"what is the best thing in life? (sermon)"

You wanna know what’s the best thing in life? Please take some time to read. That was today’s sermon which caught my full attention throughout. The preacher was a different person today. He was quite funny, and he’s Reverend Michael Phua. Today’s sermon is based on James 1:2-11. He also pretended that King Midas asked his fellow adviser what is the best thing in life.

So what do you think is the best thing in life? The preacher said that philosophers once said that the best thing in life is not to ask such a question because this question implies that you are not satisfied with what you have. BUT! Is that really the answer?

Then he went on to talk about the 3 explanations that can explain why misfortunes happen to people:

1) This is a common explanation that people use to explain why bad things happen to people. The explanation is that God is punishing those who sinned. But the argument is that, in Colossians 1:14, “He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” So we were forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son. So then, this explanation is invalid.

2) The 2nd explanation was everyone’s favorite part in the sermon. It was the ‘suay’ theory! And the theory is that, the good man is just at the wrong place at the wrong time. But chance is very unlikely because as the saying goes, everything happens for a reason. So then, why is it that people face misfortunes?

3) The answer lies in the 3rd explanation, which is in James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Do you still not get it? These verses are trying to say that we should delight in trials and difficulties that we face because God is molding us. He is shaping us in to better people. The preacher also used giving birth as an analogy. Giving birth, you have to go through pain. But what made mothers-to-be want to go through that pain? They knew that there would be life as the result of all the pain they had gone through for the many months of carrying their unborn baby in their womb, and giving birth to them. The point is that there is always something good at the end of our trials.

And just like what my previous post mentioned (January 18, “Suffering”), the end results of our trials are usually virtues that we cannot buy with money. How can you buy perseverance? How can you buy life? If money could buy everything, then money would be a god. But since it can’t, then just like what Reverend Michael Phua said, money isn’t that great after all! Therefore, money is NOT the best thing in life either.

Then what is the best thing in life? Besides the possible answer of money and not having asked that question at all, another possible answer is not being born at all and to die faster. That is the common thought that everyone has when they face difficulties. Everyone wishes to escape whatever problems they are facing. But we all know that escape isn’t the way to solve the problem. So what if we escaped? The problem will still be there!

In James 1:9-11, “But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.” Nothing lasts forever so we should let go and not hold on to what once was. All the victories that I had since I started bowling without any coaching were all good memories and experiences. God has blessed me with so many effortless victories, but now it is time to move on to something bigger! God has plans for me, and I should go with the flow.

We should not be confusing ourselves with what is temporary and what is eternal. Your riches on earth are definitely NOT eternal but are temporary. It is written in 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or anything in the world… For everything in the world – the cravings of the sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

Well, the answer we’ve all been waiting for was here since about 2000 years ago!! Jesus is the best thing in our lives because He was crucified to set us free from our sins. Isn’t it great to live a life knowing that you do not have to worry about death? And to live a life with a clear conscience! Because of death, people lived their lives for selfish desires. Before Christ, everyone was afraid of spiritual and physical death. But now, there is only physical death. Hence, eternal life!