Capitalizing Our Spiritual Riches

I've been in China for the past month; sightseeing, spending time with family, and revisiting places from my childhood. 

Yesterday, I caught up with an old friend after service. We used to played together as kids, before I immigrated to Canada. And now after 10+ years, it really seems like he’s gone through a lot and had a hard life. Little did I know how drastically different our lives were, nor would I have guessed as a child that we'd be sitting down again a decade later, exchanging stories. I know it was part of God’s arrangement for us to meet and chat again, because it has finally provoked me to put into words thoughts that have been circulating in my mind for the past month. 

After listening to my friend's stories, I see it was through many trials & sufferings that he learned spiritual principles and began to gain understanding/knowledge of God. Some of these spiritual principles/knowledge he learned the hard way, are basic and fundamental things that have been taught to us in RE, seminars, or sermons throughout the years, often which we take for granted in North American churches. 

We Are So Rich 

The fact is, many churches in China don't have access to the resources and opportunities to know the Truth as well as we do. It’s unfortunate that the local churches do not have residential preachers shepherding them and correcting the many misunderstandings in the teachings. These extreme stances or mis-taught “truth” is a cause for people to fall, a major obstacle to people correctly understanding God, and a deterrence to those trying to cultivate a better relationship with Christ. 

Though they are lacking in spiritual knowledge, God's abundant mercy is greater still, and He works with them in very personal/individual ways. Although not everyone had to learn through suffering as my friend did, God has personally nurtured them and allowed them to experienced Him in their own unique ways, according to their varying needs. Even those who fall away, God uses His own ways to call them back. While some return and some don’t, God undoubtedly has had mercy on them all. 

What I want to say is... we are so rich here. Spiritually rich. We have so many resources that enable us to know God more & grow in our spirituality - sermons/preachers, seminars, fellowships, spiritual convocations, magazines/print sources, baptisms, holy communions, and opportunities to draw close to God… yet we take it for granted. We are reluctant to use these resources or attend these spiritual events, much less cherish them.

My friend had to learn many lessons through enduring many trials and lots of reflection. Many bros and sisters fall away because of a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6) and correct understanding of God. But today much knowledge is freely given to us through seminars, sermons etc. But are we even appreciative of this rich blessing in the first place? Are we taking every opportunity to grow? And secondly, what are we doing with the rich knowledge that have been revealed to us? After God has nurtured and fed us for so long, have we borne fruit? 

Side Story: Short Testimony 

While in a tour group, I met a Christian couple from Australia. From the week time spent with them in the tour group, I saw the glory of Christ displayed in them. 

During casual conversation, I found out that the couple was Christian. At our meal times, we happen to be designated by the tour group to sit at one table, along with another Christian couple (this was completely random & by the arrangement of God). They would lead our table of 10 in saying grace at each meal, and at times discuss topic of faith. 

One meal time, they bravely testified about their son. Their 22 year-old son had just come out of prison last November. He's been a troubled child since youth and was involved in drug and gang-related activities. He was busted for a large volume drug trafficking and was looking at a minimum sentence of 25 years, up to life in prison. At this time, they said to him: “Mom & dad can’t save you right now, your lawyer can’t save you either, the only one who can save you now is Lord Jesus. But you have to admit your sins and repent – you have to plead guilty.” His mother gave him a bible to pass his time, and through many prayers, the son was granted a 5 year sentence. He served 2.5 years in prison and was released early due to good behaviour. After he was released from prison, he received baptism just last month (April) and testified how the Lord changed his life.

This may be an oversimplification of what they actually shared, but their testimony brought light and positive influence on the other non-believers at the table. (One of whom became red-eyed because he was having relationship issues with his own son.) Throughout the week, I’ve witnessed the couple’s actions and zeal to share the Good News, patiently explaining and preaching to other members of the tour group. They even gathered 10 some Christians from the tour group to worship together on Saturday night, where one elderly lady decided to follow Christ and resolved to receive baptism after returning to her local city. 

Courage to Use Our Talents

I was personally touched and encouraged. Literally having more courage. The other Christians in the tour group went to different churches, they had different doctrines & views on the Holy Spirit, Sabbath etc, but they are preaching so boldly. I was ashamed at how I wasn't the one taking the initiative to preach to others.

Today, while we have knowledge and understanding of the Truth, while we the guidance of the Holy Spirit, why can't we be doing more to share with others? Why do we shrink in fear, worrying about what others will think of us? Why can’t we go out and plant more seeds and do some watering? Whether these seeds grow or not, will be up to God, right? (1 Cor 3:7) It’s as the master said to the servant in the parable of the talents. "For everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away." (Matthew 25:29)

Today, God has given us all these talents, knowledge, and callings to serve Him. God has nurtured us, equipped us, and given us talents to preach and bring light to those who live in darkness. These not only refer to non-believers, but also to brethren who are weak or have fallen. But have we used these talents encourage one another, have shared our understanding of the truth with truth-seeking friends, have we displayed the glory of God in our lives? Or in worldly terms, have we provided a good ROI to the master?

So while it is called "today", let's exhort one another daily, lest any of us be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Heb 13:3) Let’s take up these opportunities to grow, to serve, to attend seminars, to keep Sabbath, to pray, and use the abundant riches given to us to win others. And when we have capitalized the spiritual riches and grace given to us – more will be given to us. Then on the last day Christ will ultimately say to us: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”