Chargers or Dischargers

By Pastor Chris Kam, Senior Pastor

We have heard this familiar phrase “The only constant is change.” Nothing exemplifies this more than now: the turmoil and uncertainty of the pandemic, leading into the recent tight election race which ended up in a hung parliament. While it is an encouragement to many of us who have voted and prayed as the new prime minister was announced, we do not really know what to expect in the next many months. Let us keep praying for good governance and most of all for the fear of God for those in power. Let us uphold the new Prime Minister in prayer that he will do what is best for our beloved nation and to do so with truth, justice, and righteousness.

I am reminded that in the sea of change, there is only one constant, and that is Christ. We have acknowledged that Christ is more than enough. Not only is He that but Scripture declares that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) We take comfort and hope that when our anchor is in Christ, we can find a firm and secure footing in life. (Hebrews 6:19).

As we come to the end of one year and enter another, how can we reflect in a way that will help us to be more intentional in moving forward, so that we are able to celebrate lasting fruits in our lives in increasing measure. It is the desire of our Master that we grow in fruitfulness. “ 1I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” (John 15:1,2)

The desire of every gardener is to have a garden displaying the splendour of bountiful fruits. Here, Jesus is expressing the heart of the Father asking the question: “How fruitful are we?” Every gardener knows that the keys

to fruitfulness are firstly deciding the kind of plants he wants to grow, the quality of the soil that the seeds or plants will grow in, and finally ensuring the right environment for the plants to grow. I believe the Holy Spirit wants us to ask the same questions as we reflect upon the year with regard to the garden of our soul.

First of all, what kind of fruits do we want to see in our garden? What areas of our lives do we need to keep doing, stop doing, or start doing? Are we even self-aware as we allow each day to pass without reflecting? “A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.” (Proverbs 20:4) • For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10) • So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14:12) • Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. (Revelation 22:12)

These are not good works for salvation but works resulting from salvation. We do them because these are the natural outcome of a Christ-centered life.

Secondly, what is the quality of the soil of our heart? This means the posture and attitude of our devotion to, and worship of God, and our humility, teachability and willing heart of repentance. Without this soil, we will not be able to grow the kind of fruits we desire to see in our lives.

Thirdly, are we providing the right environment for growth, the right kind of community to help keep us accountable about our daily living and spurring us to grow in the Lord? This includes the kind of church and cell group community we are in, and how we have true friends who will not only love us but correct us for our good.

These things may sound simple, but without them and the discipline that goes with them, no amount of good intentions as faithful followers of Christ will result in a bountiful harvest.

Why is fruitfulness important? Because the Lord said so. All the works of our life on earth will be judged one day. The following three verses affirm that truth: For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)

We must be clear that we cannot earn God’s salvation by our good works. Apostle Paul argued that we are saved by grace through faith so that none of us can boast. (Ephesians 2:8,9). These good works or fruits are expressions “Every gardener knows of a genuine salvation that the keys to fruitfulness experience. There must never be a disconnect are firstly deciding the between our professed kind of plants he wants faith and a transformed to grow, the quality of life. Even John the Baptist reminded us the soil that the seeds or that we must show the plants will grow in, and fruit of our repentance! finally ensuring the right (Matthew 3:8) environment for the It will be a sad day plants to grow.” someday if we discover that we have been mostly useless for the kingdom of God, having been merely a consumer of spiritual goods, but not a producer adding value and hope to those within our sphere of influence. It is imperative for us to be examining our lives regularly. There are two kinds of people in this world – the dischargers and the chargers. The dischargers are self-centered people who take and consume everything for themselves. They literally suck the energy and life out of the people around them. They are the complainers, and nothing is good enough for

them. They dwell on the personal problems they have and never commit to allowing God or others to help them through. We all know of people like that, and we stay far away from them if we can. If we need to see them, we do so not because we want to, but because we must. There is no joy from such people.

The chargers on the other hand are people we love to meet! Our faces naturally light up when we see them. Just a few minutes with such people leaves us wanting more. They charge you up, inspire you to be more than what you think you can be. They point you to Christ and help you to be more Christlike. They are the kind of people that take the initiative to think beyond a problem they face. They will not accept “cannot”, asking instead “Why not?” They always leave people far better than when they first met.

One of the greatest joys in my senior years now is to reflect upon the chargers in my life. They have set an example for what it means to inspire another person. Just this week, my wife and I visited the final resting place of our beloved Australian pastor, Milton Lund. He was our campus pastor when we were students in Melbourne. He was stricken with cancer earlier, and we knew his time would be limited. He was already in his late 70s when we decided to pay him a visit in Melbourne in October 2019 in the nursing home where he was being cared for. We were so glad that we did because he passed on in May 2020 a few months later right in the middle of the pandemic. We could only attend his funeral through Zoom. We were sad but we celebrated his life as he was like a spiritual father to us in our early 20s. In humility we need to recognise that we all ride on the shoulders of spiritual giants to be where we are today, and he was one of them.

As we stood over his tombstone, I became emotional with tears. It struck me that there are friendships that we value and appreciate that will always be part of us. Milton was a charger. I am one of his fruits. I said a prayer of thanksgiving to God at his tombstone, and prayed that in the same way, I might be a charger to people. I pray that is your desire too in your missional impact to the people you meet every day. Leave them better than when you first found them.