The Road to $UCCE$$
How to be R. I. C. H.
Relationships
Relationship, Relationship,
Relationship
• “If a man love me, he will keep my words:
and my Father will love him, and we will
come unto him, and make our abode with
him (Jn 14:23).”
• “Pure religion and undefiled before God
and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless
and widows in their affliction (James
1:27).”
Who Owns Your Heart ?
Obstacles to Relationship with God
• “Jesus said unto him, … go [and] sell that thou hast, and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:
and come [and] follow me. But when the young man heard
that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great
possessions… It is easier for a camel to go through the eye
of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom
of God (Mt 19:21-22,24).”
• “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also…
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the
one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and
despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Mt
6:21,24).”
Obstacles to Relationship with God
• “He also that received seed among the thorns is he
that heareth the word; and the care of this world,
and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word,
and he becometh unfruitful (Mt 13:22).”
• “For many walk, of whom I have told you often,
and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the
enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end [is]
destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and
[whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind
earthly things (Phi 3:18,19).”
Pleasing God
1. Cultivate a intimate personal relationship with
God.
2. Allow God to set the agenda for all aspects of
your life (God‟s will).
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all
in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God and the Father by him (Col 3:17).”
3. Adopt a Godly view of success in life.
Who Owns Your Time ?
Family Relationship
“Cat‟s in the Cradle”
• A sad song about a father who has good intentions
toward his young son, but always finds himself
making excuses.
“When ya coming home, Dad?” “I don‟t know
when, but we‟ll get together then, son. You know
we‟ll have a good time then.” Despite the
disappointments, the boy loves and admires his
father. Again and again he says, “I‟m gonna be
like you, Dad. Ya know I‟m gonna be like you.”
Family Relationship
“But time passes, and the boy becomes a young man. The
father‟s priorities have changed now. He‟d like to visit
with his grown-up son, but now it‟s the son‟s turn to offer
excuses. “You see, my new job‟s a hassle, and the kids
have the flu. But it‟s been nice talking to you, Dad.” As the
father hangs up the phone, the tragedy hits him. “He‟d
grown up just like me. My boy was just like me.”
Over-commitment
• Most common threat to family life.
• Too exhausted.
• Too little time.
Family Relationships
• I wish…(essays by 10-year-olds)
“I wish my parents wouldn‟t fight.”
“I wish my father would come back.”
“I wish I would get straight „A‟s so my dad
would love me.”
“I wish I had one mum and one dad. I have 3
mums and 3 dads, and they mess up my
life.”
Family Relationships
• Much reference to the breakup of their families or
conflicts at home.
• Emotional turmoil at home are devastating for
children. It tends to follow them into their adult
years, where it almost always gets passed onto the
next generation.
• Have you ever heard anyone at their deathbed say:
“I wish I‟d spent more time at the office.”
Family Relationship
Quality Time:
• Quantity DOES matter.
• Cannot be scheduled as we please.
• Is a product of our rationalisation.
Downward mobility:
• Personal down-sizing.
Time Management
• “For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we
spend our years as a tale [that is told]. The days of
our years [are] threescore years and ten; and if by
reason of strength [they be] fourscore years, yet
[is] their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon
cut off, and we fly away... So teach [us] to number
our days, that we may apply [our] hearts unto
wisdom “Psa 90:,10,12).”
• “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools,
but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days
are evil (Eph 5:15,16).”
• Time and tide wait for no man.
Man-to-Man Relationship
• “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in
this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But
if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that
ye be not consumed one of another (Gal 5:14,15).”
• “Love not the world, neither the things [that are]
in the world. If any man love the world, the love
of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).”
• Net-working (Guang-xi)
Respect of Persons
• “For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold
ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man
in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth
the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good
place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here
under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves,
and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my
beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this
world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath
promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the
poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before
the judgment seats (James 2:2-6)?”
Ambitions and Diligence
• “[Be] Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the
Lord (Ro 12:11).”
• “He becometh poor that dealeth [with] a slack hand: but
the hand of the diligent maketh rich (Prov 10:4).”
• “Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according to
the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in
singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do
[it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing
that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the
inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ (Col 3:22-24).”