Sunday, June 6, 2010

Money - the true test of your faith

I was pondering about this recently and it just seems so coincidental that God was showing me things i never pondered about in the bible. I was speaking to a number of friends today and it just struck me like a thunder bolt.

Of all the greatest test, the test of wealth has always been the key. Most of Jesus parables were dealing with the issue of money. Jesus even affirmed this fact in the bible, that we cannot serve two masters and the two He spoke were God and Mammon ( God of money).

Why is money such an important indicator -

Money is neither good nor bad. But everything in this world needs money for it to work

When we are hungry, we pray and someone bring us out to eat or cook for us. Guess what, it cost money to buy food

When we are ill and have to see doctor, Guess what we need money to go to hospital. If we have insurance, it is still money that bought the insurance

When we need a church building, we pray God answers prayer and people give, guess what, money to buy the building.

So money is the medium and the test, but one of the greatest problem with money is that it has an awesome power to corrupt, it is like a drug, when you have, you want more. Because money can buy you things you always wanted and you thought you never could have.

It is note worthy to point out that Judas was the treasurer, the one who controlled the money for the group, the one who got corrupted by the desire. The fact remains, when we are in contact with money, there is always a desire to own it and to want it.

Thus we should always treat money with care and especially if the money belongs to the church, we should make sure no one ends up like Judas because there was no accountability.
If you really want to know your pastor, just see how he handles money, you can tell more about a person in the way they handle money, then a thousand explanation.

I thought I should bring this up because my friend from years back who have returned to Singapore spoke recently about a Church in Singapore called City Harvest. where the pastor and 17 church leaders were brought to CAD regarding on some issues about money. I really hope that when the investigation is done, the church will be clean. Some years back, I think even Hillsongs from Australia was queried over some transactions

What i am trying to say is this, Pastors are still human, if you give them unlimited access to church fund without proper accountability, one day they might turn to Judas. There is always a reason why we need check and balance. Remember that for anyone in finance, if we knowingly do things which are not proper and above board. You might end being implicated as well.

Make sure whatever you do, it is well documented and written. Especially loans, financial packages, special or noteworthy transactions. Keep it as transparent as possible, this way you will not have to always watch your back.

Judas took the test and he failed. Lets not become like him.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would like to comment that not just money is the true test of faith and has the power to corrupt. There are many other areas as well, e.g. authority and control (power), fame, etc. Even the false sense of considering yourself righteous for the things you have done in the name for God(as compared to others) will be a test of faith.

Anonymous said...

What to do when it is already corrupted? Leave it, take it, accept it or forget about it?

Anonymous said...

Definitely leave it!
Don't let Hope church corrupt you any further.

Anonymous said...

Many will definately said, pray for it and belive that the rotten egg will eventually turn good again.

Anonymous said...

"A nation of sheep begats a government of wolves." - Edward R. Murrow

Check out this WWII Yiddish song, Donna Donna :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-11Tlrs9fU

On a wagon bound for market
There's a calf with a mournful eye.
High above him there's a swallow
Winging swiftly through the sky.

How the winds are laughing
They laugh with all their might
Laugh and laugh the whole day through
And half the summer's night.


Dona, dona, dona, dona,
dona, dona, dona, do,
dona, dona, dona, dona,
dona, dona, dona, do.

"Stop complaining," said the farmer,
"Who told you a calf to be?
Why don't you have wings to fly with
Like the swallow so proud and free?"

How the winds are laughing ...


Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why.
But whoever treasures freedom,
Like the swallow has learned to fly.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful song... dona..dona... just in time for this wintry night.
"doona in Australia is a quilt blanket"

I know this is a metaphor about the Jews being taken to death camps during the Nazi era.Sadly, aren't the nature of many situation are just like the wind? Laugh and laugh with all thier might...

Anonymous said...

I found a link, it's quite interesting. not too sure whether this is Pastor Kong Hee said himself or other people concluded what he said, can anyone help to read please? It's about the finance investigation which is ongoing in City Harvest Church. What do you think?



This is what Kong really meant


But what a difference a day makes ...

The morning after the Asia (CON)ference (CON)cluded, certain members of the church, including myself, were called to assist local authorities in an investigation into the misuse of church funds.

The page had turned. The celebration had abruptly ended.

Because we’re in the midst of the investigation, I am unable to provide any details about the progress besides what already has been released by the Singapore Police in their statement to the press. But I would like to assure everyone that I, together with the Management Board of the church, are trying our best efforts to mask the obscene amounts of money we have siphoned and fully siam in providing the necessary information needed for the investigation.

On a more personal note, I would also like to assure everyone that my family and I are doing well, except my wife's sun ho albums which are not moving. I am awed by the fact that so many of my sheeps have disappeared during this time. I am also deeply grateful for the support and advice that has been so generously given by my critics - that is to stop brainwashing pple n koping money, but screw them anyway. Thanks to all of your love and support aka money!, I’ve realized that this is the most opportune moment in my life to reflect on how I can do better paper work to avoid getting caught and what matters most to me in my life: Faith, Family and Friends.

FAITH. My relationship with Money is and always has been at the centre of my life. During times of adversity, I have always taken comfort in one thing that I know to be rich: I have honestly served Money and Brainwashed the people to the best interest of my pockets. It matters most to me that my account to IRAS is absolute and I can say without hesitation that I have done my best to hide my paper trail and misuse the funds. Loving Money is my deepest passion and it is my greatest privilege to siphon it with all I have.

FAMILY. Other than my relationship with Money, my family represents the portion of my life for which I am most undeserving of and thankful for. If the fruit of my loins is the legacy I leave in this world from my existence, then my family is the legacy that I have gained in return, and hopefully that child is mine, not the horsebitch's new lovers one, God knows how long they had been cheating on me. Anyway what a profitable exchange! Without my wife and son, which would be leaving me soon, I would be a poor man indeed if not of the millions I have in my account.

FRIENDS. “A friend gives money at all times, and a brother is born for sucking” (KongHee. 88:88). How true! In this time of trial, I see who my friends are and appreciate the money they had given me. Money given not because I’m a “pastor,” but because I am rich and have hollywood mansion worthy to be called a “friend.” Their kind donations and thoughtful contributions have kept my accounts up during this time. Money is such a precious commodity. To my friends both within and out of CHC who have chosen to give me money, I can only say “Thank You.”

Anonymous said...

It has been a glorious 20 years of church building filled with money, brokeness as well as breaking the piggy bank. What can we hope for the years to come? More money of course! Well, we know from the Holy Bible that God’s thoughts toward us are thoughts of rich and not of poor, to give us a fortune and cash (KH. 69:69). I believe that the City Harvest story will continue to unfold. There is not a hint of doubt in my heart that my Lord Jesus Christ is not only the giver of our money, but also my finisher (KH. 10:3). So it is on that promise we should stand, trusting that My Word is true, my money rules, His money is for us, and My money will never fail.

the link is here below shown:

http://www.trevvy.com/sgboyx/index.php?showtopic=34720

Anonymous said...

by Esther Ng 05:55 AM Jun 21, 2010

SINGAPORE - She may have been living like a Hollywood star for the past year, but City Harvest Church's members were not surprised by her lavish lifestyle, with some even defending it.

The New Paper (TNP) yesterday reported that singer Ho Yeow Sun, who is married to Reverend Kong Hee of City Harvest Church, was renting a mansion in Hollywood Hills, a posh suburb of Los Angeles, for $28,000 a month.

The property which she has been renting for the past year has a swimming pool and is about 29,000 square feet in area, about the size of 25 110 sq m five-room flats.

Ms Ho is believed to be staying in the rental estate, which is listed for sale at $7.7 million, with her son, a nanny, her assistant and several family members, according to TNP.

The property has four buildings in total, and two cars - a black sports utility vehicle and a black Mercedes Benz CLK550 - could be seen driving in and out of the home.

MediaCorp spoke to churchgoers yesterday after its 12.30pm service and most - including those who are learning about her lavish Hollywood home for the first time - seemed unfazed by the news.

"Well, she is a celebrity," said 23-year-old student Andrew Lee.

Another churchgoer, Mr David Ong, told MediaCorp that Ms Ho's living arrangements in Hollywood were well-known.

Asked whether they thought part of their tithes was being used to fund Ms Ho's lifestyle, the 10 churchgoers MediaCorp spoke to did not think so.

A member who only wanted to be known as Mr Lim said: "Church money is separate and is protected by the church's constitution. All our financial transactions are on our website - you can go and check it out."

Ms Audrey Tan, 27, said what Ms Ho did was her business and that she had probably paid for the rent from what she earns from her business and royalties as a professional artiste.

Soon after, a bus pulled up to the kerb and a group of elderly folk disembarked. Pointing to the group, a church member who declined to be named said: "This is where part of our tithes go to - we buy them food, medication and pay for their transport to church and back."

Earlier, it was a packed house as Deputy Senior Pastor Tan Ye-Peng led the service.

It being Father's Day yesterday, the congregation honoured fathers with prayer. A special round of applause went to Rev Kong, who was greeted with a hug from Pastor Tan.

But, barely before the applause had died down, Rev Kong left the hall.

Anonymous said...

Money is not evil..it's the love of money that's evil..

Anonymous said...

This blog looks "dead". No one appears to be managing it anymore. Maybe that's a good thing so we don't have to dwell on Hope of God's massive fraud and cult like behaviour. Thank God the truth has been revealed.

Al

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