Hi Guys/Gals, Men/Women, Rich/Poor, and all at i3 Forum,
Today is Sunday. By Right all Christians go to Church & hear Sermons.
Sermons?
Must be a dull, long winded lecture on religious stuff?
Far from it.
There is a Lot to Learn from the Bible about "How You Should Live Your Life"
Billionaires like Warren Buffet & Igvar Kamprad might be Very Successful in Investments. But Successfully Living out their lives to the Full is another matter.
I want to share from Ecclesiastes 6: 1 - 3 - the words of the RICHEST MAN EVER LIVED ON EARTH (KING SOLOMON)
THERE is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for all his soul of all he desires, yet God gives him not the power to eat thereof, but a stranger eats it:
this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
Ha! Very interesting revelation!!
God gave certain persons with HUGE AMOUNT OF MONIES BUT NOT THE ABILITY TO SPEND IT ON THEMSELVES! WOW!
Read again,
"A MAN TO WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN RICHES, WEALTH AND HONOR" - Very Rich & Very Famous Also!
But read further, "YET GOD GIVES HIM NOT THE POWER TO EAT IT..."
Whoa! He can earn the money, own the money in his name BUT HE HAS NO POWER TO EAT IT. In other words he can only See the money. He can also Hold The Money in his hand . But Not Spend it.
How come?
Let me illustrate from Real Life.
Years ago, I visited the aunt of a sister from a Church I served in Penang. One day she brought me to visit her aunt in Island Glades. She was rich. She bought 2 properties at first. Price rose up and she sold them for nice profits.
Then she bought 10 houses! And in Penang price of houses gone up & up & she became immensely rich.
As I entered the house she served me some fruit cordial syrub drink. It had been kept so long that the taste has turned sour.
Then I heard from her niece how miserly she lived her life!
When sick she would take bus to Penang GH. GH fees was only 50 cts in those days. And for food? She bought a bun for 10 cts.
Divide it into half a bun for lunch & the other half for dinner.
Her life shows so clearly that God gave her riches but not the power to enjoy her riches. There are lots of people like her!
Don't be surprised! Read again, "There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men."
Do you notice the phrase, "IT IS COMMON AMONG MEN" So this is quite a common thing - THE RICHEST PEOPLE ON EARTH MIGHT NOT HAVE THE POWER TO ENJOY THEIR RICHES!! Are YOU One of them ?
Ha! You might have millions in the bank. But you cannot spend it. Why Oh Why? Because you just cannot bear to spend any of it.
Money has become an end in itself. And money has become a part of you - an extension of your very life! So how? Any way out?
Now coming back to my story.
Not long after the "Rich Woman" in Penang died. How not? With only a small bun worth 10 cts for lunch & dinner her health deteriorated & so she died.
And what happened after that? Her children were fighting over her wealth left behind! At the funeral they made a big born fire of paper offerings. Piled Right on Top is a Mercedes Benz! They burnt a Merc Benz for her in the after life? Will she enjoy a Merc then while she only took bus when still alive?
Now I think all have heard of Warren Buffet. He is among the riches in the world. For breafast? He ate oreo biscuits. Lunch & dinner - McDonald Hamburger & Coke. What a diet. Coke contains lots of sugar. And he lived in the same house for ages. And Cars? He bought and drove a second hand one?
Aha! I remember Bonescythe said he drove an old Proton Saga 1.3 1992 (12 Valve) & ICon8888 drives an old Volkswagen beetle. Why? After making millions still driving old junks?
I am SO GLAD That IKEA Is Building THE BIGGEST IKEA IN MALAYSIA - With over 50,000 Sq ft IKEA JOHOR IS 70% BIGGER IN SIZE than the IKEA In Damansara at 29,000 Sq Ft. It is also bigger than the IKEA In Tmn Maluri at 45,000 Sq ft.
IKEA Employs over 150,000 employees Worldwide. And IKEA BOSS, IGVAR KAMPRAD, Is Among the Top 10 Richest Billionaires on earth today.
Yet with all his wealth God did not give him the power to spend it. Amazing.
Every morning, Igvar Kamprad would take a bus to work (If he wanted to he can buy up all the bus cos. in his country). And he ate his lunch in the IKEA Canteen. For clothes? He bought them 2nd hand from flea market. Why? To save a few more dollars lah!
Don't laugh at him. Look at yourself! Is your fridge giving out humming sound? Your wife complaining? Go buy her a new one if you can afford it. Calling Ks55. You got Rm15 millions. Sure you can afford one.
Ha! I am not asking you to be spendtrift. I am only telling you to get out of being a servant or slave to money. Money should always be our servant - Not Our Master!
Let's hear what GOD says,
"Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion and to rejoice in his labor, this is the gift of God.
For he shall not remember the days of his life; because God answers him in the joy of his heart" (Eccle. 5: 19 & 20)
Ask God for riches - ALSO ASK FOR THE POWER TO EAT (SPEND) THE MONEY AND TO REJOICE (ENJOY) THE FRUIT OF YOUR LABOR.
It is said that Warren Buffet Makes US$2 Millions a Day (That's Rm8 Millions a Day) At the rate he is spending on cheap junk food & cheap second hand car - his total life spending would be less than when he earns in just one day! Why work so hard?
Do you hear me, Great Johor Sifu MG9231? Stop buying those cheap China made shorts and slippers from Paar Malam & go out and spend some on your wife and family, Ok?
After all none of us can bring any when we leave this world. "Naked came we into the world & naked will we leave. BECAUSE WE BROUGHT NOTHING INTO THIS WORLD AND IT IS A CERTAINTY WE CAN CARRY NOTHING OUT!"
The Bible says, "The days of men are three score and ten. If by reason of strength there may be fourscore"
If we live till 70 years we live how long?
Let's SEE
1 year = 365 days
So 70 x 365 = 25,550 days.
Ha! 25,550 day? That's very short. Someone says, "If you just visit one small town or city in China each day - you won't be able to visit all the towns & cities in China in your entire lifetime".
True or not?
China has 1.357 billion people. If a small town has 50,000 people You won't have enough life time to visit all of them even if you just spend one day in each place. And the World is So Big.
Jesus says, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the world world and lose his own soul?"
What is more important in life, then?
Answer:
THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOUL.
So Go And Seek For "ETERNAL THINGS"
Have a nice Sunday,
Warmest regards,
Calvin Tan
Note: If your name is mentioned here, that means Calvin cares for you.
In fact Calvin cares for all in the family of i3 Forum.
Created by calvintaneng | Aug 23, 2024
Created by calvintaneng | Aug 22, 2024
Created by calvintaneng | Aug 03, 2024
I use google street view to visit every small town
It doesn't take much efforts
Nothing is impossible
2016-09-18 15:38
nice article but we cant just ignore majority of bilionaire who live what they earn and above example are just few. as example just have a glance at bill gates house
2016-09-18 16:06
Calvin you are so clever. Even smarter than warren buffet. That rich old fool who drinks coke and drives an old junk and lives in an old hut. Thanks for daring to call a fool a fool.
2016-09-18 16:55
At a coffee shop I met a woman who was selling wok rice in various Japanese gravy in the evening and curry noodles in the morning and wanted to borrow some money from me.She was in debts for being a guarantor bcos the borrower ran away from the Along.I tasted her food and it was horrible and her business was very poor.
Meanwhile she has to support a schooling child and another retarded son so I took pity on her.
So I started to teach her to use the right curry ingredients in correct proportion and the correct ingredients for seasoning the chicken and the frying skills for her Japanese food.
Hope she can earn more money from her improved business and settle her debts soon.
2016-09-18 17:10
Hence it always wise to teach somebody in need to fish than to give him some fish bcos with the skill he can earn better and enjoy a better livihood.
2016-09-18 20:32
Regarding the enjoyment of fine things,I must give some credits to my late dad.When we were young my dad went to the durian farm to get some of the best durians for his family members,they were almost seedless, fruity and tasty.The normal price for ordinary durian was 20c per kati(600grams) but those species cost him RM1/- per kati.He was most generous to give the best to us as his ultimate purpose was to let us enjoy the best.I am grateful to him till today as I have tasted the best durians ever existed.
2016-09-18 20:43
flyingkite
just read this
Buffett reiterated that he’s "one-quarter Coca-Cola" because he drinks at least five 12-ounce servings every day. "I happen to elect to consume 700 calories a day of Coca-Cola; I'm not sure which quarter and I'm not sure we want to pursue that question," he said. "I think Coke is a marvelous product." (I can attest that this is not just a myth. I was formerly a producer on CNBC’s morning show, “Squawk Box,” when Buffett was interviewed at the network’s NJ headquarters in March 2014. His only green room requests were Oreos and Cherry Coke).
2016-09-18 21:13
When I travel alone,I choose the cheapest hotel to stay as I think it is waste of money to spend on accommodation while you are out most of the day for sightseeing.
But with my sister she will insist on the 5 star hotel to enjoy for the best facilities offered and I have to oblige her and pay more for it.Thinking back,I think it is quite wise of her because I too enjoy its class and comfort and that doesn't make me poorer.Now I can understand why my well off relative always chooses at least a 5 star tour and hotel whenever he and his family travel overseas for holidays,simply for the taste of luxuries and comfort.
Actually if you have the means and saving by all means make money your slave instead of you being the servant.
2016-09-18 23:18
nobody.. is poor or rich... God.. is very fair... soon or later ... we have nothing.. dont care who ur or what u have... ha ha... everybody.. can have only 24hr per day..
2016-09-19 07:32
when finish.. we have to go... ha ha.. Dear... u know..??? dont play play. ahh..? we can early... or later.. no problem... standby....????
2016-09-19 07:35
Give u the world.. also no use.. enjoy ur self... laa.. play play.. abit laa... no problemm laa... Dear... ??? ha ha...
2016-09-19 07:37
Everyone .. hv to..survive, old , sick, die... our body.. dont belong to us.. u tell..me what.. u hv.. God can laugh at us.. he say..we stupid.. apa u mahu..??? ha ha..
2016-09-19 07:47
King Boss of Genting... also finished.. nothing... no use.. Dear .. can we hv Teh tarik..together ahh.?? play play abit..laa.. u know...? ha ha...
2016-09-19 07:50
Excellent piece of work Calvin.
I particularly like this
"Jesus says, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the world world and lose his own soul?"
2016-09-19 08:04
Excellent article. Excellent Food for Thought.
One wealty US businessman in the early 20th century advised his young salesman nephew to always travel and stay 1st class because he would get to meet the richest and most successful people whom he could learn and earn much in his starting career. Sure enough this salesman became very successful in his business and he advised those who can afford to buy the best and most expensive items e.g shoes, watches or suits or whatever. Say you can afford $100,000 for a watch and the nearest price you can get is $98,000. Buy it, don't settle for another lesser price of RM90,000. The reason? If one can afford to buy the best, why settle for anything less? After all, you can AFFORD it. Don't be stingy. Further, the best item will last and last (Think Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Mercedes, etc). Don't be penny wise, pound foolish.
Yes, don't be a slave to money and suffer. Be a master of money and live life to the fullest in our own individual way as long as we CAN AFFORD it after taking all things into consideration.
2016-09-19 09:51
We never think life is going to end anytime and have loose conduct to enjoy life.We strongly believe in our Almighty God to give us everlasting life by adhering to his principles.
What we are trying to emphasize is to spend the money to get some luxury if we can afford and not thrifting on it without using it and pass on to other people to spend on our hard-earned money.
2016-09-19 20:13
God will not laugh at those who ecrexercise absolute control their bodies for moral standard but those who deny His existence despite seeing all the creation in the universe.They will keep on telling themselves there is no God and continue to practise all the lustful habits to their satisfaction and telling themselves there is no tomorrow when they suddenly die,to these people the scriptures say they are foolish and silly.So which one do you choose you have to ask yourself sincerely?To me I will want to choose God who loves His loyal ones and blesses them with everlasting life.
2016-09-20 12:28
Lyo82
Poor soul with lots of money... am I one of them?
2016-09-18 13:09