What Should We Do with a Gift?

by Admin | Oct 18, 2024 | Ronald Wong, • Timely Word •

What Should We Do with a Gift?

What does one do with a gift?

Most people would say, “use it of course”.

Yet, what would a Christian who has the knowledge of God’s will in spiritual wisdom and understanding say? She would say, “steward it in a way that pleases God.”

If she does so, the result would be “bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:9-10).

I recently texted a friend, a sister in Christ, Alvina, to send her birthday greetings. She told me that two years ago, she felt God led her out of the marketplace, i.e. retirement from paid work. So, I asked her what she’d been up to.

She shared that she started a ministry Pawfriends where volunteers would visit elderly residents at her church-run nursing home with their dogs:

https://saltandlight.sg/service/we-could-see-the-light-in-their-eyes-these-four-legged-pawfriends-offer-love-and-company-to-nursing-home-residents/.

In the article, she shared that she started it because her family had just welcomed a new white Pomeranian, and “Joey [her dog] brought us so much joy that I felt a need to steward this special gift of God well”.

Through the ministry, she has seen how elderly nursing home residents who had arrived lifeless, left with joy; how residents opened up and shared with volunteers about their lives; how residents came to know and believe in Jesus through the ministry.

She says: “Isn’t this what God’s economy is about? He fills us with so much joy as we see the impact of our giving, and expands our hearts to give even more.”

I believe this is a living example of the promise of Scripture in 2 Cor 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

When we have received many gifts from God, the wise Christian will steward those gifts to abound in good work. What are these gifts which you have received from God which you can steward in a way that pleases God?

Health and physical mobility? House, car or possessions? Money or skills? Your ability to connect with people relationally or to network? Hobbies like gyming, bouldering, gardening, or playing the guitar? And even your pets.

May we be spiritually wise in stewarding our gifts, and I trust that as we do so, God will reveal to us more of Himself that we may increase in the knowledge of God, and participate in His fruit-bearing gospel work in our community and in the nations.

By Elder Ronald Wong

Courage, Commission, Communion

by Admin | May 26, 2023 | Ronald Wong, • Timely Word •

I learnt from a junior colleague at work that he and his church mates led 25 people to become Christians at a recent outreach event (out of 85 visitors). The same colleague spent a gap year in Australia leading many total strangers to Christ. His girlfriend is now in Japan doing the same, leading strangers to Christ and following-up on discipling them.

In both Singapore and elsewhere, they would take time to connect with friends of friends, as well as complete strangers through eg. online language learning apps, community events, and going up to people at public venues. They would simply chat with people, meet up with them in groups, make friends, and offer to pray for them. Do they get rejected? Many times! But amidst the rejection, there are many successes. He tells me that in Singapore, 50% of strangers they contacted engage further and meet up, 15% choose to believe in Jesus (in the past it was 33%). In Australia, 10% engage further and 5% believe.

I realised I had much to learn. To be missional, I need courage to overcome discomfort with authenticity.

Many of us are introverts. “Paiseh” to talk to people, even those familiar to us. We feel that it’s “awkward” or “weird”. We self-justify by rationalising that people on the other end will also feel weird. Perhaps. But we can overcome it with courage to be authentic. Everything important worth doing requires courage to overcome discomfort. And authenticity overcomes awkwardness. When we sincerely take interest in wanting to know and befriend others, to listen to them share their life issues and struggles, and also share with them our cherished beliefs as much as we seek to learn of theirs, people will lower their defences. And it’s ok to be rejected. Indeed, we should expect rejection. But also expect that amidst rejection, there will be many whom God has prepared who will be keen to engage.

I realise also that I need to remember my mission. Because I have been commissioned by the one who holds all authority in heaven and on earth.

And that means I need to constantly order my time and schedule according to this mission. What helps me are constant reminders and opportunities from our church: One4J, planning for SGC week 5 activities, BCS NV. But being missional is also more than just these. It’s also in my workplace, professional circle, family, home neighbourhood, society and cross-cultural/ border mission. I need to intentionally make time to reflect, plan, pray and execute missional efforts in all these spheres. And that itself takes time — time away from other things like leisure, TV and scrolling on social media.

In all this, I am reminded that although it is not about me, or making myself the centre of the mission, or bearing the burden of bringing people to conviction, or taking credit for being able to do so — all of which should be God or belongs to God — I get to join in His exciting adventure and witness the fruit of His working through my hands and feet. It is in courageously living out the commission that we get to experience communion—knowing that Christ is with us (Matt 28:20). And that would be so satisfying.

Courage, commission, communion. Let’s do it.

By Elder Ronald Wong

Admin In Violet James, • Timely Word •