l| a time to be silent and a time to speak |l

I Want to Break Free

Suddenly, I (again) desire to be rich. And to have a new job (and life) in another country, prolly anywhere but SEA (unless it pays well).

I've been told (by JG) that a problem which can be solved with money isn't a problem. To some extent, it's true. But only if one has the money to solve the problem in the first place. And of course, discounting the other logical bits of whether it's worth spending the money, etc. Lately, I also think to myself that money can buy time (again in selective context). Like when I took cabs almost every day to and fro SGH when Gramma was in the hospital, so that I could squeeze in one or two hours more with her. Sometimes, spending the money taking cabs also let me stay a bit later at work and still be able to reach the hospital at a reasonable visiting hour.

Yet I'm also reminded that Jesus said (Matthew 6:24, NASB): "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. You cannot serve both God and Money."

I don't want to end up a materialistic person. It's shallow and eventually meaningless. But yet, having lotsa money would seem to solve quite a bit of problems around me. Money can't buy happiness, they say. But if we had lotsa it, tonight might have a different ending.

I know I'm not the best person to complain about the lack of money. In fact, most Singaporeans have no right to complain about the lack of money if we take a serious stare, not just look, at those who are born and eventually die in extreme poverty. I can't yet understand nor explain the lives of such, but may God have great mercy on them.

1 Timothy 6

6But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.

9But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Contentment, even in inadequacies, is a lifelong lesson. God's word is indeed the truth, but yet a constant struggle to hold tightly to.