With Open Hands

TITLE: WITH OPEN HANDS
Written by Conrade Yap (10 Mar 2010)

“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.”
(Matt 6:24, NIV)

Last month, I was among many eager folks waiting to catch a glimpse of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic torch relay. The neighborhood park was brimming with fun and entertainment, with schoolchildren, teachers, parents and many people partying away. Some of the sponsors were there distributing free products. I queued up at a Coca-Cola booth to receive a special edition cola bottle. The nice lady gave me a choice, “Coke Classic or Coke Zero?” I decided to test her out. I asked if I can have both and she said yes. How nice.

I wonder what Jesus will say if he gave us two choices: God or Money? Will we say both?

Alas, Jesus is uncompromising, as far as our allegiance is concerned. We are asked to choose between God OR Money. ‘Both’ is not an option. This is because the human heart can only have one occupier. We have to choose either God or other gods. For many of us, life is meaningless without God. Yet, we cannot survive living in this world without money. Fortunately God understands. Serving God does not necessarily mean we forsake our earthly responsibilities. Serving God means we do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Serving God means we learn to hold our possessions lightly. Serving God means we control possessions lest they control us.The manner we hang on to our possessions and riches is a good indication of where our loyalties lie. Let me suggest the posture of ‘open hands.’

Let us hold our worldly riches with open hands, instead of clenched fists that refuse to let go of the cold hard cash. Let us hold our possessions lightly, believing that whatever God gives, God has a right to take them away anytime, anywhere and anyhow. We obey Paul’s exhortation to us that it is better to give than to receive. Choose wisely. Do not grab our cash too tightly. Hold on to our possessions lightly. Then we can learn to say like Job,

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." (Job 1:21)

Thought: We must decide who to choose: God or Money? Not making a choice is already a choice.


conrade