'May our sons flourish in their youth like well nurtured plants
May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace.
May our barns be filled with crops of every kind.
May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands,
And may our oxen be loaded down with produce
May there be no enemy breaking through our walls
No going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares' Psalm 144:12-14
Today, 22 January 2023 is Chinese New Year, ushering in the year of the Rabbit. Both Pat and I are born in the year of the rabbit which comes along every 12 years in the Chinese Lunar calendar. We wish everyone 新年快乐，万事如意, xīn nián kuài lè, wàn shì rú yì meaning Happy New Year and May All Go Well With You.
The Lunar New Year celebration is filled with rich customs and meanings. Over the years it dawned on me that these customs are symbols of the passing on of blessings year after year such as in the CNY greeting above. In Chinese traditional thought, there are the "four blessings" which are happiness (xi 喜), success or prosperity (lu 禄), longevity (shou 寿), and good fortune (fu 福).
After greeting our elders during Chinese New Year in the Peranakan (Straits-born Chinese) tradition, the elders are blessed by the young ones with the phrase, 'Panjang, Panjang Umur'; best translated by Mr Spock's Vulcan greetings 'Live Long and Prosper.' The elders will in turn wish the younger ones with phrases like '生意兴隆' (booming business), '学业进步' (progress in studies), ' 步步高升 ' (to rise steadily).
Such blessings project the blessings of a Good Life which is from the Lord and well noted in the verse below.
'Yes, joyful are those who live like this!
Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.' Psalm 144:15
Another CNY tradition is the giving and receiving of Ang Paos or red packets of money given to children and youths. More than just the giving of money or wealth this popular tradition connotes the passing on blessings and instilled from an early age, the virtue of generosity. We are blessed to be a blessing!
This requirement for Christians to be generous to one another and especially to the poor and needy, is mentioned several times in the Bible and especially in Malachi 3:8.
Nicky Gumbel wrote in the 'Bible in One Year Day 350,' "The prophet accuses them of robbing God by their failure to get their giving sorted out. He urges them, 'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'see if I do not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.' This shows how important your giving is in God's eyes. Prioritise giving to the church you attend. If the church community gives generously, then you can expect that God will throw open the floodgates and pour so much blessing that we will not have enough room for it."
We are prone to think of giving only in monetary terms and perhaps the Ang-Pao of CNY and our tithes and offerings during church service help anchor this thought. But God blesses us with much more than just riches and wealth. Every gift, every talent, every act of kindness comes from God and we are to reciprocate this same kindness to others.
'Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gift to be used in service to others. So use your gift well.' 1 Peter 4:10
“I will bless you,” God says to Abraham, “and you will be a blessing. . . . and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” Genesis 12:2-3.
God spoke these words to Abraham and laid down a principle for us to follow. Abraham's benefit is not the end of God's purpose. God will bless him so that he might be "a blessing to others." Think about the blessings God has given us and how we can use them to bless others.
Ask the Lord to 'Make Me a Blessing.'
Out in the high-ways and by-ways of life,
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing --
Out of my life May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,
Tell of His power to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True, every moment you live.
Give as 'twas given to you in your need,
Love as the Master loved you;
Be to the helpless a helper indeed,
Unto your mission be true.
