The Curse of Material Comfort

It is easy for us to feel good when God blesses us with material comfort. We don’t like to be comfortable? In fact, some motivation guru would tell us that the fear of pain is the greatest force to move us to change. We fear pain and we readily gravitate towards comfort. And when the blessings of God come in a form of material comfort we naturally feel good.

There is nothing wrong with the blessings from God. But in all things, when we desire comfort more than commission of God, we are cursed. DO we feel God when we are not in aircon auditorium? Are we able to worship God without powerpoint and nice reflective images? Are we able to serve God in poor countries with poor facilities?

I was amused when I found out that some churches (from Singapore and Malaysia) gave money to the locals in China to build suitable quarters with aircon and water heater so that the short term missionaries could come and serve God.

I remembered reading the life of Hudson Taylor of how he slept at hard bed, ate with chopstick, etc so that he could be ready when God sent him to China. Such was the man of God in preparation (in peace time).

Where is the Hudson Taylor of today? Man who choose to be uncomfortable, in lifestyle, so that he is ever ready when God calls? Or has all the man been so conditioned by material comfort that they are no longer useable for His kingdom?

May we all choose to:
“Live simply so that others can simply live (eternally)…because you are still able to go and preach the good news.”


CSL