Sermons - 2007 Week 47
Chinese Culture - The Five Blessings
Various Texts
The Chinese often go to the temple to pray. They pray for blessings in their lives. The typical five blessings are Longevity, Wealth, Good Health, Doing Good works and a Peaceful Death. They ask for blessings from a mix of Taoist Gods and Buddha. Let us take a look at these blessings from a biblical perspective.
Longevity
Typically, one would wish to have a long life. That is a blessing to any Chinese family, thus long noodles for birthday are used to symbolize a long life span. But man has always been limited by the aging process and no matter how much one stretches, life is limited. On average, in Singapore, this is about 78 for men and 82 for women. To reach a life span of 120 years as indicated in Genesis 6:3 is unusual today. Even then, as stated in Psalms 90:10, it is likely to be filled with “labour and sorrow”. However, the Bible offers not just a physical life on earth but an eternal life in heaven. Eternal life sure outdoes any long life on earth. This eternal life is so easily within our reach and that is to believe in Christ.
Wealth
Wealth cannot buy happiness. We all know this too well when we suddenly fall sick for no apparent rhyme or reason. We cannot buy love with wealth. But nowhere in the Bible does it say that Christians cannot be rich. It is the pursuit of wealth, the love of money that is the root of all evil (1Timothy 6:10). The greed and envy that wealth often provokes is the crux of the problem. Matthew 6:24 tells us that we cannot serve two masters, God and riches or money. Ecclesiastes 5:10-12 reminds us that there is no end in sight to seeking wealth and there is no satisfaction in getting it.
We should build our treasures in heaven, not on earth. 1Timothy 6:19 is all too apparent, reminding us to store up for eternal life. All too often, the blessings of wealth that people ask for is material, temporal and transient.
Why ask for such a blessing if it cannot buy happiness?
In fact, it causes an ever increasing cycle of envy and greed for more.
Is the “blessing” that is asked for truly a blessing? Discuss
The wealthy seem to be able to get away with most things. That statement in itself shows envy. Remember that even if they do get away with murder as the saying goes, it is not yours to revenge for “vengeance is mine, I will repay” says the Lord (Romans 12:19). Psalms 37:1, 7 and 8 are a timely reminder to be patient.
Good Health
Good health for the Christian is to be able to house the Holy Spirit and to be healthy and fit to continue to serve the Lord. For we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Corinthians 6:19). Certainly, our spiritual health takes precedence but in the process of sanctification and transformation, we should also take care of our bodies to allow our transformation to continue.
A healthy living comes from a balanced, non avaricious diet, it comes from time spent in exercise, it comes from time spent relaxing and it comes from time spent with the Lord in quiet prayer and reflection.
Doing Good Works
Almost all religions base their salvation upon good works. In essence, it means that the more good things one performs, the more likely or higher up the ladder in heaven one goes.
The truth is what is good works?
By whose judgment are these good works other than by man?
Why should good works be based on natural gifts that God has bestowed upon us?
An example would be an intelligent man whose intelligence is bestowed by God. He becomes wealthy and gives to the poor etc.
Does it mean he has done greater works than everyone else?
This cannot be because he was bestowed with intelligence in the first place. The question then is
how do you measure his good works with a person born crippled and unable to give as much?
Salvation or going to heaven in Christianity does not depend on good works but by the simple act of faith in the Son of God. That is all! The simplicity of this bewilders many!
Why does the concept of salvation dependent entirely upon faith and not good works bewilders many?
Peaceful Death
Strangely this is a blessing called upon by many in the temples. It is believed that one should die peacefully without imposing on the younger generation, to slip quietly away.
How can there be a peaceful death when one does not know one’s destiny?
How much good works should one have in order to get to heaven?
Does one have to depend on the younger generation to burn “hell” money to take it along?
Such is man’s desire for peace, a desire that is in man’s control. It is all man created to conform to man’s perception.
“The end will still be at the appointed time” (Daniel 11:27). Such is death.
But, do we have to fear it if the assurance of eternal life is at hand?
It is just that simple act of believe, of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is God’s grace that we will be saved through faith.
Mr and Mrs ET Chua
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