When faced with such a decision, the simple answer would be to say, “don’t” or “if in doubt, don’t.” That is to say, don’t do anything that goes against your values and beliefs or in some circumstances that may lead to the stumbling of a fellow believer in Christ. Generally, I would say this approach is a good starting point. However as followers of Christ, we know real life scenarios are never straight forward even with wise counsel at hand and a strong foundation of Christian beliefs to stand on.

In a rapidly changing world, to tackle the growing complexity and speed of political, economic, and social changes, followers of Christ need to develop more strategic, thoughtful, assertive, resilient, and engaging mindsets. That way, we are then able to deal with complex encounters of a personal nature or that are emerging in our society as a whole. But if we do not keep up with the changes in the society, we gradually become irrelevant, fearful, ineffective, and relegated to Christian ghettos where neither salt nor light can be detected by the outside world.

Take for example a situation where a sole breadwinner with a family including two young children, has a twenty year mortgage, sick aging parents to care for without insurance cover, little savings left, and holds values and beliefs that do not allow him to take a job at, say, a casino, which by far is the only place willing to offer him a job. What do we say to and do for this man facing such a decision? How different would our answer be, instead, for a young, single, fresh graduate holding those same values and given the same job opportunity? Under what context would wise counsel advise each to say “yes” to take the job or “no” and decline the offer?

Dependence, faith, and trust in God will in both cases most likely be encouraged by supporters, but is there a bigger question we are not asking? Can we say that at the end of the day, we must make decisions based on our own convictions, seek not to compromise on them, rely on God, and be willing to suffer and accept the consequences of our decision either way in view of God’s sovereignty over all things and leave it at that?

Like most people inclined to give wise counsel, we are inclined to err on the conservative side and encourage people not to get into situations that can clearly be avoided, specifically when it comes to sin itself. We know Paul’s words in Romans 6 on the matter of sin and grace. But what of those who become followers of Christ and are already working in companies or engaged in activities promoting worldly values? What counsel and alternatives do we provide to them?

Naomi Zacharias, Director, Wellspring International, wrote a book called The Scent of Water where she describes her encounters with women who have been caught up in the red light districts of Amsterdam, Mumbai, and other difficult situations around the world. In the book, she tells the story of a Singaporean woman who fell in love with a man who swept her off her feet to Europe only to put her on display for “sale” in Amsterdam’s red light district. After pleading with her so-called husband to let her go, she returns to her family in Singapore after six years of abuse only to face a wall of rejection that left her with no choice but to return to the sordid life she is familiar with.

What love and acceptance could have been given to restore her to a more respected place in society even if it was to restore her own perspective of self-value and self-respect? Is this not what Jesus came to do? Restore us to our relationship with our Father, our Creator, and the One who gives us value simply as His creation?

To see life from a single vantage point is too simplistic, we need to question, investigate, and engage ourselves and our minds beyond the safety of the walls we place ourselves behind. We need a strategy. We need to work out how to be salt and light in this dark world – to tackle these difficult situations with Christian values, while showing a level of compassion and love who find themselves in difficult situations not only from society, but also from those of us who call ourselves Christians.

In the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 24:14-30, the master gives three of his servants talents to put to work. He did not give the talents out evenly. To one he gave five, another two, and the last servant one talent. When the master returned, the first two servants doubled what they had been given and the last servant buried his single talent and did nothing. You know how the story ends.

Even if you are a simple saver who puts your savings in a simple fixed deposit, it is a financial strategy you are employing – conservative and low risk. When it comes to your life and God’s plan and mission, what is your strategy for achieving it? We know God’s plan is to bring all people to Himself through Jesus. We know Jesus is planning on returning to Earth one day and that eternity with God will follow for those who have put their trust and faith in Him.

If you have a strategy, how does where and for whom you work for fit into what God’s purpose is for you? I am not saying that you need to hold, indulge in or promote worldly values, but what does Paul mean in Romans 12:2 when he says to not be conformed to the patterns of this world?

A lot of what the world values begins and ends with what we personally value in life about money, success, relationships, and who is Lord of your life. If you understand your motives and where you stand in these matters, let us assume for a moment that God has put on your heart to share your faith and life to those in the marketplace and that the only door open for you to work is in a casino, then why not work there? Hanging out as Jesus did with tax collectors and prostitutes did not make Him a sinner like the Pharisees and Sadducees wanted to make Him out to be. Why? Because He knew exactly what His mission was, battled against Satan’s temptations, and fulfilled His Father’s will to death.

I know what you are thinking, “Ahh…Jesus did not draw a salary and did not promote those activities.” Then are you willing to use the money you get paid with and use it to fund creative ways to reach out to the people who are affected by gambling or who are in the company? Can the end justify the means? How can we make it work without compromising?

Jesus’ own example gives us the pathway of how we are to live our lives in this world that has corrupted values. We need to know where we stand before God, seek His will, discover the mission He has for us, know what resources and talents are given to us, put in place a strategy, act on it, and engage those in our circle of influence to His glory. If in doubt, “don’t,” but do not use that as an excuse to stay behind a well protected wall where you have your talent buried, for at any time the Master can return.

We have the abilities to come up with answers to the challenging questions we and those around us face in life. We can tackle the world with Christian values and beliefs. We need to be men and women of faith, who are dependent on God, thoughtful, compassionate, and willing to be the salt and light we are called to be, and to fulfill the mission God has set for us to accomplish as catalysts of change.

Andrew Han works for a US multinational corporation. He has lived and worked in Australia, the United States, and Singapore, and has been on the journey of following Christ over the last 25 years and is still learning.

Jesus is our Hope that can be the spark that sets alight faith in us that “this mountain can be removed.” And then, once more, we will in time be able to skip like the gazelles over the mountains.

Here are some ways to help us cope with crises and not lose hope.

Remember to laugh and grant yourself permission to cry.

There is a season for both laughter and tears, as the Bible indicates “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Ecc 3:4). In the midst of a crisis, it is hard to laugh but the humorous moments do not disappear. Sometimes, people feel a sense of betrayal if laughter enters a tough time, especially if others are involved. Laughter is a God given gift and He does not remove it from us when we are facing a crisis.

Similarly, there is a time to cry. Tears are also His gift which can bring healing and relief in a difficult time of one’s life.

Don’t forget your friends.

In a time of crisis, there can also be a tendency to withdraw from relationships and to become isolated with the crisis or problem at hand. We may not feel compelled to share our challenges with everybody, but it is a helpful time to have a few friends with you who will be part of “bearing another’s burdens” (Gal 6:2).

Others may tend to share with everyone they meet. Wisdom would probably suggest turning to those who have been supportive in the past, who do not look for anything from you in return.

Times of crises are not times to be independent – we need each other!

Find something to pamper yourself with.

Think back to what made you “feel better” before this time of walking through the dark valley. What was it that refreshed and renewed you? There is a strong possibility that right now you will not want to make the effort to engage in that activity but if it has helped before, it is worth making the effort and giving it the chance that it might be of help today. It can be pampering yourself with a refreshing bath, engaging in a sport or listening to worship songs. Whatever it is, give it another shot to refresh you again.

Make some changes.

During tough times, it is easy to let life become stagnant. While making minor changes to your environment may seem like a small thing, it can play some part in refreshing your mind. For example, switching furniture to a different place, walking a different route to the store or even changing your hairstyle can bring some “freshness” into the situation, even if it is momentarily.

Take personal care.

In the midst of our own turmoil, it often occurs that we are the last people who will care for ourselves. We neglect the person who needs our help most! It is vital to take time to dress carefully, eat well, and keep a good sleeping pattern. If our body is not cared for, our emotions, decision making ability, and motivations can be adversely affected. Just as we need the care of others, we need to care for ourselves too.

Find a good balance between “entering and leaving.”

In difficult times, some find it hard to leave the house while others find it hard to stay at home. Home can be the place where there is “too much time to think” while for others, it is the place to escape from the world. It can be beneficial to go into a world that is unaware of your crisis, healthily distracting and even bringing a different sense of proportion to you. At the same time, it is vital to have time at home to be able to face your crisis, spend time with God, and be in familiar surroundings, though it may be painful.

Find one blessing a day.

Crises can change the way we see our world. What was once sunny can become cloudy. What was once showers of blessing can turn into threatening storms. Overnight, blessings can seem part of another world, one that we may have to rediscover. One way to do this is to write down one “blessing” each day. It could be as simple as the sun shining or a bird singing. After a week, try and find two each day, and gradually increase to as many as you can find daily. This can help to draw back the curtain a little at a time and let a little more sunshine in each day.

Read the Psalms and know that “being down” is not necessarily a sin.

You can be real with God! The Psalms can be a great source of relief and comfort as you read and walk through the ever changing emotions of David. He was not ashamed to tell God exactly how he felt and in doing so, discovered the answers and comfort he needed. This was a man who was called “a man after God’s own heart.” He did not stay in the place of confusion, doubt or despair but was able to express his feelings, share his outlook, and be so real that God could lead him to “greener pastures” and prepare him a “feast” even when he was surrounded by enemies. Whatever the circumstance, Jesus wants to walk with you and is waiting for you to invite Him into your situation.

Consider things you used to enjoy and rediscover them.

What did you used to enjoy? What made your heart sing? What made you smile? Don’t run from these things, they are still a part of who God created you to be: it may be music, a sport, reading or even the employment you have. Try to ensure these things are not lost from your life. Sometimes, people feel “guilty” about enjoying themselves, as if the crisis itself demanded all our attention. Sometimes, the crisis can be better faced when there is a “time out” from it. So what did you use to enjoy? Go and rediscover who you were in that situation and take a break from the person you feel you are right now, as depressing waves threaten to drown the song in your heart and falter your smile.

Read the Bible.

Reading the Word can either become a task or a comfort during tough times. For those who find it a comfort – make a note of what helps you, so it can continue to help and even be a record of your own journey. For those who struggle with reading in tough times – some creative ideas can bring fresh life and give new perspectives. For example, read a passage and find something you have never realized before – a fact, a thought or an inspiration.

Lastly, imagine that the passage is a book and give it a title. Take one verse in the passage and write it in your own words or find one thing that impacts you and give three reasons as to why it did.

Daphne and her children, Andrew and Daniella Kirk, have traveled internationally for over 12 years, taking the vision of “Reconnecting the generations and releasing them to have an uncompromising passion for Jesus with a heart for mission and evangelism.” They speak at pastors and leaders conferences and help to mobilize this emerging generation “for such a time as this.” Check out the ministry founded by the Kirk family, Generation 2 Generation at www.gnation2gnation.com.

How did Breakthrough Missions come about?

Breakthrough Missions was born with a vision to give fresh hope and a new tomorrow for victims bound by crimes or drugs. In 1983, a group of former addicts, bearing the love and conviction in Christ, set up this non-profit organization upon the Word of God from John 8:36: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

What are the programs and services available to those who want to break the drug addiction?

18 Months Residential
(Rehabilitation Program):
Solely and strictly applying the teachings of the Bible, this rehabilitation program helps drug addicts grow in the Christian faith, character, and skills. Through classes and hands-on training like Bible study, worship services, cell-group fellowship, sports, computer classes, and language courses, we aim to build a sense of responsibility and discipline in the residents to mold them to be independent and self sufficient when they re-enter society.

7-Stage Spiritual Development
(Rehabilitation Process):
This is a 3-year residential rehabilitation program that involves a 7-stage spiritual development process. We also have a complementary Work Therapy Ministry that creates opportunities to acquire skills, foster responsibility, and cultivate habits of a positive work life. Such career opportunities include services for the public such as: Removal Service, Framing & Art Crafts, Breakthrough Art Gifts Bookroom & Café, Copper Tooling & Wood Craft, Carwash & Polishing, Nursery & Landscaping, Foot Reflexology, etc.

What are some challenges in running an organization of this nature? How are the challenges overcome?

The most prominent challenge we face is definitely the residents that are involved in our rehabilitation programs. We have two categories of people coming to us: first are those under the prison program and the other is what we term “walk-ins.” The bigger challenge falls on the inmates coming from prison. As they go through a transition from the prison to a Halfway House, they face considerable difficulties adapting to a new lifestyle – from an extremely confined environment (prison) to another (Halfway House) which is less restrictive. The challenge we face is how to effectively educate, counsel, and guide them as they come to us with varying characters, behavioral problems, and attitudes.
We aim to assist and guide the residents to realize and recognize their need for God. It becomes extremely difficult if they refuse to be helped or have no desire to change for the better. Personal experience tells me that if there is no conviction of the Holy Spirit, almost everything is impossible. Therefore, to really see the program work in their lives, we continue to do the best we can on our part to be good role models for them, to interact and share our testimonies with them, and gradually help them come to know God.

Can you describe a time in Breakthrough Missions where you feel fulfilled in this challenging ministry?

I would say we experienced the happiest moments last year as nine of our staff got married and we rejoiced together with them. Seeing them marrying Christian wives and setting up Christian families also encourage us to not give up the hard work we face in this ministry. To witness people responding to what we do and how God bless them is something we truly rejoice in.

Tell us more about Breakthru’ Café.

As a ministry of Breakthrough Missions, our café was officially launched on October 27, 2007 by Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee. Breakthru’ Café offers 12 selected reformed drug addicts the exposure to the outside world and much needed employment opportunities where they can further their skills and be better prepared in reintegrating into society.

Can you briefly share with us several stories of the people that Breakthrough Missions helped?

Freddy Wee:

As for my own story, I befriended some peers who influenced me negatively when I was in Secondary Four. We had a free supply of marijuana and occasionally, sleeping pills. After leaving school, I worked as a factory worker, skilled worker, and a hotel kitchen assistant. At that time, I would spend every single cent on heroin. When I was short of money, I would inject morphine which was less costly. I lived each day on drugs. I was once hospitalized in hope of curing my addiction, but the treatment was not successful. I continued to be under the curse of drugs for six years. During this time, I was invited by friends to attend church services.

In 1977, I was arrested and jailed for six months. The next year, I was apprehended again and given fifteen months imprisonment. I thank God that I was able to hear the Gospel and attend Sunday worship in jail. Gradually, I began to open up my heart and accepted Christ as my personal Savior.

After my release, I went to the House of Hope to learn. Two years later, I decided to venture out. I worked in the exhibition industry for over ten years. In 1997, the Lord led me to New Direction and I served there till 2001. I was already in the executive committee of Breakthrough Missions as early as 1985, but in 2002 I joined as a full time staff. I am thankful to the Lord for blessing me with a blissful marriage and I am now a proud father of two children. My heart is full of thanksgiving as I watch them grow.

As an “overcomer” myself, I truly understand that it is only through the resurrection power of Christ, that we, sinners, can be freed from our sins and be healed by God’s love. It is also only by His holiness and righteousness that I can learn to live a clean and holy life free of drugs.

Lim Sing Sing:
In January 1992, I jumped from the 15th storey window of my home while under the influence of glue sniffing and tranquilizers and landed on top of a car. It took me two months to regain consciousness. I suffered serious injuries all over my body, including my legs and spine. No words could describe my pain, agony, and despair.

Later, a Christian doctor shared the Gospel with me. He told me that Jesus loved me and could help me. I was in doubt, why would Jesus love a cripple like me? Could He really help me? Initially, I did not believe what the doctor said but he continued to visit me every day. I saw the love of Jesus in this doctor and was so touched that I decided to accept Jesus as my personal Savior.

I was hospitalized for ten months but found that I had nowhere to go when it was time for my discharge. My parents were deceased and the other family members had distanced themselves from me. I did not even have the strength to lift myself out of bed. But praise God as He brought another Christian doctor into my life, who introduced me to Breakthrough Missions!

I have been staying at Breakthrough Missions for ten years now. I thank God for the opportunity to learn to play the guitar and master computer skills so that I can serve Him in these areas. I am also thankful for the opportunity to study and complete my diploma in Grassroots Ministry in May 2000. Although I cannot walk, I have hope and the Lord has given me the opportunity to serve Him at Breakthrough Missions. God is good, for He even provided me with a special motorcycle so that I can visit drug rehabilitation centers to counsel drug addicts.

Michael Yeo:
I was addicted to morphine in the early 70s during the hippie culture where underground Rock & Blues music had tremendous influence on drug addicts. I was only 14 years old when my dad passed away, so my mum had to slog because we were poor. Slowly as I grew up, I developed a “never say die” and rebellious attitude. Later in the 80s and 90s, my involvement with secret societies made me more violent. I pushed drugs and often got into gang fights. I was also deeply engaged in black magic and was tormented by evil spirits until I almost committed suicide.

As days passed, I consumed more and different kinds of drugs. When all resources of getting money were exhausted, mum was the only avenue that I relied on to sustain my addiction. Out of love she supported me but I could see the hurt and grief in her heart, begging me to turn over a new leaf. I had wasted more than twenty years of my life; 11 times in and out of prison and drug rehabilitation centers. But thank God, in the year 2002, a close encounter with Jesus Christ in prison became a turning point.

The moment I responded, God kindled faith, determination, and desire in my heart to yearn for a life that I would never go back to prison again. The moment I confessed sincerely to God, He honored my prayer and raised me up. By His grace, I took the courage to renounce my association with secret societies. Soon after that declaration, I faced a lot of struggles and obstacles whenever I made my stand as a Christian.

I have been staying at Breakthrough Missions for about three and half years, serving in the worship and choir ministries as a guitarist. We go to different churches every week to sing and witness for the Lord. We go to other countries as well because people are touched and encouraged by our songs and testimonies.

Whenever I serve God, I remember His grace upon my life that makes all these possible. Today I no longer bring shame to my family. What I had missed and lost in life, God is restoring now. Moreover Jesus Christ has broken the curse of my going back to prison again and again. Mum who was worried about my future rejoices today because she has already witnessed the transforming power of Jesus Christ taking effect in my life. Society always has the impression that once a convict, always a convict, as “A leopard will never change its spots,” but God reversed that impression by using us as testimonies to His transforming power.

Stoppage time goals in football, a final round knockout in the boxing arena, a late conversion in rugby, a 30-foot winning golf putt in a sudden-death playoff – these are events which make even the most passive of hearts palpitate with excitement. Nothing is certain till the final whistle is blown.

We will look at three major sporting victories which were clinched against the odds.

Liverpool Football Club – UEFA Champions League 2005 winner

The strains of the famous Liverpool football club anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” resounded around the Atatürk Stadium in Istanbul. It was half-time between the Merseyside club and Italy’s AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League final, and the scoreboard read AC Milan 3 Liverpool 0.

Suicidal defending, coupled with excellent displays by Milan’s world class players such as Hernan Crespo, Paolo Maldini, and Kaka had left Liverpool’s clearly inferior team chasing shadows for most of the half.

The tens of thousands of Liverpool diehards, most of whom had traveled for hours just to be there, had reason to boo the team, and even leave the match midway to drown their sorrows in the nearest pub, for their beloved team’s chances seem dead and buried at the interval. Yet not one of them wanted to leave the arena – they were singing the club anthem at half-time though their team was badly behind.

However, not one of them was ready to witness arguably the greatest comeback ever seen in a European football final. In the space of six second-half minutes, Liverpool’s captain extraordinaire Steven Gerrard masterminded his side’s resurrection. A headed goal from Gerrard was swiftly followed up by a long-range effort from Vladimír Šmicer, before the comeback was completed via a penalty rebound shot from Xabi Alonso after Gerrard had been fouled. Milan was shell-shocked, and the score line stayed 3-3 till the 90 minute. Extra time beckoned, and the drama continued.

AC Milan’s chief striker Andrei Shevchenko was odds-on to score the title-winning goal when he found himself free with the ball a few yards from goal in the final minutes of time added on.

But Liverpool’s keeper Jerzy Dudek performed a double save to rescue his side from the jaws of defeat. Penalties. And before Milan could recover, Dudek’s continued his heroics in the penalty shoot-out. He mimicked ex-Liverpool keeper Bruce Grobbelaar’s “spaghetti legs,” successfully distracting most of Milan’s spot-kick takers.

At about 12:45 am in freezing Istanbul, Liverpool were champions of Europe for the fifth time, thus allowing them to keep the trophy for good. Gerrard said shortly after the final whistle, “We were massive underdogs…I didn’t think we were going to go all the way. As you can see tonight, we were never beaten.”

This was the team which came back from the dead, the team which performed the “Miracle of Istanbul.”

South Africa – Rugby World Cup winners 1995

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

The above poem was aptly used in the 2009 award-winning movie Invictus, which depicted the triumph of South Africa on home soil – probably the most memorable upset seen in the history of the tournament.

Fresh from the end of apartheid, the infant nation not only overcame immense political and social odds to host its first major sporting event, but also upset the sporting form book en route to victory.

The scene of South African President Nelson Mandela, clad in a Springbok jersey and cap, presenting the Webb Ellis Cup to the winning captain, François Pienaar, will remain etched in the memory of the then-young Rainbow Nation and talked about for years to come.

The third edition of the World Cup was the first to be held in just one country, and came amid a tense political climate.

The New Zealand All Blacks, which featured the legendary Jonah Lomu, were the team to watch. There were also defending champions Australia, who were unbeaten in the preceding 12 months.

In contrast, the South African Springboks were seeded a lowly ninth before the tournament but the fledging host nation’s players were also eager to impress and hungry for success. They kicked off their campaign by shocking Australia 27-18 at Cape Town, and breezed through the group stage with three wins in as many matches. The Springboks eventually reached the final with a 100% record.

Not to be outdone, the All Blacks also eased into the final unbeaten, having tore apart distinguished sides such as England 45-29 in the semi-finals, and embarrassed minnows Japan 145-17 in the pool stages.

The stage was set for a titanic title showdown in Johannesburg. The hosts led 9-6 at the interval, but the All Blacks sent the final into extra time with a drop goal in the second half. Both sides scored penalties in the first half of extra time, before Joel Stransky’s drop goal clinched the title for the Springboks.

Pienaar left his mark on South African history with his acceptance speech, stating clearly that his team’s triumph was not just for the 60,000 fans at Ellis Park, but also “for all 43 million South Africans.”

Jamaica – Winter Olympics bobsled team

Think of tropical Jamaica and sports, and the likes of Olympic sprinters Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell spring to mind. The last sporting event one would associate with the reggae country is the Winter Olympics.

Representing a tropical nation in a winter sport made the Jamaica bobsled team the ultimate underdogs in the history of the Games. The team’s debut at the 1988 Winter Games was the inspiration behind the 1993 hit movie Cool Runnings.

The sport was brought to the sunny country by two Americans with close business and family ties there, and it was not too long that the team competed in the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
And in true Jamaican style, the team swiftly built up a fan following because of their underdog status. They had virtually no experience on a bobsled track, and even had to borrow spare sleds from other countries to compete.

But their maiden race was a disaster. They crashed after their sled went out of control, and the team had to walk to the finish line, thus creating one of the most memorable scenes of the Calgary Games.

Undeterred, Jamaica overcame their disastrous debut to finish 14th at the 1994 Games in Lillehammer (Norway), ahead of more illustrious countries such as Australia, US, Russia, France, and Italy.

More success followed in subsequent years. In 2000, a Jamaican team won gold at the World Push Championships in Monaco, while at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City (US), a two-man team set the Park City bobsled track record and Olympic record for the push-start category of the two-man competition.

As in sports, we are also players in the arena of life. Often we face setbacks and failures. Sometimes we find ourselves in unfamiliar terrains and have to perform beyond our expertise just like the tropical Jamaicans competing in cold wintry conditions. But really, nothing is certain till the final whistle is blown. God often allows second chances for us to come back from defeats or disappointments, to fail forward, and to be winners in life. As it has been said, with God, there is no failure, without Him, there is no success!

Alvin Foo was a former Straits Times Correspondent covering sports & financial news. Currently working in the oil industry, the Liverpool fan is also a member of the ELDP Class of 2012. He worships at Zion Gospel Mission, Singapore.

To illustrate this concept, consider a noble soldier who is called to war. What motivates the soldier to endure hardship, pain, and great danger? Pleasure is not the primary motivation of the soldier; it is rather a sense of duty, honor, and the liberation of the oppressed. Of course, it could be argued that the successful defeat of the enemy and subsequent liberation of the oppressed would give the soldier great pleasure; and this anticipated pleasure is the source of the soldier’s motivation. In this article, however, I will not discuss the causes of motivation, but rather the calling of God for us to prioritize our lives so that the noble cause of advancing the Gospel to the lost should be a higher priority than our personal pleasures.

Wealth provides the power to bring pleasure! It is much nicer to stay in a five star hotel than a budget guest house, ride in a late model sports car than an old clunker, wear designer clothes than those unfashionable bad imitations, and eat in the finest restaurants over the local hawker’s market. Have you noticed how very wealthy older men often marry much younger beautiful women? Indeed wealth, and lots of it, increases our capacity to experience and enjoy all the pleasures this world has to offer.

An honest study of Scripture, however, reveals it is not wrong, evil or immoral for a Christian to be wealthy, own an expensive motor car, live in luxurious accommodation, eat the finest food or marry a glamorous younger woman. In fact, the Bible espouses these things as blessings which can come to an individual or nation, as a result of walking with God (Ps 112:3, Isa 1:19, Ps 35:27, Ps 66:12, 2 Cor 8:9, Isa 45:3, Prov 10:22, Prov 3:9,10, 8:21, 15:6). The real issue regarding wealth, pleasure, and our commitment to Christ, therefore, is not our outward experience but rather the priority of our hearts!

Priority of our hearts

Jesus addresses the issue of wealth (which is directly connected to pleasure) in Matthew 6:19-34. In His teaching, Jesus refers to mammon (money or avarice) and God as competing masters. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Mt 6:24). Jesus was obviously well aware of the strong, seducing power of wealth and how it can easily captivate our hearts. Jesus clearly recommends we choose God as our master instead of wealth. But what are the implications of choosing God over money or pleasure?

The implications of making God our master are far reaching, touching every aspect of our lives: including our time, finances, priorities, our morals, and ethical decisions, and our pleasures.

A true Christian is one who has surrendered his or her life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. To be under someone’s Lordship is to be under someone’s authority, under their command. Surrendering to the Lordship of Jesus Christ means that the priorities of the Lord become more important and urgent than the priorities of the person who is under another’s authority. The Apostle Paul called himself a doulos. This Greek word, doulos, has the meaning of – being a slave or a bond servant (Strong’s Dictionary). Paul willingly made himself a slave of Jesus Christ. A born again Christian is a person who has willingly made himself or herself the slave of Jesus Christ.

Obedience is a higher priority than pleasure

A slave is like a soldier who is under command. Both the slave and soldier must obey the commandments of their Lord or superior, even if it means discomfort and a lack of pleasure. The higher priority for a slave is obedience, not pleasure! A Christian is one who has decided that his or her personal pleasures are of a lower priority than the fulfillment of the commands and desires of his or her master – Jesus Christ.

Would God, however, instruct a Christian to fulfill a mission which may involve: the initial loss of the potential for gaining personal wealth, the expenditure of personal wealth, a decreased capacity for pleasure, and even personal discomfort? The answer is clearly a yes!

“Suffer for my name” (Acts 9:16)

To explain the reason why God may lead a Christian into a possible loss of pleasure, we need to look at the world through God’s perspective. God’s primary focus is the reconciliation of His human creation into His eternal family, or Kingdom (2 Cor 5:18-19). The salvation of humans into His Kingdom, so they will avoid an eternity in hell and the lake of fire (Rev 20:15), is of far higher importance to God than our personal experience of worldly pleasures. It is not God’s will that one person should perish and go to hell (2 Pet 3:9, 1 Tim 2:4). So our greater priority should be to yield to the Holy Spirit and to work in our area of gifting to assist the building of the Lord’s Kingdom.

The work of building God’s Kingdom undoubtedly requires at times: tedious preaching and teaching, rejection and persecution, tiresome travel, mixing with dirty, smelly, and sick people, and staying in some polluted and poor environments. In addition, the Lord may command some to leave their secular employment to work in His Kingdom (thus giving up an opportunity to increase their wealth), and others to give of their wealth to support those who have given up their secular employment to advance His Kingdom. These activities of increasing the Lord’s Kingdom impinge on our time and wealth and therefore our opportunity for increased pleasure. Just like a noble soldier who risks death and injury, endure discomfort, and forsake his family and home for the sake of a just war, likewise a Christian should be prepared to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit, even if it means the possibility of a loss of wealth and pleasure, for the higher cause of advancing God’s Kingdom.

Jesus is, however, aware of our physical needs and our desire for comfort or pleasure from the finer things life has to offer. There are certain promises and guarantees from God for the person who chooses to be the Lord’s slave and place the Lord’s priorities above their own – they will receive a reward from God in this life. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus promises food and clothes, and Matthew 6:29 states, “Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” Jesus also promises that, “…no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age…and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mk 10:29-30). A hundredfold as much in this present age certainly implies bountiful prosperity. Without going into teachings regarding the Lord’s prosperity, it is evident that the Lord will bless His own with abundance (Jn 10:10, NKJV), and a slave of the Lord could become more empowered with wealth to enjoy the honorable pleasures of this world than the person who has chosen to make mammon his master.

A true Christian is a person who has willingly placed themselves under the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have therefore deferred the priority of their life choices to God and are willing to forsake opportunities to make wealth, therefore possibly reducing their capacity for pleasure, as the Lord directs their energy and resources to the advancing of His Kingdom. Scripture, however, assures us that the Lord will provide the financial needs of those who accurately seek first His Kingdom. In fact, it may be the case that those who place their priorities in deference to the Lord may end up being more highly empowered to experience the noble pleasures of this world than those whose primary focus is the pursuit of wealth with its associated benefits of pleasure.

Rev Andrew J Shreeve is an author, publisher, and international teacher, and preacher of the Gospel. A profile of Andrew’s ministry, including his books, is available by visiting his website at andrewshreeve.org.

The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced.

We can read about deadly fun taking another victim just about every day. It can be a car accident at ridiculous speed. Sometimes it is a student who is choked to death in a “fun” game at school. Others will perish as they leap from incredible heights while their friends capture their death on their cell phones. More will watch a movie and try to imitate the same stunt that a professional crew spent weeks preparing for with only a moment’s thought.

This has become a characteristic of the youth culture. Although not new, it has grown as information is available at never before speeds and descriptions (visual images and footages). It has led some in youth work to adopt (again not new) a fun component in everything they do. From the outside, it can look like the youth ministry is all fun but no content. In some cases, that would be a valid observation but why do these kind of groups sometimes grow?

All of this information is pointing to some things that are often overlooked in churches and with parents who are attempting to raise a godly generation in their homes and congregations.

First, much of the crazy activities that are endangering lives have a quick return of praise, excitement, and comradeship. While living through these events, adolescents bond in some very unique ways. Whatever they had done, watched or recorded can become conversation points for the rest of their lives. In contrast, their daily lives can seem very boring. Too often, no one else is providing them with the kinds of opportunities that generate praise, excitement or comradeship at any significant level. Parents and churches often adopt the concepts of safe and sane, and in the minds of the adolescent: boring.

Others outside the Church are pushing them to new heights athletically, academically, and in areas of social action. Those pushes into the new and unknown create an appetite for the pleasurable feelings that come with the new venues of life they are experiencing.

Media sources also provide a steady input of “things that shouldn’t be tried at home” through extreme sports and video clips of people doing unusual things that the viewers often try to copy. Youth do not need an imagination to come up with their own “ideas,” many are provided for them.

It should not be surprising that adolescents are drawn to these kinds of action since there are plenty of opportunities for praise, excitement, and comradeship. Everyone needs these and the Gospel lifestyle provides it if you take off the sane and safe label that too many have put on it.

While parents often push for academic excellence, they seldom see that their child also needs a reason to be good at the bookwork. Getting a high paying job, graduating from a good school, or living in a particular neighborhood has not slowed down suicide rates, addiction issues, and domestic violence among society’s elite.

Academic excellence can provide you with more tools so you can find new and exciting ways to share the Gospel with avenues via the new media. Your academic background can also enable you to attain food from available sources around the world for the millions who are suffering from malnutrition.

Applying a good academic background to the needs of worldwide Gospel efforts is one of the keys that can motivate a student to accomplish their best in school. If they have already been involved in worldwide efforts that Christ called us all to be involved in; if they have already helped feed starving people in Africa or the homeless of their own country, they might have had enough praise, excitement or comradeship to skip their friend’s “deadly fun” ideas that could land them in the hospital.

The Gospel makes a compelling case to live a potentially risky life. In John 12:23-26 Jesus said, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.”

Jesus was hated, pursued, and faced threatening situations on a regular basis. His disciples soon found themselves facing the same conditions after Christ’s resurrection and ascension to Heaven. You cannot escape the fact that we live in a war zone, and as Jesus said, “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes” (Mt 10:21-23).

We are also wired for good works in Christ which He prepared in advance for us to do. That means we are prepared and designed to live with praise, excitement, and comradeship as a normal and ongoing part of life in the midst of that war zone Jesus warned us about.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10).

Unfortunately, we have tried to create a different world in which gaining financial wealth, social status, and security makes our light on the hill brighter and people flock to our churches. It is not Christ’s goal for us but it is easier to sell it and live it than walk into the real world and try to finish His commands to us.

“If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicion and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Tim 6:3-10).

With this scriptural understanding and our personal design to live in it, deadly fun is only taking the place of the real thing. Our attempts to avoid a scriptural lifestyle for ourselves and our children can set the stage for the current level of deadly fun.

Students who are challenged by the real call of Christ and given opportunities to live it out are not tempted by the counterfeit of deadly fun. After years of working with students and raising three of my own, the real thing will produce godly young people who make choices that impact their own lives and the world around them, for Christ.

I work hard at preaching and teaching but my best sermons are the experiences that I can provide through mission trips, street ministry, helping the poor, service projects or feeding the homeless. That brings all the words of church, sermons, Scripture, and devotions into focus for those who participate in them. Words by themselves are often misunderstood and lost.

We worked for years in Juarez, Mexico, with our short term mission teams. Every year we would bring in new participants and let them experience what had only been “words and pictures” before. One student after the first hour in the city quietly said, “I have seen all the pictures and heard all the stories but none of them prepared me for this, you have to come to ‘get it.’”

Churches that focus on providing opportunities and equipping the participants see a steady growth of changed students. Fun factories may draw larger crowds but they do not see changed lives and will only be one example of the fun students can have and still end up a victim of their own version of “deadly fun.”

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart” (Mt 13:18-19).

When we help them understand the real life of following Christ rather than pursuing wealth, health, and status, we are doing them a greater favor than we could ever know. It releases them into all the good things in Christ that they were created for.

At this point, “deadly fun” looks like the bad idea that it really is. Christ’s followers have the real thing and will enjoy the additional comradeship of working with Jesus Himself, hearing His praise, and know the joy of obedience. These kinds of students change the world.

I have the privilege of seeing them in action all over the world because of the opportunities they were provided in their formative years. That became our goal for our own children and the youth of our churches. Give them the real thing from an early age so they can spot the counterfeit for the rest of their lives.

The New International Version of the Bible has been referenced.

Mark Schaufler is an author and the founder of Finish-the-Race.org, a youth ministry training program in the United States. He also started and is the CEO of MST Ministries, providing evangelistic preaching, training, and resources; leading numerous short term missions on six continents since 1984. Visit www.mstgo.com to find out more about Mark’s ministry.