Making a Wise Comparison

Many of our feelings of satisfaction or dissatisfaction have their roots in how we compare ourselves to others. When we compare ourselves to those who have more, we feel bad. When I compare my educational level (I’m a diploma holder only) with others who studied for degree and master, I will feel bad. When I compare my income with my friends who work in the government, I feel sad. When I compare my English with magazine and website editors in my church, I feel down.

But when we compare ourselves to those who have less, we feel grateful. When I compare my breakfast with the hungry, I feel blessed. When I compare of me having a home and personal bedroom with homeless strangers at Kuching Waterfront, I’m very thankful. When I compare my Biblical knowledge with those who are well-educated at theological school, I guess I’m proud of myself.

Mind you, both feeling and thinking are dangerous because we try to compare ourselves with the more and the less, rather than making a wiser comparison. The truth is we have exactly the same life either way, our feeling and thinking about our life can be difference tremendously based on who we compare ourselves with. May I advise? Compare yourself with those examples that are meaningful but that make you feel comfortable with who you are and what you have. Find your own personal heroes.

Yes, God want us to imitate His faithful servants in the Scripture when the writer of Hebrews writes, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7). Yes, compare our lives with their faithful lives and consider (think of) their way of life. But God doesn’t say for us to be like them. The healthiest comparison that God offers is this: Compare yourself with Jesus, not others. Focus on Jesus when you’re tempted to compare yourself with others. In Jesus, our comparison is more meaningful. We still can be who we are with greater thanksgiving, humility and contentment. Choose your comparisons wisely.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP. 

TUHAN Allah Israel Menggerakkan Hati Raja Kores, Raja Persia (Refleksi Saya tentang Kitab Ezra 1:1-5)

Raja Kores (King Cyrus of Persia) dalam The Bible Movie

“Pada tahun pertama pemerintahan Raja Kores, raja Persia, TUHAN melaksanakan firman-Nya yang disampaikan-Nya dengan perantaraan Nabi Yeremia. TUHAN menggerakkan hati Raja Kores supaya mengeluarkan titah bertulis, yang dikirim untuk dibacakan di seluruh kerajaan baginda.” (Ezra 1:1, BM)

Orang Yahudi yang tidak lagi mengasihi TUHAN telah ditakluki oleh kerajaan bangsa asing dan rakyatnya dibuang ke Babilonia. 70 tahun telah berlalu. Kini, TUHAN mula bertindak untuk melakukan kehendak-Nya. TUHAN pernah berjanji dan akan “melaksanakan firman-Nya” seperti yang disampaikan oleh nabi Yeremia: “Apabila genap masa tujuh puluh tahun bagi Babilonia, Aku akan memperhatikan kamu [orang Yahudi] lagi dan menepati janji-Ku untuk membawa kamu pulang” (Yeremia 29:10, baca juga 25:11). Bagi TUHAN, janji-Nya pasti akan ditepati!

Jika kenyataan ini masih lagi tidak membuat kamu kagum akan-Nya, baca semula: “TUHAN menggerakkan hati Raja Kores.” Hati siapa? Raja Kores, raja Persia, raja yang menyembah berhala, raja yang dianggap sebagai tuhan Persia, raja yang tidak mengenal TUHAN Allah Israel. Bagi TUHAN tiada yang mustahil. Dia ialah Allah Israel yang berkuasa atas segala-galanya.

“Demikianlah titah Raja Kores, raja Persia: TUHAN, Allah penguasa di syurga, telah menjadikan beta raja seluruh dunia. Dia telah memberi beta tugas untuk membina Rumah bagi-Nya di Yerusalem, di negeri Yehuda. Semoga Allah melindungi kamu semua yang menjadi umat-Nya. Kamu harus kembali ke Yerusalem dan membina semula Rumah TUHAN, Allah Israel, Allah yang disembah di Yerusalem…” (Ezra 1:2-3).

Bagaimana TUHAN berbicara kepada Raja Kores, saya tidak tahu. Tetapi, apa yang saya tahu ialah apabila Raja Kores bertitah kepada orang Yahudi untuk kembali ke tempat asal nenek moyang mereka, kebanyakkan daripada mereka tidak mahu kembali. Bayangkan sudah bertahun-tahun mereka berdoa supaya mereka dapat kembali lagi, kini setelah 70 tahun kemudian (apabila mereka sudah mula biasa dengan kehidupan mereka di Persia dan di tempat lain), mereka bergumul diantara keselesaan materialistik duniawi dan bimbingan Roh TUHAN.

Hanya “para pemimpin puak daripada suku Yehuda dan Benyamin, para imam serta orang Lewi, dan tiap-tiap orang yang telah digerakkan hatinya oleh Allah, bersiap-siap untuk pulang ke Yerusalem dan membina semula Rumah TUHAN” (Ezra 1:5). Hanya 42,360 orang Yahudi diseluruh dunia yang pulang (Ezra 2:64-67). Bagaimana dengan yang lain? Mungkin segelintir daripada mereka hanya memberi bantuan untuk membina Rumah TUHAN tetapi tidak terlibat secara langsung. Mungkin dengan cara ini, mereka dapat memberi alasan untuk tidak pergi… mungkin…

Apa yang kita boleh belajar melalui Firman ini? Allah Israel (Allah dalam Perjanjian Lama dan Baru) ialah satu-satunya TUHAN yang menentukan sejarah dunia. Dia berkuasa dan Dia boleh melakukan apa saja mengikut kehendak-Nya. Dia ialah TUHAN atas seluruh bangsa – bangsa Malaysia juga – bukan hanya kepada orang Israel saja. Dia akan menggunakan sesiapa yang Dia kehendaki (termasuk Raja Kores, perdana menteri, sultan dan sebagainya) untuk bertindak dan melaksanakan kehendak-Nya. Dia tidak boleh dihadkan kepada peraturan dan adat agama. Dia juga TUHAN yang berpegang kepada janji-Nya. Dia berfirman “Apabila genap masa tujuh puluh tahun” maka apabila genap 70 tahun, Firman-Nya akan dilaksanakan. Ini memberi keyakinan kita kepada setiap janji-janji-Nya di dalam Alkitab. Halleluyah!

Seperti orang Yahudi yang perlu membuat keputusan tentang Firman Allah melalui titah Raja Kores untuk pulang ke Yerusalem atau tidak; kita juga perlu memikirkan respon kita kepada Firman-Nya di dalam Alkitab. Kehidupan lama kita memang susah untuk kita tinggalkan. Kita mungkin sudah selesa dengan kesenangan hidup sehinggakan kita lalai dan leka untuk pulang semula kepada-Nya. Kembalilah kepada TUHAN, Dia sentiasa membuka pintu untuk kita datang kepada-Nya. Dia menghukum orang Yahudi atas dosa mereka, tetapi Dia juga mengampuni mereka jika mereka kembali kepada-Nya. Allah Bapa melalui Yesus Kristus, Anak-Nya juga ingin kita kembali dan membina Rumah TUHAN di dalam hati kita sekarang. TUHAN mengasihi kita. “Memberi bantuan” (atau menolong orang lain datang kepada-Nya) tidak cukup, Dia mahu kita juga datang kepada-Nya secara peribadi. “Pulanglah” “kembalilah” “bina semula Rumah TUHAN” dalam hidupmu. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Every Little Things We Do Shows Who We Are

Little things – the tone of your voice, the body language, and the words you use as you write or speak in everyday life – communicate volumes about you: your thoughts and the intentions of your heart. If you always talk nonsense and rubbishy on Facebook for example, (sometimes, can be excuse) then it shows the low quality of your mind and morality. If you post uplifting and thoughtful notes, inspirational quotes, and even somewhat honest-with-self-control comments, it shows the genuineness of your faith and signs of maturity. Every little things we do shows who we are.

Let me give another example. Do little things, like a slight change in our facial expression, really matter? Humans don’t suddenly hide their face like turtle or change colours like chameleons. Our true reactions are seen in more obvious expressions, tone of voice and body language. I read this amazing finding: We can recognise someone’s facial expression in less than 1/6 of a second. What’s more, we can process expressions from as far as 90 meters away. Amazing!

How can we do this? We pay attention. We are attuned to facial expressions as indicator of what someone is thinking. Because we (at least I do) think facial expressions are important, we pay attention to them. Because we pay attention to facial expressions, we react to them. Because we react, facial expressions become important to our communication. When my girlfriend asked me if I like to join her for Zumba session once in a while, my reply was “Maybe next time” I know that was she paying attention not only to what I say but also to other messages I was communicating. She know that I was saying “No” in a very polite way.

These little things that you do – what kind of books are you reading, what kind of friends you always hang out with, what kind of language are you using to communicate with others, how do you witness (or not witness) Christ to the world, how you say ‘I love you’ to your love ones, how you treat patients in the hospital or strangers when they enter the church – communicate volume about you. Truly, little things have big meanings. Little things in life do shows who we really are.

Take note of the little things you do. Does it really matter? Oh yeah, the Scripture says, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) and “Whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). For God, every little things His children is doing or saying or thinking does matter!

THING BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

You Are a Person, Not a Stereotype

People are more relax and joyful when they allow their individual personality to come out, not when they conform to popular images. Men who believe they must act tough and women who believe they must act soft are boxed into a set of expectations that have nothing to do with who they are.

Take for example, during my grandmother’s funeral, generality I observed that most women crying and men stand still with emotionless faces. Men have been taught to be tough, not to reveal their emotions. Women on the other hand, have been taught to be more open, more expressive. I read a studies that says with both physical and emotional pain, men are much less likely than women to reveal their discomfort.

It is important to remember, though, that not all of us fit those social expectations. I think, a man who wants to cry at a funeral for example, but stops himself because he is been taught to be tough is not really being tough. He is pretending to be what he thinks people expect of him. A woman who forces herself to open up in front of others but who would rather act more reserved is not a nicer person for showing her emotions and will not be happier for having to act in the way that is unnatural to her.

When I sing worship songs during church service or read the passion of Christ in the Scripture, sometime I would burst to tear. When friends share about their stories, I feel their pain. When people make fun of Jesus and His Word, I will be angry. I used to think that being tough is being emotionless guy. But most of the time I tend to fall into that state. I need to learn to be more like Jesus. I’m still learning now. Jesus cried, Jesus angered and Jesus was moved with compassion. He is the Man of men, don’t you think we ought to follow the person of Jesus as our example of personality too? I think we should.

You have to act the way you think appropriate with self-control, not the way you think the average man or woman supposed to act. Our generalisations about men and women are often false and too often damaging. You are a person, not a stereotype. To be a person that God want you to be, it is not found in connection of how well men and women should fit into gender stereotypes of femininity and masculinity, but in connection with our personal relationship with God. In the end, that is all matter in life.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

You Always Have a Choice

“My life is not made by the dreams I dream

but by choices I make” (Unknown)

Remember, in life, you don’t have to do anything. You have a choice. You can choose to do whatever you think is important enough for you. How many times have I heard people complained, “Why do I have to do this?” Would you believe that you don’t have to do it? Unless you are in prison or your body is chained or paralyzed, you don’t have to do anything. You choose to do things.

You might wonder, for example, “What difference does that make? I have to wake up from my bed, or I choose to wake up from my bed. Either way it has to be done.” It makes a tremendous difference. It is the difference between taking an action because something of value is at stake for you (and others), and taking an action because you are being forced to do so. Waking up from bed is a choice you make because you have to go to work or campus at such and such time, or you wake up early morning because you want to pray and be early to work or campus because you loved it.

Every time we wake up from our bed, we are doing it because we want to. We choose to do it. Is anyone forcing you to wake up? No. When you see all the options you have, you can begin to appreciate the choices you make. I read this axiom before, when you face a decision, you have three choices: do what you please, do what others do, or do what is right. Either way, remember – you always have a choice. Can I suggest, or better remind you? Choose do to what pleases God. Do this in remembrance of your commitment to follow Him. Take up the cross and follow Christ (Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23). You have a choice. May the Lord enable you to choose Him and do what is right.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Say No to Abortion: Bring Back the Child

Below is an excerpted text from Mother Teresa’s speech at National Prayer Breakfast Speech, Washington, D.C. (5^th February 1994). I find that it is both inspiring and challenging speech on abortion that we have to address to the world or at least in our community today:

“… I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even His life to love us so, the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love, that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts.

....By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. And, by abortion, the father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. That father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.

....Many people are very, very concerned with the children of India and with the children of Africa where quite a few die of hunger, and so on. Many people are also concerned about all the violence in this great country of the United States. These concerns are very good. But often these same people are not concerned with the millions who are being killed by the deliberate decision of their own mothers. And this is what is the greatest destroyer of peace today – abortion which brings people to such blindness.

....And for this I appeal in India and I appeal everywhere – ‘Let us bring the child back’ the child is God’s gift to the family. Each child is created in the special image and likeness of God for greater things – to love and to be loved.”

Do you love life?

Do you love God?

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Nasihat Si Pemikir kepada Orang Muda

Ini ialah nasihat Si Pemikir kepada orang muda: “Hai orang muda, nikmatilah masa muda kamu. Bergembiralah ketika kamu masih muda. Lakukanlah kehendak kamu, dan ikutilah keinginan hati kamu. Tetapi ingatlah bahawa Allah akan mengadili segala perbuatan kamu. Jangan biarkan apa-apa mengkhuatirkan kamu, ataupun menyakitkan kamu. Kamu tidak selamanya muda.

Oleh itu ingatlah Pencipta kamu semasa kamu masih muda, sebelum masa sengsara tiba dan kamu berkata, ‘Aku tidak menikmati hidup.’ Pada masa itu mata kamu tidak lagi terang sehingga cahaya matahari, bulan dan bintang menjadi pudar. Kesusahan bagaikan awan mendung akan membayangi kamu. Lengan yang telah melindungi kamu akan gementar; kaki kamu yang kuat akan menjadi lemah. Gigi kamu terlalu sedikit untuk mengunyah makanan dan mata kamu terlalu rabun untuk melihat dengan jelas. Telinga kamu akan menjadi pekak, sehingga kamu tidak dapat mendengar keriuhan di jalan raya. Kamu tidak akan dapat mendengar bunyi orang mengisar di kilang, atau bunyi muzik. Tidur kamu tidak nyenyak lagi; kamu terjaga setiap kali burung berkicau. Kamu akan takut mendaki tempat yang tinggi, dan kamu harus berjalan dengan hati-hati. Rambut kamu akan beruban, kaki kamu akan kamu seret waktu berjalan, dan segala hasrat dan keinginan hilang.

Kita menuju ke tempat tinggal kita yang terakhir (kubur), lalu orang menangis di sepanjang jalan. Rantai perak akan putus dan lampu emas jatuh dan pecah; tali timba di perigi putus dan kendi hancur berkecai. Tubuh kita akan kembali menjadi debu di bumi. Nafas kehidupan kita akan kembali kepada Allah yang memberikannya kepada kita. Memang semua itu sia-sia, kata Si Pemikir.” (Penghutbah 11:9-12:8, BM)

Janganlah kita mensia-siakan hidup ini dan hanya sedar bahawa “semua itu sia-sia” di akhir kehidupan kita. Hiduplah untuk Yesus Kristus semasa kita masih muda, semasa kita masih pertengahan umur, dan sehingga kita tua. Akhirnya, kita tidak akan menyesal seumur hidup tetapi akan mendengar suara Tuhan dan Penyelamat kita, Yesus Kristus berkata, “‘Bagus, kamu hamba yang baik dan setia” (Matius 25:21, BM) apabila Dia memanggil kita untuk datang kepada-Nya di akhir kehidupan kita. Jangan sia-siakan masa mudamu!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.