Reflections for the New Year
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ,
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." Colossians 2:8-10
"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2
For quite long I had been struggling with a number of issues. One was an awareness that my mind had become increasingly undisciplined, often drifting away to earthly and mundane things instead of to the things of God. Another was a crisis of identity. In the past I saw myself as a disciple of Christ, living to serve Him and bring Him glory. But increasingly I began to define my life in worldly terms- enjoying earthly pleasures, exciting hobbies and interests, having certain material possessions, excelling in worldly endeavours and achievements.
It was on the background of these struggles that these 2 verses came. "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ..." In an instant I realised that I had been influenced greatly by the world around me. In day and age, traditional philosophy is not often talked about, but I believe that there are certain modern philosophies or values of life that people carry.
One is that of hedonism- living life purely for the pursuit of pleasure. We see it everywhere- people indulge in exquisite food, luxurious and exotic holidays, alcohol, sex, and so forth. The maxim here is to enjoy life to the max. Advertisements encourage us to indulge ourselves, books detail the best restaurants and the most exciting holidays, people tell us how to get the most out of life.
Another is that of materialism. Money makes the world, and Singapore especially, go round. People live their entire lives in pursuit of money and the million and one glitzy things that money can buy. Big houses, flashy cars, the latest gadgets, designer clothes, and other valued possessions. They are also status symbols, marks of success in a person's life. Some people work so hard to earn their millions that they neglect their own families. Many resort to gambling, which seems a much easier road to riches- hence the rise in betting, lottery and most recently casinos.
There is no doubt that physical needs like food, homes, transport have to be met. Our problem is that we are not content with simply meeting our needs. A simple functional car is not enough; we must have the fastest, flashiest, most luxurious one. A simple apartment or flat is not enough; we must have that big bungalow with the huge garden and swimming pool. Simple clothes are not enough; we must have the lates fashion. The Bible tells us that "with food and clothing, we shall be content". A missionary once taught me that principle of living below what you can afford. Living by these principles free up money that can be used to bless the poor, needy and suffering.
The third is not really a philosophy, but rather a phenomenon- that of hobbies. It seems benign enough in itself, but in the modern era, the advancement of technology and the widespread access to information on the Internet and books have led to hobbies becoming so “interesting” and time-consuming that people can spend their entire lives on them, neglecting all else. Examples include teenagers (and adults) spending hours in front of a computer screen or television, sometimes even forgetting food. People spending hours browsing through online shopping catalogues or walking the malls. Or people spending hours taking photographs or looking at the latest photographic equipment. Or people spending many months or years travelling the world, in search of new experiences.
Not to say that hobbies are wrong in themselves. I myself am an avid photographer and traveller. But in that respect I have come to understand that finding a balance is crucial. More time and energy spend on my hobbies means less time spent with God, serving God, building relationships with people. And this is especially so in our busy world where we already have so little time. It is not just time, but thinking to much about them also can turn our minds away from God. I do not think the early apostles like Paul, or the great heroes of the faith in centuries past, had many hobbies to distract them (no televisions or computers or shopping malls at that time).
This balance is intensely personal; it varies from person to person. One man’s meat is another man’s poison. The things that bind me may not have the effect on someone else. It is the same for material possessions as well; different people covet different things. One must search his own heart before God, and honestly evaluate if these worldly things have distracted him or her from God’s purposes.
We do not realise how much these worldly values and philosophies have integrated into us, but they have. As disciples of Christ we cannot avoid them, but we must be able to stand back, realise their existence, and seek to free ourselves of them. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Rom 12:2) Enjoying pleasure and having material goods and hobbies in this world are NOT evil- in fact, the Bible tells us that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights..” (James 1:17). It is only when we idolise these things and make their acquisition our sole aim in life that we have lost sight of God’s original plan. The gifts are not the goal, but merely to draw us closer to the Giver and heighten our enjoyment of Him. Our lives should therefore be defined not in terms of the gifts, but as service to the Giver.
"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power". The second part of the verse also spoke to me. I have often felt this sense of uneasiness, that if I did not live as the world lives, and excel at or possess worldly things, then I would be missing out on something in life. This verse reassured me that in Christ I was already complete- in Him I find the purpose He created me for, the liberation from worldly chains to live under His will, and the joy that money can never buy and this world and its attractions can never give.
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” It seems that as we grow older, we tend to develop spiritual tunnel vision. Our eyes become fixed on worldly affairs, and we lose the ability to look up to see things of eternal value. It is partly due to the philosophies that I mentioned earlier, and the fact that as we age the practical questions of living, such as income and occupation, have to be answered. It is also because we are surrounded by people (non-Christian and Christian) who are worldly in their outlook. It is very difficult to avoid jumping on the bandwagon.
The only way out is to constantly seek the influence of God, and here is where our inner spiritual life is so crucial. We need prolonged periods of time alone with God, reflecting on our lives, meditating on His Word, and praying. In doing so we seek to re-align our values and purposes with His, and allow His Spirit to change us from deep within. For at least 8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week we are under the influence of Man; surely the 5 minutes spent with God before bed is not sufficient! It requires discipline, but it is a discipline that leads to life. In our daily lives as well, we must learn to, as Brother Lawrence described, "practise the presence of God." In the midst of our activities and work, we need to constantly attune ourselves to Him in our hearts and minds, and not allow the values of the world to seep in.
This beautiful hymn “Come find the Quiet Centre” sums it up beautifully:
Come and find the quiet center
In the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter,
Clear our eyes that we can see.
All the things that really matter,
Be at peace and simply be.
That quiet centre, that inner life, is what so many of us lack. And it is not something we can create; it is a gift of God as we seek Him earnestly. It shows in the way we treat people, the way we react to stressful situations, setbacks and sufferings. It helps us stand firm in the face of modern philosophies and values, it turns our minds back to God and eternal things. It is the centre of unbroken peace and joy; it constantly spurs us to serve God and glorify Him. I ask myself, is that quiet centre there? And the answer is a plain No.
So my resolution for this year is to seek that quiet centre. May you be able to find it too. Blessed New Year!
"Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ,
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." Colossians 2:8-10
"Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2
For quite long I had been struggling with a number of issues. One was an awareness that my mind had become increasingly undisciplined, often drifting away to earthly and mundane things instead of to the things of God. Another was a crisis of identity. In the past I saw myself as a disciple of Christ, living to serve Him and bring Him glory. But increasingly I began to define my life in worldly terms- enjoying earthly pleasures, exciting hobbies and interests, having certain material possessions, excelling in worldly endeavours and achievements.
It was on the background of these struggles that these 2 verses came. "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ..." In an instant I realised that I had been influenced greatly by the world around me. In day and age, traditional philosophy is not often talked about, but I believe that there are certain modern philosophies or values of life that people carry.
One is that of hedonism- living life purely for the pursuit of pleasure. We see it everywhere- people indulge in exquisite food, luxurious and exotic holidays, alcohol, sex, and so forth. The maxim here is to enjoy life to the max. Advertisements encourage us to indulge ourselves, books detail the best restaurants and the most exciting holidays, people tell us how to get the most out of life.
Another is that of materialism. Money makes the world, and Singapore especially, go round. People live their entire lives in pursuit of money and the million and one glitzy things that money can buy. Big houses, flashy cars, the latest gadgets, designer clothes, and other valued possessions. They are also status symbols, marks of success in a person's life. Some people work so hard to earn their millions that they neglect their own families. Many resort to gambling, which seems a much easier road to riches- hence the rise in betting, lottery and most recently casinos.
There is no doubt that physical needs like food, homes, transport have to be met. Our problem is that we are not content with simply meeting our needs. A simple functional car is not enough; we must have the fastest, flashiest, most luxurious one. A simple apartment or flat is not enough; we must have that big bungalow with the huge garden and swimming pool. Simple clothes are not enough; we must have the lates fashion. The Bible tells us that "with food and clothing, we shall be content". A missionary once taught me that principle of living below what you can afford. Living by these principles free up money that can be used to bless the poor, needy and suffering.
The third is not really a philosophy, but rather a phenomenon- that of hobbies. It seems benign enough in itself, but in the modern era, the advancement of technology and the widespread access to information on the Internet and books have led to hobbies becoming so “interesting” and time-consuming that people can spend their entire lives on them, neglecting all else. Examples include teenagers (and adults) spending hours in front of a computer screen or television, sometimes even forgetting food. People spending hours browsing through online shopping catalogues or walking the malls. Or people spending hours taking photographs or looking at the latest photographic equipment. Or people spending many months or years travelling the world, in search of new experiences.
Not to say that hobbies are wrong in themselves. I myself am an avid photographer and traveller. But in that respect I have come to understand that finding a balance is crucial. More time and energy spend on my hobbies means less time spent with God, serving God, building relationships with people. And this is especially so in our busy world where we already have so little time. It is not just time, but thinking to much about them also can turn our minds away from God. I do not think the early apostles like Paul, or the great heroes of the faith in centuries past, had many hobbies to distract them (no televisions or computers or shopping malls at that time).
This balance is intensely personal; it varies from person to person. One man’s meat is another man’s poison. The things that bind me may not have the effect on someone else. It is the same for material possessions as well; different people covet different things. One must search his own heart before God, and honestly evaluate if these worldly things have distracted him or her from God’s purposes.
We do not realise how much these worldly values and philosophies have integrated into us, but they have. As disciples of Christ we cannot avoid them, but we must be able to stand back, realise their existence, and seek to free ourselves of them. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Rom 12:2) Enjoying pleasure and having material goods and hobbies in this world are NOT evil- in fact, the Bible tells us that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights..” (James 1:17). It is only when we idolise these things and make their acquisition our sole aim in life that we have lost sight of God’s original plan. The gifts are not the goal, but merely to draw us closer to the Giver and heighten our enjoyment of Him. Our lives should therefore be defined not in terms of the gifts, but as service to the Giver.
"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power". The second part of the verse also spoke to me. I have often felt this sense of uneasiness, that if I did not live as the world lives, and excel at or possess worldly things, then I would be missing out on something in life. This verse reassured me that in Christ I was already complete- in Him I find the purpose He created me for, the liberation from worldly chains to live under His will, and the joy that money can never buy and this world and its attractions can never give.
“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” It seems that as we grow older, we tend to develop spiritual tunnel vision. Our eyes become fixed on worldly affairs, and we lose the ability to look up to see things of eternal value. It is partly due to the philosophies that I mentioned earlier, and the fact that as we age the practical questions of living, such as income and occupation, have to be answered. It is also because we are surrounded by people (non-Christian and Christian) who are worldly in their outlook. It is very difficult to avoid jumping on the bandwagon.
The only way out is to constantly seek the influence of God, and here is where our inner spiritual life is so crucial. We need prolonged periods of time alone with God, reflecting on our lives, meditating on His Word, and praying. In doing so we seek to re-align our values and purposes with His, and allow His Spirit to change us from deep within. For at least 8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week we are under the influence of Man; surely the 5 minutes spent with God before bed is not sufficient! It requires discipline, but it is a discipline that leads to life. In our daily lives as well, we must learn to, as Brother Lawrence described, "practise the presence of God." In the midst of our activities and work, we need to constantly attune ourselves to Him in our hearts and minds, and not allow the values of the world to seep in.
This beautiful hymn “Come find the Quiet Centre” sums it up beautifully:
Come and find the quiet center
In the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter,
find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter,
Clear our eyes that we can see.
All the things that really matter,
Be at peace and simply be.
That quiet centre, that inner life, is what so many of us lack. And it is not something we can create; it is a gift of God as we seek Him earnestly. It shows in the way we treat people, the way we react to stressful situations, setbacks and sufferings. It helps us stand firm in the face of modern philosophies and values, it turns our minds back to God and eternal things. It is the centre of unbroken peace and joy; it constantly spurs us to serve God and glorify Him. I ask myself, is that quiet centre there? And the answer is a plain No.
So my resolution for this year is to seek that quiet centre. May you be able to find it too. Blessed New Year!
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