The Gospel is about love, and so is much of the New Testament, but did you know that there are around 500 references on love in the Bible, but more than 2000 references on money and possessions? That's because while love is the heart of the Word, stewardship is the body. The very first and only job Adam was given soon after being created was stewardship over all the resources of the earth. That job has not been taken back from men, we still have this job today.
While without love, all the possessions in the world are meaningless; love is given to us as the Philosophy with which we are to do our work. Our work is stewardship over all the resources God has given us, prayers, time, earthly resources, relationships, and ourselves.
After meditating on this teaching, I have started to live out the Word in my life in various ways. Started counting the seconds I spend in the shower, eating what is necessary but no longer indulging in things unnecessary, squeezing in appointments to do more and connect more than squeezing out time to relax, overcoming stress as a barrier and using it as a motivator to work more efficiently, praying more about stewardship and learning as much as possible about managing the resources given to me already, and this continues to unfold and surprise me as I keep my mind open for ways to be absolutely wise with my stewardship of my time on earth.
I have heard many a sermon on stewardship and had never taken it in so seriously as I have now, and much of the time in the past, I had been clinging onto "my" time and "my" money and "my" circumstances, and had not thought it possible to be a steward. But, when seeing more clearly now that finances, tithes, are the first level of faith, for where your money is, truly, your heart is also. When you tithe a significant percentage of your hard earned income, you are released from this scarcity mentality, to acknowledge how much God has provided for and will provide for you, and it creates a shift in your faith, and your heart, and your partnership with Him. He doesn't actually need our money, but it is through this voluntary gesture that our hearts are unlocked regarding stewardship.
We say we want to love, and we say we want to further His kingdom, but just giving mindlessly and loving without intention or goals will not achieve it. It is all about intentionality. When you are wise in your stewardship, for the purpose of expanding His kingdom, you start making choices that qualifies you as a better steward. And as we know from the Bible, when we are wise with God's money, or even when we are wise with other people's money, they too will trust us with more, let alone God who owns everything and desires to let go for us to manage it all.
And He does want to let us manage it. That is why Jesus taught quite a lot on Kingdom Stewardship too, through his parables and teachings. And so does Solomon. If we just seize this truth in our lives, it will change how we live, how we see, and how we win as not just redeemed humanity, but true heirs of God. Living in abundance in faith, in power, and in resources for the sake of loving all, blessing all, and glorifying God.
My eyes have been opened to new and endless possibilities, as I continue to streamline my life to His calling, His mission and His purpose for my life, and as I continue to strip down barriers that prevent me from actualizing the abundant life that He gives. I will continue to move in kingdom power and authority, and be a blessing to all that I am blessed to meet. And truly be a candle in the dark.
Sunday, 2 July 2017
Sunday, 11 June 2017
Mirror
by James Fung (June 11, 2017)
No matter where I am
Desert, mountains, cities, dumps
No man-made structures
Nor birthed by thine hands
Will obstruct Thy Face
Nor blemish Thine Heart
Desert, mountains, cities, dumps
No man-made structures
Nor birthed by thine hands
Will obstruct Thy Face
Nor blemish Thine Heart
Beautiful is He
Who adorns the earth
With wonders upon wonders
On the sixth day created
The beauty that I see
With these eyes You adorned
In the beauty that is me
Who adorns the earth
With wonders upon wonders
On the sixth day created
The beauty that I see
With these eyes You adorned
In the beauty that is me
Friday, 9 June 2017
Choices
As I've shared before, I've always wanted to be in ministry, and always felt that God has great plans for me, that I will be leading my own ministry, with my own school and orphanage, and shelter.. and it would be BIG. And in the process of being prepared and trained by God, I had thought that I was in my current, relatively small ministry for that very purpose: to be trained.
Now I don't deny that I'm here to be trained, and that God still has great plans for me, but I have come to recognise that some of these thoughts had been in vain and had sought for my own glorification than God. And these delusions of grandeur, I had been walking on an arrogant path. But with much praise to God, I have gotten off of that high horse. As unbeknown to me, this journey of training and pruning that I took this year, started in August 2016, and now almost at its end in June 2017, had been something that God had seriously planned for me. He knew what I needed, and He gave it to me. One would think that's amazing, and it absolutely was, but it was some serious hard work as well as a lot of humbling.
When I started, I felt close to God, I felt privileged, I felt that I was talented and of good character, and boy, was I wrong! In the months to follow, God showed me first my arrogance, then my lack of relationship with Him, then my lack of good character and commitment, and it is all true, and as I walked this painful walk of realisation, I managed to stay on the path from knowing very clearly that this was what God had in mind for me, and I persevered.. to the point of giving up several times, but I did not. I relied on my proof that God had spoken to me audibly about this job, and when it became too hard to just hang onto that, I relied on my desire to grow out of my poor character, and when that wasn't enough, I relied on my knowledge that it will not get easier even if I moved onto the next opportunity. And finally, these past few months, with uncertainty in my future as I am not sure if my contract will be renewed or not, but still desiring to stay.. I relied on the one most important and basic thing that I learnt while serving here, and that is: to choose to do right.
The fact that there may be no tangible reward, that I may not be able to continue, and even though God has already shown me the next phase, I needed to floor the gas in order to give God my best, and to keep my personal growth on the verge. And so, I chose to be committed because I can. I chose to overcome stress by knowing that I can do all things through Christ. I chose to have joy in my overly hectic life because I have the fruits of the Spirit. I no longer sought for a reason or to validate what I was feeling, but rather, made the choice to be. And when everything became a choice, my life sprung to life. I was committed because I chose to be committed. I was full of joy because I chose to be full of joy. I was diligent, faithful, meek, good, loving, peaceful, abundant.. because I made the choice to believe the Word more than what I was experiencing in the natural.
And so now.. I don't know what comes next, but I do know, I have grown closer to be the man that God made me to be, and I know I have much power in my faith and my choices, and that it really doesn't matter to me whether I lead a ministry or not, whether I am known or not, whether I am part of a big ministry or a small one. God is apparent in my life because of the choices that I make, not where I'm situated, or who the world knows me as. So I'm perfectly happy working and staying unknown for the rest of my life, if it brings me even closer to God, and if I can grow as much as I have grown thus far. However, I do believe growth is exponential, especially character growth, good character upgrades every good gift.
Be blessed, my friends. Remember, you can choose to be more than what this world is willing to give, because the King of this world has already given to you in all abundance in life, it just depends on how much of the cookie you have the courage to receive and how much faith you have to believe it.
Now I don't deny that I'm here to be trained, and that God still has great plans for me, but I have come to recognise that some of these thoughts had been in vain and had sought for my own glorification than God. And these delusions of grandeur, I had been walking on an arrogant path. But with much praise to God, I have gotten off of that high horse. As unbeknown to me, this journey of training and pruning that I took this year, started in August 2016, and now almost at its end in June 2017, had been something that God had seriously planned for me. He knew what I needed, and He gave it to me. One would think that's amazing, and it absolutely was, but it was some serious hard work as well as a lot of humbling.
When I started, I felt close to God, I felt privileged, I felt that I was talented and of good character, and boy, was I wrong! In the months to follow, God showed me first my arrogance, then my lack of relationship with Him, then my lack of good character and commitment, and it is all true, and as I walked this painful walk of realisation, I managed to stay on the path from knowing very clearly that this was what God had in mind for me, and I persevered.. to the point of giving up several times, but I did not. I relied on my proof that God had spoken to me audibly about this job, and when it became too hard to just hang onto that, I relied on my desire to grow out of my poor character, and when that wasn't enough, I relied on my knowledge that it will not get easier even if I moved onto the next opportunity. And finally, these past few months, with uncertainty in my future as I am not sure if my contract will be renewed or not, but still desiring to stay.. I relied on the one most important and basic thing that I learnt while serving here, and that is: to choose to do right.
The fact that there may be no tangible reward, that I may not be able to continue, and even though God has already shown me the next phase, I needed to floor the gas in order to give God my best, and to keep my personal growth on the verge. And so, I chose to be committed because I can. I chose to overcome stress by knowing that I can do all things through Christ. I chose to have joy in my overly hectic life because I have the fruits of the Spirit. I no longer sought for a reason or to validate what I was feeling, but rather, made the choice to be. And when everything became a choice, my life sprung to life. I was committed because I chose to be committed. I was full of joy because I chose to be full of joy. I was diligent, faithful, meek, good, loving, peaceful, abundant.. because I made the choice to believe the Word more than what I was experiencing in the natural.
And so now.. I don't know what comes next, but I do know, I have grown closer to be the man that God made me to be, and I know I have much power in my faith and my choices, and that it really doesn't matter to me whether I lead a ministry or not, whether I am known or not, whether I am part of a big ministry or a small one. God is apparent in my life because of the choices that I make, not where I'm situated, or who the world knows me as. So I'm perfectly happy working and staying unknown for the rest of my life, if it brings me even closer to God, and if I can grow as much as I have grown thus far. However, I do believe growth is exponential, especially character growth, good character upgrades every good gift.
Be blessed, my friends. Remember, you can choose to be more than what this world is willing to give, because the King of this world has already given to you in all abundance in life, it just depends on how much of the cookie you have the courage to receive and how much faith you have to believe it.
The Window of Heaven
by James Fung (June 7, 2017)
At the end of each busy day
I just have to lift my eyes
To see your amazing grace
As far as east is from the west
In this multi-colored sky
In this beautiful embrace
At the end of each busy day
I just have to lift my eyes
To see your amazing grace
As far as east is from the west
In this multi-colored sky
In this beautiful embrace
Sunday, 21 May 2017
The Church of Fake-It Till U Make-It
by James Fung (May 21, 2017)
Man, in his arrogance, strives to have the appearance
Of holiness, blessedness and perfection with much vanity;
Falls and stumbles in darkness time and again, till his pride
Is slowly chipped away revealing a tender heart.
Falling to his knees for the last time,
He lowers his eyes from the crown of the throne to the feet,
Where he finds the humility to see and taste and hear
The simple ways of the blessed, walking anew in the favour that he finally sees.
Man, in his arrogance, strives to have the appearance
Of holiness, blessedness and perfection with much vanity;
Falls and stumbles in darkness time and again, till his pride
Is slowly chipped away revealing a tender heart.
Falling to his knees for the last time,
He lowers his eyes from the crown of the throne to the feet,
Where he finds the humility to see and taste and hear
The simple ways of the blessed, walking anew in the favour that he finally sees.
Wednesday, 12 April 2017
Legacy
I've always sought after God's Will for me. After receiving endless visions, and confirmation for a calling.. I have always sought to find and reach God's final calling for me. That's where I had it all wrong. God's initial and final calling for us is the same, to Love God, and to Love our neighbor as ourselves. And as I examine these facts, and delve deeper into what it means to live for Christ, I came to the simplest conclusion: this life is my calling.
I like to quantify things, even little things that don't need to be quantified, but that's how I am. And so I would say 98% of our Legacy, our calling or primary output in God's kingdom and God's plan for us is how we live this life we are living right now. It's not that 2% which comes in the form of your ministry work, your ultimate ministry accomplishments, your orphanage or outreach organization, the number of workshops you give, sermons you preach, etc. All of that really take up only 2% of your Kingdom efforts. And here's why: the lives you change on a day to day basis take up 25-30% of your Legacy. Lately God's been sending people whose lives I've changed, improved, edified, uplifted back my way, and each of them, with God's help, have become so much more, and each of them thank me in their unique ways. And in the face of my current struggles in ministry, it really shines through to empower me to keep at it. To be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor 15:58) because our work in the Lord is never in vain. That is the promise. Then how we live our lives, and how people see us, and are inspired by us even without our knowledge.. that takes up another 10-15%. So what is the remaining 50%, you ask me? That is how you discipline your life so that when you have children and grandchildren, what they learn from you and pass on, that is the bulk of your legacy. At my current age and single living, it seems like its 50% because all the other things take up more weight, but I am convinced that when I actually have children, and watch them grow, I'll see my Legacy unfold a thousandfolds. And that's why, I now see this as my ultimate calling. To live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Pet 2:12)
And why must I start now? Well, character takes a long time to grow, and being a diligent parent as we're called to be means that I am to be diligent in growing to be a godly husband and parent for my child to see, to learn, and to also become one in the future. When you are diligent, you'll realise that our growth in God never ends, and if we're willing to receive His instructions and wisdom, He will always bless us. And it is all about having that Kingdom lifestyle tomorrow today.
I haven't given up on having an epic calling either, but that epic calling will sort itself in due time. The most epic of my calling and legacy will still be the life that I live, the testimony that I speak, walk, and breathe. This is my legacy. This life, and that of my descendants.
I like to quantify things, even little things that don't need to be quantified, but that's how I am. And so I would say 98% of our Legacy, our calling or primary output in God's kingdom and God's plan for us is how we live this life we are living right now. It's not that 2% which comes in the form of your ministry work, your ultimate ministry accomplishments, your orphanage or outreach organization, the number of workshops you give, sermons you preach, etc. All of that really take up only 2% of your Kingdom efforts. And here's why: the lives you change on a day to day basis take up 25-30% of your Legacy. Lately God's been sending people whose lives I've changed, improved, edified, uplifted back my way, and each of them, with God's help, have become so much more, and each of them thank me in their unique ways. And in the face of my current struggles in ministry, it really shines through to empower me to keep at it. To be stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor 15:58) because our work in the Lord is never in vain. That is the promise. Then how we live our lives, and how people see us, and are inspired by us even without our knowledge.. that takes up another 10-15%. So what is the remaining 50%, you ask me? That is how you discipline your life so that when you have children and grandchildren, what they learn from you and pass on, that is the bulk of your legacy. At my current age and single living, it seems like its 50% because all the other things take up more weight, but I am convinced that when I actually have children, and watch them grow, I'll see my Legacy unfold a thousandfolds. And that's why, I now see this as my ultimate calling. To live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Pet 2:12)
And why must I start now? Well, character takes a long time to grow, and being a diligent parent as we're called to be means that I am to be diligent in growing to be a godly husband and parent for my child to see, to learn, and to also become one in the future. When you are diligent, you'll realise that our growth in God never ends, and if we're willing to receive His instructions and wisdom, He will always bless us. And it is all about having that Kingdom lifestyle tomorrow today.
I haven't given up on having an epic calling either, but that epic calling will sort itself in due time. The most epic of my calling and legacy will still be the life that I live, the testimony that I speak, walk, and breathe. This is my legacy. This life, and that of my descendants.
Sunday, 26 February 2017
Commitment
Dear friends,
I've talked a lot about wanting my own ministry. I've talked a lot about wanting to serve God all my life, but have my actions reflected that sort of commitment? What does my life look like at the moment? It looks pretty mundane, pretty normal as a city dweller. I work 8:30am to 6:30pm, five days a week, then on the weekends, I hit the gym, I attend fellowship, catch up with brothers, and attend church, and catch up with more people. During the week, sometimes I want to catch up with people too. That all seems pretty normal, but the catching up and fellowship takes up a lot of time, and eats into my rest and my time with God. I don't sleep on time on Saturdays because I've been treating it as a free day away from the work schedule, but that affects the rest of my week. I try to hang out with too many friends on the weekend, and that uses up too much energy. As a result, I'm merely hanging on when it comes to growing, learning, and serving. That's not what I want at all. That's not the level of commitment I need to reach the goal that I am running this race for. I'm not running this marathon simply to keep off the bus, I am running it to win. So the longer I serve Him, the more I understand what Paul is talking about through his own life of ministry.
"Know you not that they who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. And every man that strives for self control is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not with uncertainty; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: But I roughly treat my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified." - 1 Cor 9:24-27 (KJV)
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, since you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." - 1 Cor 15:58 (KJV)
"Whatever you might do, work from the soul, as to the Lord.." - Col 3:23a (BLB)
I've talked a lot about wanting my own ministry. I've talked a lot about wanting to serve God all my life, but have my actions reflected that sort of commitment? What does my life look like at the moment? It looks pretty mundane, pretty normal as a city dweller. I work 8:30am to 6:30pm, five days a week, then on the weekends, I hit the gym, I attend fellowship, catch up with brothers, and attend church, and catch up with more people. During the week, sometimes I want to catch up with people too. That all seems pretty normal, but the catching up and fellowship takes up a lot of time, and eats into my rest and my time with God. I don't sleep on time on Saturdays because I've been treating it as a free day away from the work schedule, but that affects the rest of my week. I try to hang out with too many friends on the weekend, and that uses up too much energy. As a result, I'm merely hanging on when it comes to growing, learning, and serving. That's not what I want at all. That's not the level of commitment I need to reach the goal that I am running this race for. I'm not running this marathon simply to keep off the bus, I am running it to win. So the longer I serve Him, the more I understand what Paul is talking about through his own life of ministry.
"Know you not that they who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain. And every man that strives for self control is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not with uncertainty; so fight I, not as one that beats the air: But I roughly treat my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified." - 1 Cor 9:24-27 (KJV)
This season, God has been speaking to me a lot about commitment. I've picked up my cross, but am I really carrying it with every ounce of energy I have, or am I merely dragging it from one corner? Am I making the sacrifices needed to get to where God wants me in the short time that I have? Am I taking every step to ensure victory? It's called a partnership for a reason. Am I walking this 3-legged race, or am I the one standing still and yet demanding to win the race?
I need to stay focused, stay committed. And truly have the faith and the character to do His work.
"Whatever you might do, work from the soul, as to the Lord.." - Col 3:23a (BLB)
So pray for me, brothers and sisters, that I may work for the victory of the Lord and not just be tagging along, that I may grow in this work to the point where I can lead a successful ministry. For I know I am called to disciple, to teach diligently that others may come to know God through healing, restoration, and walking with me as I walk with God, as I follow the footsteps of Jesus.
In Christ,
James
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