respect we show to others.    DON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EMPLOYERS   1 Timothy 6:2 (NIV) Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.   The Scriptures urges Christian slaves not to take advantage of believing masters.  For Christian masters should treat their slaves better and not be harsh (Col 4:1, Eph 6:9).  This led some slaves to think they can take advantage of their master’s kindness and be slack.  The principle here is: We should not take advantage of our employer’s kindness, graciousness or even slackness.  We should put in a decent day’s work for our employer.    Our attitudes should be:   Serve, as unto God.   Indeed, our attitude should be that we are working for God, rather than man. Ephesians 6:5 - 8 (NIV) 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.  6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.  7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. Serve because we desire to please God, who is also expecting a good outcome from our work.   Col 3:22-25 states a similar principle. What an incredible perspective!  We work diligently not so much because our employer requires a good output from us.  Serve because we desire to please God, who is also expecting a good outcome from our work. God is our ultimate Master and all we do should be firstly unto God   For God is our ultimate Master and all we do should be firstly unto God. And because God sees everything, including our hearts – that is why we should work wholeheartedly in our jobs, doing the best we can.  For God does not like lazy workers.   Michael Michelangelo painted 1100m2 of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel from 1508-1512.  When he was painstakingly painting an obscure portion of the ceiling, someone asked him why he bothered since no one can see it.  He answered, “God can see it.”.  Michelangelo painted in honour of God.  We should all resolve to carry out our work as unto God Himself!   Serve to be a blessing.   The passage urged the believing slaves who serve under believing master – to serve them even better.  After all, if our services brought blessings to fellow believers it benefits the Kingdom of God more.  For that reason, we should make sure we be a blessing to fellow believers even more!    Imagine if we worked in the family business.  If we worked extra hard, the extra profits flow into the family business which ultimately benefits the family more.  In the same way, when we bless our fellow believers – it ends up blessing the house of God more!   CONCLUSIONS   God wants us to treat people rightly.  One key group is our employers or superiors.  We should treat them rightly, giving them due respect.  We should consider them worthy of respect simply because of the authority that they hold.    We should respect them because by doing so we ultimately honour God and it helps our witnesses to our workmates.  We should also not take advantage of our employers but give unto them a decent day’s work since our attitude is that we are doing this for God. Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

Does God determine every detail of His creation, making sure that everything that ever happens is precisely according to His pre-determined plan? Does God micro-manage everything in order to maintain sovereignty? Or does God approach His creation in a different way?  Where God is willing, even intentional to delegate His purposes, authority and powers?  The route that God takes has profound implications on how we follow God and walk in His purposes.   As we study Exodus 18:13-27, we discover the principle of delegation clearly expressed by Jethro.  This principle of delegation, if properly understood from Scripture can give us a glimpse about the way God operates.  We will show biblically why God delegates and how this passage reveals principles of divine delegation.  It also gives us insight into why we too should practise the principle of delegation.  We will expound 4 insights from this passage.   DELEGATION IS DIVINE   Exodus 18:17-19 (NIV)  17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.   Jethro understood clearly the principle of delegation is of God and urged Moses to delegate his authority and function. Jethro affirmed that Moses must be the people’s representative to God and went on to outline how Moses had to delegate to others to fulfil his role.  This is a crucial concept to get right.  Moses would not be able to fulfil his role unless he delegated.  It is just as critical for us to realise that it was a role that God in fact delegated to Moses as well.  Hence, delegation is a divine principle.    On what biblical basis do we know delegation is divine?   God delegates   As we study Scriptures, we discover the principle of delegation is demonstrated by God’s actions.   From the beginning, God delegated to man the mandate and authority to rule over planet earth in Genesis 1:28 (NIV)  ... fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Basically, God delegated to man, saying, “You are in-charge.”   An example is seen in Genesis 2:19 where God delegated the right to identify or name every animal to Adam.  Genesis 2:19 (NIV)  “…He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.”  In other words, God entrusted to Adam and Eve the right to give names to animals and God accepted whatever names they came up with.  I suggest that God enjoyed seeing what they would come up with.  Like a father enjoying and even marvelling at watching his children come up with new ideas, enjoying their creativity.     Jesus delegated to the Church the Great Commission of making disciples in every nation (Matthew 28:18-20).  Imagine the fate of souls has been given to the hands of the Church! For the Church is to bring the Gospel to them. At the same time, God delegates to His Church authority and power through the Holy Spirit to carry out the task.  Such a crucial task and yet God delegated it to the Church.    God delegated to governments the authority to govern for its citizens and to protect its citizens.  Romans 13:1 (NIV)  “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.” In other words, all authorities that exist have been established by God. Even though many of these authorities eventually did not govern as they should.  Yet God delegated authority, despite knowing many will fail to dispense of it in a godly manner.   God delegated to parents to care for their family and nurture their children.   God delegated to church leaders to lead the church and watch over the members. Hebrews 13:17 (NIV)  Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Generic delegation is an automatic delegation to all with authority roles.  We must also understand there are different types of delegation.  All the above, I describe as generic delegation.  It is a delegation to all of mankind, to all governments, to all parents, to all church leaders and so forth. It is an automatic delegation to all with authority roles. Specific delegation is to undertake a certain task or responsibility, usually for a certain period of time. There is another type of delegation that I describe as specific delegation.  A delegation to specific person or beings is to undertake a certain task or responsibility, usually for a certain period of time.   God delegated to His angels to be specific messengers like archangel Gabriel who appeared to Mary to proclaim that she will be with child Jesus.  Some angels are delegated to destroy. Some bring healing or comfort.  Some protect such as the archangel Michael who is the protector over Israel. Some even to investigate like in Sodom and Gomorrah. God has delegated many key responsibilities and tasks to angels to undertake.  God also delegated spiritual leadership such as to Moses, Joshua, Paul, etc. This is specific delegation.  God does delegate some of His anointing or miraculous power to certain individuals. I believe that God does delegate some of His anointing or miraculous power to certain individuals. This anointing can sometimes reside even in their bodies for a while.  Like in 2 King 13:21 (NIV)  “Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.”  Consider this.  Who made the choice to revive the dead man?  Not the burial team.  Not the dead man.  Not Elisha.  Nobody prayed for the dead man.  Nobody exercised faith. Obviously, God allowed it to happen. But did God intentionally desire to revive the dead man through such a means?  To do it through such a means would be controversial and likely to arouse superstitious approach to miracles.  I submit that God allowed it because some measure of divine anointing still remained in Elisha’s dead body.  God chose not to intervene to remove the residue anointing because He had poured it unto Elisha’s physical body.    This can explain why some misuse these powers and anointing at times. The prophet Balaam misused his prophetic gifting. Some contemporary healing evangelists, apostles, prophets and other ministries did misuse their anointing.  God eventually removed their powers or even removed them. To God there is no difference between natural and supernatural authority/anointing that He has delegated.   Many Christians arbitrarily separate natural and supernatural authority.  If a Christian leader wrongly uses their authority, they argue it is due to the leader’s sin or lack of wisdom.  If a Christian leader wrongly uses a supernatural anointing, they get confused.  Why would God do an evil thing?  As if the supernatural act had to be a divine act alone.  But it is not God’s responsibility since it is the person’s responsibility to wisely use the authority/anointing God has delegated.  To God there is no difference between natural and supernatural authority/anointing that He has delegated.       The divine delegation can be time-specific, or function-specific or conditional.  That is not unusual because we do this in society as well all the time.  Next time, as you read the Scriptures, put on the spectacles of delegation and you will be amazed at how much evidence there is of God’s delegation.   Sovereignly delegated.  God is always sovereign, even when He delegates. We must understand that God is always sovereign, even when He delegates. Some think that if God delegates, He loses control of the situation.  That is never so for God always remains sovereign.  Scripture helps us to understand that God delegates because He wants to.  Yet He selects the manner and extent of the delegation. God can also intervene as and when He chooses and in the manner He chooses.    For example, God has chosen to delegate to man authority to rule over this earth. God has also chosen to delegate to man responsibility to decide their own final destiny by their response to the mercy of God. Whatever authority God has delegated, He usually gives plenty of room to exercise the authority.  Yet God can also intervene as and when He chooses and in the manner He chooses.  Psalms 33:10 (NIV)  The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.  God can appoint rulers and remove rulers. God is not deterministic, seeking to control and pre-determine every action and choice of man.    God is not deterministic, seeking to control and pre-determine every action and choice of man. As some Calvinists may believe.  On the other hand, God is not a gambler, taking risks on man’s choices, hoping that man will do the right thing, as some with open theism theology believe. God is not a gambler, taking risks on man’s choices, hoping that man will do the right thing.   I believe that God delegates to man authority and the ability to choose.  Yet God remains intimately involved.  Man can choose within certain boundaries, man can plan, take action but in the end, God is still sovereign.  God can over-rule anytime in any way He desires but He does it judiciously with wisdom according to His purposes. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)  In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Psalms 33:11 (NIV)  But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.   Some think that God has to be deterministic otherwise He cannot ensure that everything proceeds according to His plans. However, I believe that Scripture reveals a God whose sovereignty is so awesome, so all-encompassing that He can give room to man to make his personal choices, take actions, etc yet in the final analysis God’s will is accomplished.  This sovereignty is greater than the sovereignty understood by those with a deterministic theology.   In the 2007 movie Evan Almighty, Senator Evan who was commanded by God to build an ark.  He tried to run away from it, resist it but He could not escape God.  I realise the movie showed it in a very funny way, but I liked the idea where it depicted God first prodding Evan, persuading him, putting him in absolutely funny situations until gradually Evan agreed to build the ark. At first reluctantly but finally with conviction.  That is delegation God’s style, more or less.  Yet all along God is sovereign.  Evan had all his choices, but God still ends up getting His way.  I like their depiction of God.  Witty, fun-loving, enjoying his creation, wise and very relaxed.    Our theology of God should inform the way we behave.  Such as the way we deal with our children. I desire my children to be well-behaved.  If my theology of God is that He is deterministic then I should follow His example and force my children to be well-behaved – telling how to do everything the way I want them to.  I could be like a sergeant in boot camp and insist they only do things exactly my way.  And I would be right to do so, if God does so. After all, Scripture tells us that God desires us to be Christ-like, to be godly, to be as God is in character, etc.   But my theology tells me God does not do it that way.  So I give them room to my children to make their own decisions, even making mistakes along the way. While I instruct patiently, remind them when necessary, encourage them continually, correct them when they go astray, role model consistently, broaden their understanding of the benefits, rebuke them if they persist in wrongdoing yet through it all show love. Because that is how God does it.  God is not a control freak, hence neither should I.   The difference between me and God is that He is infinitely wise and does a far better job than I ever could.  The difference between me and God is that He knows the final outcome, while I can only hope.  The difference between me and God is that He is infinitely loving, while I try to love by God’s grace.    Now some may ask, “Why does God bother to delegate when He can do everything Himself and do it perfectly?”  This brings us to additional insights which is expounded in Part 2 of this article. Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

A fussy customer regularly eats at a restaurant. With considerable effort, the chef produced an excellent meal that even this customer could not possibly complain about.  Calling the chef to complain, the customer said, “I am complaining about the fact I can’t find anything to complain about.”   Have you ever felt dissatisfied, disgruntled or discontented about any situation or about various people in positions of authority?  Perhaps you complained, grumbled and murmured with others.  And you feel justified in doing so because you felt that the people in charge were doing such a bad job.  I came from Malaysia and there it is a national past time to complain about the government, especially amongst the minority races.  There are elements of these in Australia as well, where I reside today.   Sometimes it may seem like we enter into a “winter of discontent” and the chills of such discontent can begin to penetrate into our souls.  In this article today, our focus will not be the matter of avoiding discontent in general or how to become contented.  Rather it will be a narrower focus of discontentment with God’s leadership or His appointed leadership.  We will examine 4 aspects about dealing with discontent from the incident of Exodus 17.   DISCONTENT KEPT HOLY   Exodus 17:1–2 (NIV)  “1 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.””   As the Israelites were led by God from one place to another, they finally camped at Rephidim.  But here there was no water to drink and people got very discontented and began to grumble and quarrel with Moses, their leader.  They were discontented. However, we need to understand a couple of things.   Discontent will occur   Exodus 17:1 (NIV) "…but there was no water to drink."   We will never be fully satisfied or contented about everything. But some seem to find it harder to be contented. Some are simply critical.  Those with unrealistic expectations will tend to become discontented more easily.  Those with high expectations or high standards can suffer the same. Even those with reasonable, realistic expectations can occasionally become discontented. Yet not all discontentment is wrong before God.  There is discontentment that can be kept holy before God.   What holy discontent is not Discontent arises out of dissatisfaction of an existing situation.  This discontent can be unholy in its attitudes. Exodus 17:2 (NIV) “Why do you quarrel with me?”   The Israelite’s discontentment was not right before God as the Scriptures describe it as “testing” God’s patience. Discontent arises out of dissatisfaction of an existing situation.  This discontent can be unholy in its attitudes, as we observe in this passage.  On the other hand, it can be holy in its attitudes.  To adequately distinguish between these, we must first understand about the contentment that Scriptures encourages us to have. 1 Tim 6:6 (NIV)  “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”  It appears that contentment is complementary to godliness.    Does that mean to be godly, I must remain contented and passive about everything? Phil 4:11-12 (NIV) “  11…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”  Personal contentment should not be reliant on what we possess or don’t possess.    At first glance, Phil 4:11-12 seems to challenge us to be contented regardless of any circumstances.  Just accept the situation! But a more careful reading helps us recognise that the biblical emphasis is personal contentment found in God.  Note that every situation Apostle Paul describes in Phil 4:11-12 relates to his personal situation.  Personal contentment should not be reliant on what we possess or don’t possess.  Heb 13:5 (NIV)  “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.””   The reason why we can attain to personal contentment is because we trust God and depend on Him, not ourselves nor the product of our hands.  That is why Paul states in Phil 4:13 (NIV)  “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” You can be contented if your focus is God-ward.  Discontent is unholy when it is self-ward and selfish.    The Bible is not saying, just accept everything and you will be contented.  It says you will have personal contentment when you place your trust in God.  You will never be contented if your focus is self-ward.  You can be contented if your focus is God-ward.  Discontent is unholy when it is self-ward and selfish. When it is more interested in our own personal needs.  The Israelites quarrelled with Moses because their primary concern was themselves.  There was no concern about Moses’ needs or God’s purposes.   “Nothing is more displeasing to God than complaining saints.” Croft M. Pentz.   Discontent is unholy when we complain about our government because it does not give us enough financial support or resources to meet our own personal self-centred needs.  Discontent is unholy when we are unhappy with our parents because they do not allow us to have what we want for ourselves. Discontent is unholy when we are unhappy with our spouse not meeting our needs the way we expect.  Discontent is unholy when we are unhappy with our small group leaders because they do not meet our needs the way we want it.   “Complaining about our lot in life might seem quite innocent in itself, but God takes it personally.” Erwin W. Lutzer   So what is holy discontent about?   What holy discontent is   Discontent can be holy when it is God-ward.  When our focus is God-ward, we begin to see from God’s perspective about situations that need to change.  Isa 58:6 (NIV)  “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”  True fasting brings us into God’s perspective, and we gain God’s discontent over unjust situations. Holy discontent is about gaining God’s discontent.    Holy discontent is about gaining God’s discontent.  Holy discontent is about having righteous attitudes towards sin, injustice, poverty, oppression, etc.  Holy discontent is therefore not focussed on our own needs but the needs of others. 1 Cor 10:24 (NIV)  “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”   Holy discontent was seen in David’s dissatisfaction with the Israelites response to Goliath’s taunts (1 Sam 17:4-47). In 1 Sam 17:45 (NIV)  “David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”   David’s concern was defiance of God!   Discontent is holy when we are concerned about our government’s ineptitude or lack of care for its citizens. Discontent is holy when we are troubled with the unfair way our parents are treating the rest of the family. Discontent is holy when we are concerned about our spouses’ lack of sensitivity to people’s needs.  Discontent is holy when we are uneasy with our small group leaders lack of care in running their group.  Such holy discontent will move us to act in a positive manner.   In all these, God can help us keep our discontent holy!    DISCONTENT KEPT RESPECTFUL   Exodus 17:2-4 (NIV)  2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” 4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”    Discontent often brings about strong feelings and stir passions.  Yet in the midst of such stirring passions, it is important to maintain respect.  Such respect should be maintained in two aspects.   Respectful of God’s anointed   The Israelites did not treat Moses with respect nor did they understand that by disrespecting Moses they were also disrespecting God who appointed Moses.  Moses understood this by immediately pointing out that their quarrel with him was in fact a quarrel with God, who appointed Moses and who led them to Rephidim. A danger of discontent is that we tend to focus on those whom we perceive to be the source of our discontent.  Usually, it is towards those in authority.   A danger of discontent is that we tend to focus on those whom we perceive to be the source of our discontent.  Usually, it is towards those in authority.  Whether our parents, teachers, government officials, church leaders and so forth. However, Scripture is clear that God puts all authority into place. Rom 13:1 - 2 (NIV) “  1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.  2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.”    If we rebel against authority, we are rebelling against the office of authority that God had instituted.  When we rebel against the government, in effect we rebel against the office of government that God had established.  When we rebel against our parents, we rebel against the authority of parents that God has established.  When we rebel against spiritual leaders, we rebel against the authority that God has established. It is important to maintain respect for all in authority.  Even when we disagree, are dissatisfied or discontented.   Hence it is important to maintain respect for all in authority.  Even when we disagree, are dissatisfied or discontented. Further, the Scriptures exhort us to give particular respect to the servants of God. Those who have chosen to serve God. 1 Tim 5:17 (NIV)  “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.”    We should consider how we are giving due respect to the servants of God. How are you giving respect your small group leaders and so forth?  Or shepherd?   Respectful in actions   The Israelites were disrespectful in their actions towards Moses.  Not only did they quarrel with him, they even threatened to stone him.  Our respect for God’s anointed should be shown in action.  Even when we are unhappy about a situation.   We should speak politely, respectfully. Even Daniel’s 3 friends continued to be respectful to King Nebuchadnezzar who was about to kill them in a fiery furnace Dan 3:16-17 (NIV)  “O Nebuchadnezzar…O King”.   We should speak politely, respectfully.  Not quarrelling and threatening as the Israelites were to Moses.  That is why we would not allow our children to speak disrespectfully to us as parents.  No shouting or quarrelling with us.  If they disagree, they can voice it out, but respectfully.   We should not undermine the authority by actively attacking it.  Even though David had many people join him who were unhappy with King Saul, David never led them to attack King Saul or to stir revolt against the king. David did not lead a grumbling, complaining campaign against King Saul. In the end, God honoured David by giving him the kingship. Let us determine to be respectful in all our actions.   DISCONTENT WITH DISCERNMENT   Exodus 17:3 (NIV)  “But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?””   The people continued to blame Moses without any regard for God’s divine purposes in bringing them out of Egypt.  Simply because there were challenges, they failed to look beyond to discern whether God had His purposes.  After all, God had led them every step of the way.    At times, God allows us to face difficult situations or to be involved in unsatisfactory situations for various reasons.  It may be to test us, to reveal our true heart condition. Deut 8:2 (NIV)  “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”    It may be to grow us, to mature us.  Heb 12:11 (NIV)  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. If God is seeking to test or grow us rather than to bring about change, then we should not to allow discontent to develop in our hearts.    It may be to motivate us to bring about godly change, as we will discuss below.  Hence, it is helpful if we can discern what God has in mind.  If God is seeking to test or grow us rather than to bring about change, then we should not to allow discontent to develop in our hearts.  Rather we need to be patient with the dealings of God.   “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Reinhold Niebuhr.    DISCONTENT BRINGING RIGHT ACTIONS   Exodus 17:5–7 (NIV)  “5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah  and Meribah  because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”” If we can keep our discontent holy and respectful, the discontent could motivate us to bring about positive and godly change.   The discontent amongst the Israelites drove Moses to seek God and find divine solutions. Here, Moses acted rightly in this difficult situation.  Consequently, he found God’s provision. At times, God allows for us to experience discontent and in fact, at times God may stir such a burden in our hearts to bring godly change.  If we can keep our discontent holy and respectful, the discontent could motivate us to bring about positive and godly change.   Discontent can lead to innovative solutions .  In Exodus 18, Jethro was dissatisfied with Moses’ ineffective handling of the legal system. Moses as the only judge was a great bottleneck. Jethro respectfully offered a creative system that fixed the problems.  Sometimes in our workplaces or church, we may be discontent with how situations are being handled.  Instead of grumbling or causing division, we can think of creative solutions and respectfully and humbly offer them to those who have the authority to implement them.   “Restlessness and discontent are the necessities of progress.” Thomas Alva Edison   Nelson Mandela started as a discontented and violent opposition to the unjust South African apartheid.  He was arrested and thrown into prison.  While in jail, his discontent remained, yet he decided to deal with the injustices through peaceful and respectful means.  Largely because he learnt to work through these appropriate measures, apartheid was officially abolished.   Discontent can lead to intercession.   Jeremiah and Isaiah were discontent with the state of their nation. This discontent led them to weep and intercede and plead with God for their nation. Out of these intercessions God spoke to them about the nation and these men were able to understand God’s heart even though the nation was thick skinned and slow to repent. Sometimes it seems that nobody listens Yet in such times you can seek God’s face and get His perspective and revelation. Be careful not to allow bitterness or pride to cut us off from the grace of God.   Discontent can lead to change in the church.   Martin Luther (1483-1546) was discontent with the discrepancies he found between Scripture and the official practises of the Catholic Church.  This discontent stirred him to write a thesis outlining the issues and posting it for discussion. Through his careful study and writings, a new movement of faithful believers, the Reformers started to clean up doctrines that had strayed from God’s word.  Yet Martin Luther himself did not want to “split” the church.  He was horrified when many of his followers became violent towards the established church.   In fact, the term “Protestant” was a term he was not eager to have pinned on him, because he was eager to display and demonstrate the same grace of God that he was trying to convince people of. He felt that one of the best ways to do this was to walk in the fruit of the Spirit in the character of God, and not the anger of man.   Discontent can lead to changes to society.  Sometimes God will stir us to understand why a situation is not pleasing to Him, and this may create a holy discontent within us. We should keep a sweet spirit while looking for godly ways to persuade people to the truth. It is not God’s way to shoot doctors who perform abortions. We do need godly Christians of character, discretion, wisdom, endurance and grace to lead the way in turning these laws around.   William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was stirred by the revelations of the inhuman treatment of slaves. His discontent was the key reason he decided to be a politician instead of becoming a preacher.  He devoted most of his political life to abolishing slavery and succeeded in the British colonies.   Rev Martin Luther King Jr was discontent with the abominable treatment of African Americans during the 1950’s and 60’s. He could not condone the violent retaliation and riots he saw breaking out all over America. He led a peaceful movement for change that led to laws being passed to protect the original intentions of America’s founders to treat all Americans as equals and thus provide for the rights and safety of all Americans. Holy discontent plus character makes the greatest and longest lasting impact.   Often it is not just discontent, but holy discontent plus character makes the greatest and longest lasting impact. For they will do what is right.   CONCLUSION   Let our discontent be God’s discontent.  Let’s keep our discontent holy!  Keep it respectful.  Let our discontent be discerning.  Let our holy discontent move us towards right actions!  Then a holy discontent will lead to godly outcomes that pleases God. Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many faced crises at a degree they never had to face before.  Many clawed desperately for solutions and struggled to overcome their crisis.  We all have to face crises in our lives some time or other. It such situations, many will lose hope.  Yet it need not be so for Christ-followers.   We will examine Gen 21:8-21 to discover how we can face crises with God.  In this Bible story we learn about a crisis that engulfed Abraham’s family.  One that threatened to tear apart his family.  It begun with a wonderful promise.  God had promised Abraham that there would be a promised child. But after many years of childlessness, Sarah took matters into her own hands out of desperation.  She told Abraham to use her handmaiden to have a child.  This produced Ishmael.  But it was not God’s plan.   Much later, God fulfilled his promised and Isaac the promised child was birthed.  As Isaac grew into a little child there were significant celebrations.  But it was the catalyst for a crisis.  As we examine this passage, I will unpack key thoughts about facing crisis and why we should face it with God.  Jesus is there for us.  The question is: will we face it with Him?    CRISIS ON MULTIPLE FRONTS   Gen 21:8-11 (NIV)      “ 8 The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast. 9 But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking, 10 and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.” 11 The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son.”     It started innocently enough.  A celebration because the young child Isaac was being weaned off his mother’s milk.  Yet it triggered the family into a full-blown crisis.  What were some of the ingredients of this crisis?   Firstly, Ishmael disdained and mocked Isaac   Isaac was probably 2-3 years old when traditionally weaned off his mother's milk.  Ishmael was around 15-17 years old.  Maybe he mocked Isaac because he was used to having all the attention previously.  Perhaps he was mean-spirited towards the child for some time and things came to a head at the feast.  Perhaps Hagar negatively influenced Ishmael's attitude.  For Hagar had looked down upon Sarah who was barren while Hagar was pregnant with Abraham’s son, in Gen 16. Or maybe he was just going through a teenager phase.   Whatever stirred Ishmael to behave as he did, Sarah exploded when she saw it.  Ishmael sinned by being jealous of Isaac.  Sarah sinned by over-reacting, demanding Abraham get rid of Hagar and Ishmael.    Secondly, Sarah's insecurities divided the household   Sarah's insecurity magnified the problem in the household.  She was insecure as she probably felt the household was divided between Hagar’s side and her side. She was insecure with Abraham’s love for Ishmael.  Insecure about Isaac splitting inheritance with Ishmael, whom she felt was undeserving.  She was also insecure about Hagar.   Sarah had not shown bigness of heart before when Hagar was looked down upon Sara’s barrenness in Gen 16 due to her immaturity.  Sarah did not show bigness of heart now towards Ishmael when he mocked Isaac.  So Sarah’s issues contributed greatly to the crisis.   Thirdly, Abraham's distress in losing his son When we face difficult crises, our underlying values, perspectives and orientations are brought to the surface. Abraham was the most righteous and noble of all.  He was simply caught in the middle.  Poor Abraham!  A major crisis in his own house.  This is not uncommon.  Many of us have experienced different variations of family crisis.  When we face difficult crises, our underlying values, perspectives and orientations are brought to the surface.   Have you ever seen how are impurities removed from metal? The metal is heated in a furnace.  When the temperature is hot enough the metal melts, but the impurities often float to the surface as dross.  Often under the heat of duress, of crisis – the impurities of our heart float the to the surface.  The dross that was hidden deep inside is exposed.  Have you ever noticed that?  Your deep hidden attitudes and values often come out when you are stressed? We are concerned about resolving the crisis, but God is concerned about resolving our hearts.   In a crisis, we are concerned about resolving the crisis, but God is concerned about resolving our hearts.  We are so focussed on dealing with the crisis that we fail to realise God wants to deal with our hearts.  We cry, “Gimme the solution!”  God says, “Gimme your heart!”   CRISIS APPROACHED IN DIFFERENT WAYS   When we examine both Sarah and Abraham, we see 2 basic ways of approaching crises.   Self-oriented   Gen 12:10 (NIV) “…and she said to Abraham, “Get rid of that slave woman and her son, for that slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with my son Isaac.”   Sarah's solution was to deal with it in the quickest way.  Emotionally and physically.  “Just get rid of them!”  There is no concern at all with their plight of being kicked out.  A self-oriented solution is usually a solution that suits us the best, in our own view.     It could be a convenient short-cut.  “Just cut corners! Solve the crisis quickly!”   It could be pragmatic solution that we are familiar with.  “Just whatever we know will work!”  “Whatever solution that pleases me!  Just whatever makes me happy again!” The problem of a self-oriented approach to problem-solving is it reinforces our focus on self rather than Jesus.    The problem of a self-oriented approach to problem-solving is it reinforces our focus on self rather than Jesus.  The danger is we become an idol in our own eyes.  It leads us away from Jesus.  It will eventually lead to bad outcomes because we deprive ourselves of God’s blessings.  We may even incur God’s wrath.  Proverbs 14:12 (NIV84) There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.   God-oriented   Gen 12:11-13 (NIV) “ 11The matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son. 12But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.  13I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring.”   The implication of God’s response to Abraham implied Abraham cried out to God in his distress over the situation. In contrast to Sarah, Abraham sought God.  Abraham did not just find his own solution but wanted God’s solution.  In our lives, we always have 2 main options to solve a crisis.  Our way or God’s way. It takes a person of greater faith, or greater strength of character to choose God’s way.   It takes a person of greater faith, or greater strength of character to choose God’s way. Abraham clearly had more faith and greater stature of character compared to Sarah.  Abraham was able to turn to God more than to turn to his own solutions.  Can we reach that ideal?  Yes, by Jesus Christ’s power. His grace is always sufficient for us! God’s way is always the best way. Best long-term solution. Best overall solution.   Why should we choose God’s way or at least turn to Jesus? God’s way is always the best way. Best long-term solution. Best overall solution. God’s way means we don’t shoulder the entire problem ourselves.  Abraham was given relief and hope, despite the distressing situation.  Because God will intervene to bless Ishmael.  God will work with us and for us when we choose God’s way.  God will work with us and for us when we choose God’s way.    Jesus promised in   Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV84)   28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  The yoke upon our shoulders are so much lighter when we trust in Jesus!  I would choose the lighter weight anytime!   God’s way brings blessings to those who walk in it.  Psalm 1:1–2 (NIV84)  1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.   One of our church members, made a significant contribution towards our church building fund despite having no job when he first returned to Brisbane some 20 years ago.  They trusted what Jesus laid upon their hearts to give.  God blessed him soon after with a job uniquely suited to him.  A job he still holds after all these years.   CRISIS HANDLED GOD’S WAY   What can we learn about God from the way He handled the crisis?   God’s clear touch   Gen 12:12-14 (NIV) “ 12 But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.  13 I will make the son of the maidservant into a nation also, because he is your offspring.” 14 Early the next morning Abraham took some food and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar. He set them on her shoulders and then sent her off with the boy. She went on her way and wandered in the desert of Beersheba.”     Amazingly, God's solution was not to rebuke Sarah nor Ishmael.  But to confirm to Abraham that they had to go.  As no explanation was given for God's approach, we can only guess at the reasons.  Perhaps God knew that the crisis could not be resolved by keeping Hagar and Ishmael.  It was better to go.  Sometimes in a crisis or conflict we like to know that we were right and the other party wrong.  God does not always give us that satisfaction.  Perhaps we too may be in the wrong. God seems less interested in answering that question. God's solution is not always the way we prefer.  But God always knows what is best.   God's solution is not always the way we prefer.  But God always knows what is best.  Just as God promised Abraham that Ishmael will flourish into a nation eventually.  God knows what’s best for our situation.  Some years ago, when my father died so quickly from pancreatic cancer it was shock to us.  But God knew best!  This way, my Dad’s suffering was minimal.   God will find the silver lining in a bad situation and bring good out of it.  That is what happened when Joseph was kidnapped and sold by his own brothers to be a slave in Egypt.  Because Joseph trusted God, God raised him be the prime minister eventually.  God turns crisis into opportunity for greater things.  We just have to trust Him for it!    God’s soft touch   Gen 12:15-19 (NIV) “ 15 When the water in the skin was gone, she put the boy under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she thought, “I cannot watch the boy die.” And as she sat there nearby, she began to sob. 17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there.  18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.”  19 Then God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.   Hagar thought it was the end for her and Ishmael.  But God came to their rescue. God kept His promise to Abraham.  What struck me is how God handled Hagar with gentleness and kindness.  Hagar was at the bottom of the pile.  Someone who had an opportunity to make good, mucked it up.  She lost everything.  Some may think she got what she deserved. God has the power to help.  God also has the heart to help.   But God cares about the marginalised, the undeserving. Jesus showed us that in the Gospels. He never forgot the poor, the sick, the broken.  God’s heart gives us assurance that He understands the crisis we are faced with and has sympathy for us.  God has the power to help.  God also has the heart to help.   CRISIS TURNED TO SUCCESS   Gen 12:20-21 (NIV) “ 20 God was with the boy as he grew up. He lived in the desert and became an archer. 21 While he was living in the Desert of Paran, his mother got a wife for him from Egypt."   God turned Hagar and Ishmael’s crisis into a success story.  In Gen 25 he lived to an old age and had 12 sons who each produced their own tribes.  Whatever crisis you are facing, God can turn it around. Let us face it with Jesus! God is interested in your crisis. You are a child of God and He takes an interest in you, whatever your crisis may be.   Psalm 27:5 (NIV84) For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Christ can turn your crisis into victory. His purposes will prevail.   Christ can turn your crisis into victory. His purposes will prevail.  In the midst of crisis when there was no one around to help them, God came to Hagar’s point of need. God was with Ishmael. In time of Abraham’s distress, God was with Abraham. When we face crisis, remember that Christ-is….enough. Christ is in the crisis with you. Christ is bigger than your crisis. Christ is in the crisis with you. Christ is bigger than your crisis.   Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV84)  “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”  No! There is nothing too hard for God.   Olympian swimmer Michael Phelps is the greatest swimmer ever. With 23 gold medals and 5 others. By all measures, he should feel a deep sense of accomplishment for the rest of his life. Yet he despised the image of his success.  Michael lived with the trauma of being abandoned by his father when he was just 9 years old.   Although an incredible example of human success, his broken heart led to a destructive lifestyle.  After the 2012 London Olympics, he retired and got into drugs.   “I was just a train wreck. I was just a time bomb waiting to go off. No self esteem, no self worth.” “For a moment, I thought it was going to be the end of my life, literally, just because it was like… I didn’t really leave my room. I didn’t eat, I didn't really sleep. I just figured it was the best thing to do to end my life.”   He wrestled with thoughts of suicide.  Then a friend gave him a copy of the Christian book The Purpose of Driven Life.  That catalysed a journey where he found Jesus.  Phelps then went to rehabilitation and also finally reconnected with his father.   Michael came out of retirement to be the US flag-bearer for the 2016 Olympics and won 5 gold and a silver medal.   CONCLUSION   If you are feeling hurt, pain, fear, anxiety. God is interested in what you are going through and He wants to give you the victory in all that.  No matter the crisis, you can never solve it like God can.  God always have a solution and God’s solution is always the best one if we are willing to trust Him.    Will you trust Christ? Will you face the crisis with God together? Will you seek the Lord in your crisis and invite Him to deal with crisis together? God wants to solve the problem together with you.  Are you willing for God to solve it His way, His timing?  Let’s turn to God and His ways.   Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.

We live in an era where people are often judged by media.  Worse still, by social media where it is often driven by rumours and innuendo, by emotions and shrillness.  Unfortunately, such trial by media has also occurred to various church leaders, for better or worse.  It would seem that these trials often lead to strong judgements even condemnations upon these leaders.  Is this the way to go?  Is this biblical?    In 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul had to deal with errant elders with Timothy.  Yet the instructions inspired by the Holy Spirit speaks to us today and provides us principles on how we should treat our spiritual leaders rightly.  I will unpack those passages and highlight 3 key areas of consideration.   PROTECTION OF SPIRITUAL LEADERS   1 Timothy 5:19 (NIV)  Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.   It is important to understand the significance of this instruction in order that we may appreciate the principles behind it.  The word “entertain” in the Greek is paradechomai  which means to “consider in our mind”.  In other words, we are asked not to even consider it in our minds such an accusation brought against an elder.  We are to simply put it aside.  Basically, it is saying, we should not entertain unsubstantiated/baseless accusations.  The principle of protecting our spiritual leaders from baseless attacks.   If there are 2 or more witnesses, then the allegations should be investigated properly.  This does not mean the elder or spiritual leader is guilty.  They may well be innocent, perhaps just misunderstood. Now what is the significance of this instruction to us today?  It speaks about the principle of protecting our spiritual leaders from baseless attacks.   The more significant a spiritual leader, the more the person is usually exposed to attacks.  There are always people who are eager to falsely accuse the man of God.  Some do so because they resent the person’s calling, or reject his teaching, resist biblical teaching, or are jealous of God’s blessings upon his life, etc.   Ps. Rick Warren stated that he would not even go into a lift with another woman alone.  Why?  Is he so afraid of women?  No!  Is he paranoid?  No!  To protect himself from unnecessary accusations!  Because he has been criticised, attacked so much.  Moses faced this in Numbers 12:1 (NIV) Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. God judged Miriam and struck her with leprosy! Devil will use every means to destroy the ministry and life of the servant of God.    Ultimately, such accusers become the messengers of the Devil.  For the Devil will use every means to destroy the ministry and life of the servant of God.  We must be careful not to become unwitting tools of the enemy.  Sadly, there are many Christians, including some leaders, who fail to understand this and attack other spiritual leaders vigorously under the guise of protecting what they perceive to be right.   Let’s examine more closely what we are to protect:   Protection of the person The effectiveness of a person’s spiritual leadership is based on trust. The effectiveness of a person’s spiritual leadership is based on trust.  It is sacred.  Without the trust of others, the person cannot be effective.  And trust is gained because of a person’s perceived integrity, credibility and competency.  If these can be undermined, then trust is lost, and his ministry destroyed. That is why gossip and slander is one of the Devil’s greatest tool.  That is why we cannot suspend or stop an elder from functioning simply because someone brought up an accusation.  It must be substantiated by at least 2 or 3 witnesses.  Deuteronomy 19:15 (NIV) One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.  Gossip and slander is one of the Devil’s greatest tool.   Further, when a person is faced with continual attacks without sufficient support from his peers or leaders over them, it can eventually cause discouragement.   A discouraged leader will become an ineffective leader.  For example, Elijah became depressed after the threats upon his life. 1 Kings 19:10 (NIV) He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”  It is important for the church to appropriately protect spiritual leaders from malicious accusations.    Hence, it is important for the church to appropriately protect spiritual leaders from malicious accusations.    Protection of the office The tearing down of the respect for an office and its integrity is even more dangerous than the tearing down of a person.  An elder is not just the person, but they represent the role of an office which they are in.  Sometimes the false accusations serve to tear down the office of an elder.  The tearing down of the respect for an office and its integrity is even more dangerous than the tearing down of a person.    Can you imagine when the roles of fathers and mothers are torn down, and children no longer respect their parents?  There would be chaos in every family.  Even though individual fathers and mothers may be full of integrity, wisdom and love, their effectiveness is severely limited due to the general disregard for parents.  That is why the Devil wants to destroy this role and sadly, to some extent he has succeeded in our society. That is why we should protect the role of parents.  Ephesians 6:2 (NIV) “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—    Rom 13:1 teaches us to respect all authority as well.  Similarly, we should protect the role of spiritual leaders.  We should uphold it high!   CORRECTION OF SPIRITUAL LEADERS   1 Timothy 5:20–21 (NIV) 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.   Why is it that after explaining the need to protect the office of an elder and the person, does Scripture now talk about public rebuke?  It is almost like we make extra effort to protect the elder but now we are making extra effort to rebuke the elder strongly!  Do we drop people like hot potatoes just because they muck up?  The key is to understand the principle of upholding the integrity of the office of an elder or spiritual leader.   Upholding the integrity of the office. Critical to distinguish between the person who sin or failed and the office. One way to examine whether our understanding of a biblical principle is correct, is to examine how consistently it can explain various Scriptural instructions.  It is this very principle of upholding the integrity of the office that requires us to offer it extra protection against unsubstantiated accusations.  It must not be easily undermined by false accusations.  On the other hand, if the accusations are proven true, then it is critical to distinguish between the person who sin or failed and the office.  The only way in which the office can continue to maintain its integrity is when the person who has been entrusted to upholding its integrity is dealt with clearly and firmly. If we fail to deal firmly with a person who had deliberately misused/abused the office, it will eventually compromise the office.   If we fail to deal firmly with a person who had deliberately misused/abused the office, it will eventually compromise the office.  For example, if the Prime Minister can break the law and escape unpunished then it will undermine the integrity of the office of Prime Minister.  Citizens will no longer trust that the Prime Minister is accountable to do what is right within the law.   Eli’s sons were priest who took meat from sacrifices that they were not supposed to.  1 Samuel 2:12 - 17 (NIV) 12 Eli’s sons were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD...  15 But even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast; he won’t accept boiled meat from you, but only raw…” 17 This sin of the young men was very great in the LORD’s sight, for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt.   God judged them because they misused the office.  That is why the verse’s concern is “to be rebuked publicly that others may take warning.” The perception of the office is critical.  It also serves as a warning to aspiring spiritual leaders that they should not take the role and responsibilities of spiritual leadership lightly.  And if they should ever compromise the integrity of the office, they should resign rather than tarnish it.   JAG is a TV drama series about an elite legal wing of Navy officers dealing with crime in the military.  What impressed me is the occasions when they showed the integrity and honour of the officers.  Innocent officers who would rather resign than allow their office to be brought into disrepute.   Now, how we apply a public rebuke will require wisdom.  It does not necessarily mean we hold a press conference and announce the failure so that the widest public possible may be aware of it.  In the past when a life group leader fell into sin, we would require them to confess it to the leadership team and perhaps their own life group.  There was a public confession and correction.  If they had repented, we ask the leadership team to forgive them and to express it to them.  Because their sin impacts upon the entire team. Because they let the whole team down. We do it in love and help them through their issues.   If a leader is unrepentant then stronger measures may be necessary.  In 1 Timothy the likely scenario is those errant elders were the false teachers causing the controversies and opposing Paul and Timothy.  Hence the need to publicly rebuke them in front of the whole church.  So there can be variations to implementation, it just needs wisdom to extract the maximum Scriptural benefit to all.    Adjusting the spiritual leader. The purpose of the public rebuke is not to condemn but to adjust.   Besides upholding the integrity of the office, the errant elder needs to be adjusted.  The purpose of the public rebuke is not to condemn.  But to adjust, to correct that the errant spiritual leader may be adjusted.  That they may repent and change their ways.  They have to understand the enormity of their spiritual responsibilities before God and before the church.  Spiritual leadership is sacred and not to be taken upon lightly.  They must reach the conviction that spiritual responsibilities should not be taken lightly, and they must walk circumspectly before God. When corrections and adjustment is done wisely in love, the errant leader who is repentant is often able to be restored and rise up to serve God again.    When corrections and adjustment is done wisely in love, the errant leader who is repentant is often able to be restored and rise up to serve God again.  Gordon MacDonald was a pastor in Grace Chapel, involved with World Vision and later President in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.  He has taught in Bethel Theological Seminar and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.  Then in 1987 he confessed to an extramarital affair and stepped down. The Elders of the church helped him work through the problems for 2 years and he was eventually restored. Today he pastors his old church again and serves on various Christian organisations and is a well-known author. Carrying out such instructions can be extremely difficult as the consequences are usually not easy to handle.  But has to be done.  That is why in v21, Paul charged Timothy to carry these out without partiality.    SELECTION OF SPIRITUAL LEADERS   Paul then proceeds to give some instructions about the selection and appointment of spiritual leaders.  I will highlight 2 key aspects:   Appoint carefully   1 Timothy 5:22 (NIV)   Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. All appointments should be preceded with prayer, assessment and consultation to ensure that they are proven.   The laying on of hands refer to the ordination of spiritual leaders.  Timothy was reminded not to be hasty.  Should the church be hasty in appointing a spiritual leader who turns out to be errant, they are in effect partially participating in their sins.  Why?  They have given greater opportunity, through the neglectful appointment, for enabling the person’s sins to impact upon others to a greater degree.  So we should exercise extra care, particularly in higher levels of leadership.  All appointments should be preceded with prayer, assessment and consultation to ensure that they are proven.   Proven in life and ministry   1 Timothy 5:24–25 (NIV)  24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.   The sins or some is obvious but for others it will take some time before it is discovered.  Just like Tiger Woods, the world no 1 golfer and the highest paid athlete had a reputation for clean living.  Unfortunately, it is all unravelled where many allegations surfaced and Tiger Woods finally admitting to unspecified infidelity.  He had tried to hide the truth for some time, but it finally caught up with him.   On the other hand, the good deeds of some are obvious while others also may take some time before it becomes known.  Thus, taking our time to assess and prove a person’s life and ministry is always beneficial.  Should doubt exist, we should always wait longer rather than rushing.  The Scriptures make it clear that elders should meet some minimum criteria provided in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9.  We should not compromise on those criteria.   CONCLUSIONS   When we choose our spiritual leaders carefully and wisely, we will reap the benefits from their godly leadership.  I am glad that our church has been careful in the selection of our spiritual leaders.  We have made very few mistakes over the years.  And that has benefited our church.   In the church community, we should protect our leaders.  Protect their integrity, pray for them and support them as much as we can.  Should any fail, they need to be corrected lovingly and wisely and nurtured in order they may be restored eventually.  That is reflective of the heart of God. Copyright©️2024 by Wilson Lim. All rights reserved. Materials are free to be distributed in whole or part as long as proper acknowledgement is given to the author and not sold for profit.