Gong Xi Fa Cai - these words we hear every time Chinese New Year is near. As Chinese New Year draws around the corner, as Chinese, it is a period of times in our lives the kids will rejoice, the adults will “mourn” as Ang paus were to be given, the time in which families and relatives gather together. Chinese New Year has always been Chinese New year, but as Christians, does Chinese New Year mean anything to us?To start off, Chinese New Year is a time in which people gather, it is a time in which they come together, make merry, feast and even talk about the lives that has passed, catching up with relatives, and showing off each others' children. These are the events that a typical Chinese family will do, but now, besides gathering, we have an even more important mission, that is to be the salt and light to the relatives we rarely meet.
I take my sharing today from Matthew 5 v 13 – 16
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
First stop at every Chinese New Year in my hometown, at least there will always be food. Like Duh, who celebrates Chinese New Year without food? But because everybody wants to eat but nobody wants to clean, dishes will always be lying around the place. When I was young, my mum and my grandmother will do it. After all, if we want to look at it, washing and cooking is the work of the women. But as I grew in age, I began to realize, the most effective way of evangelizing to our grandparents or even our relatives begins if they see a change in our conduct. To start the ball rolling, I started washing dishes after meals, to ease the burdens of the womenfolk of the KHOR Family.Secondly, Chinese New Year is also a good time in which salt and light can happen when we practise proper table manners. One thing that stands out in Chinese New Year is that when we eat, we will always eat at a round table. When we eat, we should always remember to wish our grandparents, to eat as well, for instance, Gong gong lets eat(爷爷吃饭). The bad thing to do would be to eat without waiting. To go a further mile would be, taking food for the elderly. I strongly encourage you all to do so, especially to your grandparents, that they know, there is something different in their grandchildren, and that is the 4th Commandment (Exodus 20 v 12), that we honor our parent’s parents, putting their interest above ours. When eating, may we not forget to give thanks for the food as well, that is to indirectly tell them, all food is provided by the LORD, and as partakers, we should always remember to give thanks.
Thirdly, when we receive Ang paus, we ought to receive with a thankful heart. An Attitude of Gratitude, certainly we should not always complain or even lament among each other, oh I only got RM2 from that uncle. Simply because, when adults give Ang pau, they give with a good intention, that children or even kids will mature and grow up to be a healthy and even happy adult, in Chinese Words - 快高张大. In any way, we should appreciate their good intentions. When we wish, we should not only say, 恭喜发财, Gong Xi Fa Cai, because this term is for businessmen, that their business blooms, but also Shen Ti Jian Kang (身体健康) to tell them, we wish them good health.Fourth and Finally, Chinese New Year also presents us an opportunity to give people the most important 'Ang paus' in their lives, that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This Chinese New Year, when we spend time talking with our relatives, it is actually the Golden Opportunity in which we can come and tell them about Jesus Christ. To tell them, God is the reason that families exist today and Jesus Christ is the reason why we can and we will always be a family and to let them know God wants them in His Kingdom as well. This howsoever, can be only be achieve, if we live our lives in becoming Salt and Light to the LOVE and the knowledge of God and alongside living a righteous life to actually begin talking to them about them Gospel.
Last of all guys, as we draw closer to this festive season, may we always be reminded that God is always good and we should thank God that above all, this is a cultural event and that as Christian Chinese we can celebrate and also be salt and light to our relatives - simply because everyday in life, People need the LORD.May this festive season be a different one this year, with the knowledge that God wants our families to be close together and all God wanted since the beginning of creation is to have a family with us, simply because everything is temporary, but family in Christ, is forever.
- John Khor
Images taken from:
http://yeinjee.com/asianpop/chinese-new-year-worldwide-celebration-2008/
http://rasamalaysia.com/happy-chinese-new-year/
http://inxomnia.wordpress.com/page/5/
http://blog.beliefnet.com/stuffchristianculturelikes/2009/09/98-people-need-the-lord.html
I was talking to a non-Christian friend the other day and she made a statement that gave me a lot to think about. She said:
We are a like an open book for everyone around us to read. We are a letter from Christ Himself. The best way to tell our friends about God is by example. Live for Him alone, so that when they read us like an open book, we can be like a letter from Christ with the Spirit of God written on our hearts.
But it’s always peculiar how when we think these lyrics are just something nice to sing along though when asked to obey, it’s just so difficult.
Being “strong” means you got to be the one giving more than you should be receiving! Don’t be a dead weight in the family and just keep expecting people to care. You should be wondering which family members’ need can I meet today? I remembered once depending on a sister too much, it really affected our relationship because she’s afraid I’m leaning on her more than I should be leaning on God! I should be strong enough to remember that God’s Grace is sufficient, for His strength is made perfect in my weaknesses (2 Corinth 12:9)
After the awesome holiday season, for most of us, we would have just started school again , gone back to work, and for the a few, it’s just the beginning of our exams.
Daily routines aside, the year 2011 can also be a new start to us seeking to deepen our relationship with God. It could be through a regular quiet time, prayer, and commitment to finish reading the Bible within a year. Admittedly, it isn’t easy and we may struggle with it. However, we can start by setting a few goals, and gradually increasing the difficulty of it as the year goes by. Also, take the time to share with a brother or sister in Christ any difficulties you might be facing so that he or she can encourage and support you through it. Finally, don’t allow occasional slip ups to make you feel like a failure. Instead, use them to motivate you to go one step further.
The practice of making New Year’s resolutions goes back over 3000 years to the ancient Babylonians. There is just something about the start of a New Year that gives us the feeling of a fresh start and a new beginning. In reality, there is no difference between December 31st and January 1st. Nothing mystical occurs at midnight on December 31st. The Bible does not speak for or against the concept of New Year’s resolutions. However, if a Christian determines to make a New Year’s resolution, what kind of resolution should he or she make?
Many Christians make New Year’s resolutions to pray more, to read the Bible every day, and to attend church more regularly. These are fantastic goals. However, these New Year’s resolutions fail just as often as the non-spiritual resolutions, because there is no power in a New Year’s resolution. Resolving to start or stop doing a certain activity has no value unless you have the proper motivation for stopping or starting that activity. For example, why do you want to read the Bible every day? Is it to honor God and grow spiritually, or is it because you have just heard that it is a good thing to do? Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to honor God with your body, or is it for vanity, to honor yourself?
So, what sort of New Year’s resolution should a Christian make? Here are some suggestions: (1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) Rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures; instead allow them to motivate you further; (6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
