God's gifts to Singapore

While in Israel last year, we were reminded of how blessed Singapore is ...

Though a little red dot nation, with no natural resources and hinterland, we were punching above our weight politically and economically.

In our group of 70 at the Mt Carmel School of Ministry was an African couple (a pastor and his wife). They were in Israel on the sponsorship of a Singaporean.

Then, we visited an Arab Christian church, and the pastor shared that when God called him to build a bigger church, some of the funds he needed came in by divine providence - on the generosity of an annonymous Singaporean.

Those of us Singaporeans in the school realised then at that time what impact our little nation was making ... many many miles away in Israel (And possibly around the globe). We realised just how blessed we are ... that we have materially more than we need, such that we can give unto others ... That God prospered us not so we could spend lavishly on ourselves, but so we could partner with Him in Kingdom work.

Yesterday, one of Singapore's founding fathers Dr Goh Keng Swee passed away. He was 91. Watching a documentary which paid tribute to him, I realised we are blessed because God gave us incredible leaders and politicians. Men like Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng Swee - who had great vision, top-rate minds, incredible executional ability, and who put country before self. The policies they implemented set us on a course of development that transformed our land into a first-world country in one generation.

"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." (Proverbs 21:1)

So we are blessed because of the leaders we have. We are blessed because the people God set in authority above us were men (and women) who governed and governed well. While we mourn today the passing of Dr Goh, I can only think how thankful we should be that God gave him to us when our little nation was being built. We owe the high quality of life, and our material wealth and creature comforts, to him. For which I am very grateful to God indeed!