Friday, November 29, 2024
Called to move, to enlarge
There is a sense of ambivalence as I prepare my next trip to Shanghai from Dec 9- 26. The is a rush of excitement but also fear. Not just fear of business failure and the unknown, but the fear of leaving love ones behind even though periodically. There is pain in being away from my ailing parents even for a day. I may even leave behind potential relationships if the other person is not supportive of such a move. But I cannot be tied down or constrained to my current locality given the global calling for business and ministry.
Abraham left his home in Ur, Mesopotamia because God commanded him to: Leave his country, Leave his extended family, Leave his father's household, and go to the land that God would show him.
In the Bible's book of Genesis, God promised to bless Abraham and make his descendants a great nation that would occupy the land of Canaan. Abraham obeyed God's commands and set out from Haran with his wife Sarai, nephew Lot, and all their possessions. He was 75 years old when he departed. I am only 55 (but with no wife) but feel a similar call to move and occupy other lands and markets.
In an age of cheap and fast international travel my calling to move probably sounds less dramatic than it did to Abram. Abram didn't get to phone or fly back every now and then. These days there are WhatsApp and transfer of money is convenient. I can call back daily, even install CCTV at home which I have done and monitor my home from my phone.
There will be opposition from well-meaning people with regards to my move to be partially based in a foreign country out of genuine concern. But Abram wasn't just promised blessings for himself; he was called to be a blessing to others. "You shall be a blessing … In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:2-3). God intends me to be a river, a conduit of His blessings and not a reservoir, be it financially or spiritually. God has prepared me for decades. And certainly those who prayed for me, assisted me will share in these blessings. “Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward” (Matthew 10:41). Shall a future half enters my life, supporting me is supporting God’s work. I am not running away from any responsibilities or anything negative in Malaysia, just simply enlarging my arena of influence, my tent. I have no intention to love a lavish life, only a distinguished one.
Faith without works is dead. How do we clothe and feed the hungry? How do we help the destitute without resources? How can ministries run without donors? The answer is it is our faith that leads to us to work as led by the Lord.
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without [a]your works, and I will show you my faith by [b]my works.(James 2:14-18).
In the Bible, Jonah disobeyed God and refused to carry out an assignment. Jonah ran away from Nineveh instead of obeying God. So God sent a storm to punish Jonah for disobeying him. The people on Jonah's boat were afraid and threw Jonah overboard. Jonah was swallowed by a giant fish, but God eventually made the fish spit Jonah out on the beach. Then Jonah realized he had disobeyed God and prayed to promise obedience. I shall not be the next Jonah!
I believe true love always come through. Fears, doubts and confusion will eventually give way to true love. God open their hearts to see the simplicity and honesty in me.
