The Paradox Of Self-Sufficiency
I just read a winning essay on "What The Modern Woman Want..." by a 15-year old Singaporean girl. It was really well-written and it made my heart heavy just reading it. It's about a successful modern woman who was, by the end of the essay, too successful to include her old mother in search of greater happiness in her career, marriage, and life of luxurious pleasures.
I feel sad for the mother, and sadder because it could well easily be a true reflection of life lacking in moral values. I'm not activist in filial piety. I know I have caused much grief to my parents with my ignorance and selfishness, anger not controlled enough to attain the 'honour your parents' part of the ten commandments I'm still learning to obey. But time is too short to dwell with regrets. I'd rather redeem it with repentence and change. But that'll take another separate post altogether.
My purpose of this post pertains actually to a short paragraph after the essay, probably just a comment enclosed by a reader:
"So fellow friends, save enough for your old age and don't try to rely on your children. Your responsibility is to give them the necessary education/training and life after that is theirs. If they chose to look after you, it is a bonus and thank the gods for it."
In reading this, I can't help but be amazed by the God I worship and adore, who gave the commandment to honour our parents, leaving the responsibility of caregiving to the children. Apparently, this is the only commandment that comes with a blessing (that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you) . It's the kind of blessing that only God alone can promise and deliver. And when He promise something, He will definitely deliver, sometimes more than we could ever imagine.
I'm awed by the fact that this is also the God who, in His instructions to His people, includes caring for people like widows and orphans. The God who raise His vengence through the generations is the same God who meticulously and thoughtfully ensures that the needy are taken care of, whether you are His people, or strangers from another land. His hands are wide enough to have you under the shadow of His wings.
Perhaps people nowadays, even the so-called widows and orphans, are no longer, or would rather not be grouped under the category of the 'less fortunate'. Self-sufficiency and independence are the coveted state people would work hard and sacrificed any other things for, including relationships with people and God. Beyond that, materialistic pleasures are sought after and envisioned as immediate, short-termed and long-termed plans to attain.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
God has pre-warned us of the perilous end times (already happening) where men will become lovers of pleasure and any self-satisfying things...anything other than becoming lovers of God. Ironically, in a pursuit for self-sufficiency, and more so as individuals perceived to get nearer to the goal, it is where we actually need God the most.
I feel sad for the mother, and sadder because it could well easily be a true reflection of life lacking in moral values. I'm not activist in filial piety. I know I have caused much grief to my parents with my ignorance and selfishness, anger not controlled enough to attain the 'honour your parents' part of the ten commandments I'm still learning to obey. But time is too short to dwell with regrets. I'd rather redeem it with repentence and change. But that'll take another separate post altogether.
My purpose of this post pertains actually to a short paragraph after the essay, probably just a comment enclosed by a reader:
"So fellow friends, save enough for your old age and don't try to rely on your children. Your responsibility is to give them the necessary education/training and life after that is theirs. If they chose to look after you, it is a bonus and thank the gods for it."
In reading this, I can't help but be amazed by the God I worship and adore, who gave the commandment to honour our parents, leaving the responsibility of caregiving to the children. Apparently, this is the only commandment that comes with a blessing (that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you) . It's the kind of blessing that only God alone can promise and deliver. And when He promise something, He will definitely deliver, sometimes more than we could ever imagine.
I'm awed by the fact that this is also the God who, in His instructions to His people, includes caring for people like widows and orphans. The God who raise His vengence through the generations is the same God who meticulously and thoughtfully ensures that the needy are taken care of, whether you are His people, or strangers from another land. His hands are wide enough to have you under the shadow of His wings.
Perhaps people nowadays, even the so-called widows and orphans, are no longer, or would rather not be grouped under the category of the 'less fortunate'. Self-sufficiency and independence are the coveted state people would work hard and sacrificed any other things for, including relationships with people and God. Beyond that, materialistic pleasures are sought after and envisioned as immediate, short-termed and long-termed plans to attain.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
1But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
God has pre-warned us of the perilous end times (already happening) where men will become lovers of pleasure and any self-satisfying things...anything other than becoming lovers of God. Ironically, in a pursuit for self-sufficiency, and more so as individuals perceived to get nearer to the goal, it is where we actually need God the most.
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