01 Apr Travelling Light – April 13

By Ferdinand Haratua

Autumn is definitely my favourite season of the year. Just picture this, a quiet street with bright autumn-coloured trees neatly lining up on its sides. O how blissful it is to jog along these streets and sometimes to my surprise, sometimes we might receive Bonuses to enjoy the nature to the fullest! But not everyone is as excited as I am, I know the guy who sweeps the street outside my house every morning is not – as he must sweep endless piles of fallen leaves every morning in autumn.

You may or may not know this, but the reason some trees shed their leaves during autumn is to prepare for the winter. With shorter daylight and cold weather, shedding their leaves mean that trees could conserve energy and survive winter. Trees without leaves may not look very attractive, but they have a better chance to survive the winter. Also, the leaves that fell will decompose and produce nutrients not only for the tree itself but also for the nearby plants.

Now, just like a tree that gives up its leaves will benefit itself and others, I believe the same principle is also applicable to us. When we live generously in giving, not only other people will benefit from it but we ourselves will also. You may be asking, the trees shed their leaves in autumn in order to survive the winter, but what is in it for us to give generously?

The Bible tells us not to store up our treasures on earth, but rather to store them up in heaven. Generous living is like sending ahead our treasures from earth to heaven, that is, making our temporary treasures permanent.

I am reminded by Jesus’ words that say, “Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples” (Luke 14:33). Jesus did not say give up ten percent or even half of what we have, but everything we have. In other words, what Jesus said is that in order to be His disciple we must travel light on earth. Are you Jesus’ disciple? Do you still carry an extra “baggage” that needs to be shed?

Main Highlights:

• When we live generously in giving, not only other people will benefit from it but we ourselves will also benefit.
• Generous living is like sending away our treasures on earth to heaven, that is, making our temporary treasures become permanent.
• To be Jesus’ disciples we must be travelling light.

Image/Photo idea:

A picturesque scene of a quiet street, bright yellow/red/brown autumn-coloured trees along the road, maybe a man/woman standing on the road with a small luggage (the idea of travelling light).