Contributed by Wendy ML Tan • Jan 16, 2024
I was away this recent weekend with most of the in-house seminary students, lecturers and staff for the annual retreat. I had to go as it might be my final year studying there and I have missed the previous ones.
On Saturday afternoon, when we had our free-time, I sat by the side of the resort’s natural hot springs and dipped my legs into it. I watched as my friends frolicked and splashed water at each other. After a while, we ventured to the nearby river. While my friends continued drenching themselves in the cool stream of water, I laid on the hammock with the sunlight piercing through the trees. It was a fine weather that God has blessed us with.
I took time to observe a friend as he guided a fellow classmate to swim then another on how to do stone skipping. His wife whispered to me, “He has always enjoyed teaching.” I didn’t think much of what she had said to me until I listened to the recording of this sermon this Sunday night. It brought to mind my last piece of Engage reflection, written two months ago. I’d mentioned a gift that I have refused to use. I guess I’ll now call it the gold that I have kept hidden in the ground. Another friend recently asked me in a casual conversation, “Do you wanna teach the children?” I told him, “No, not this semester, I can’t.” Deep in my heart, I don’t know when I would ever be ready to unwrap the gift of teaching again.
Aside from the above, I had also thought about the Anniversary Gift Weekend since last year. As I prayed about it, I felt God saying to me, “You don’t have to.” I tried reasoning with God that I could still give at least a little bit but when the dates of the retreat were brought forward to this recent weekend, I felt God adamantly saying “no,”’ to me. It’s ironic isn’t it? I imagine that often people would avoid giving if they could. For me, I gave what I could while I was working and then for the past 3 years, I still gave some small amount even though I was not working at all as I felt that even as a recipient of the AGW, an organisation somewhere in the world could also benefit from the little that I had to give.
What I realise then is that God isn’t asking for my money because that’s really not my strength. Compared to my peers, I never really earned much to begin with, and I am not a risk taker. I am not hard-up about investing in property/shares/bitcoin/trust funds etc.
So, while I do not measure up financially, I invest differently. I would say that my biggest gold (love language) is my time. Yes, I’ve a set schedule of classes and activities to attend, but other than that, if I have no pending assignments and exams to focus on, I have time to spend with people. Or, I could just take time off to myself and spend it with God.
I do know that I have other ‘golds’ too. I know because over the years as I serve in various ministries, I’ve asked God to grant me with more spiritual gifts including the gift of encouragement and hospitality, and He has answered me.
In return for the little investment in other people’s lives, God has blessed me tremendously, with the little things in life. Having my DP Epic group of friends telling me, “Hey, we’ve missed you for the past two Sundays,” brings a smile to me. Having my cousin insisting that I get to eat my favourite Penang food before I leave the island warms my heart. Having last minute arrangements but a workable New Year picnic with my CG family (even though it was just a few of us who could make it) cheers me on. Having my youngest niece giving me (almost) daily hugs reminds me how God would also want me to draw near to Him whenever He would call to me.
These and many other things should never be taken for granted. I should remember God’s goodness & faithfulness in my life. To give and to serve should not be a means to gain nor demand anything for myself but to gladly do so out of love, to build His kingdom and bring glory to His name. For without Him, who am I? Apart from Christ, I am nothing. Therefore the constant reminder also, “more of Him, less of me”.
Many years ago, I thought I had no gold to begin with. Or perhaps all my gold had been taken and given away because I did not do anything about them. Back then was the time when I hardly knew the Master.
As I reflect on the parable, I think about the servants with bags of gold. They invested everything they were given, not just half the bagfuls they had received. They were wholehearted and intentional in making sure that all that had been given to them would be put to good use.
Though the parable serves as a warning to believers and followers of Christ, all is not lost while we are still living, because we have a God who is merciful and loving. He is a God of second and many chances. Let us learn to heed His voice and to trust and obey Him completely. Unearth the hidden gold that we have, whether little or much, and invest in them properly so that they will multiply in fruitfulness and abundance for the advancement of God’s Kingdom.