“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Tim 4:16 (NIV)

Dear Graduates,

In the computer-generated cartoon, “Prince of Egypt”, there was a memorable scene that left a deep impression on me. After Moses was plucked from the water, he grew up in the palace together with Rameses, the son of Sharaoh. One day, these Princes of Egypt were engaged in a chariot race. They chased each other at high speed, oblivious to the safety of the pedestrians. They overturned fruit stalls and construction scaffoldings, leaving behind a trail of chaos and mess. When the Pharaoh found out their reckless behaviors, he gave Rameses a stern lecture and shared his worry that the Egyptian Dynasty may be in jeopardy. Rameses responded lamely that the Egyptian Empire was built over several hundred years and a seemingly benign incident should not have affected it. The wise Pharaoh responded rightly, “It only takes a weak link to break the chain of a mighty empire.”

As you go out to serve in Jesus’ name, remember that you are joining the chain of the past saints who have served their Master with distinction. Don’t be a weak link that might break the chain of this great legacy. Watch out for some false assumptions that might compromise our commitment to be faithful servants of Jesus Christ. Two are particularly noteworthy:

1. We sacrificed more than others

Sometimes our well-intentioned church members tell us that we sacrifice more than others as a way to make us feel special. We soak in their compliments too quickly without giving it a reality check. We begin to cultivate a false impression that we have given up much, much more than others. I am afraid we might be deceiving ourselves. May I remind you that practically everybody in leadership position in the church has sacrificed as much as you did, if not more. Unrealistic expectations were imposed on others as much as on us. Criticisms have been a part of the package of leadership in almost every field, including politics, business,
non-profit organizations and family structure. Long hours of labors and over-time have been the common experience of many executives and administrators. While we may be serving sacrificially, I am very certain that we are not alone!

2. We deserve special treatment

Sometimes we are given special treatments from church members who use them as an expression of their love towards us. They may provide services at a great discount, even for free, to either assist us financially, or just out of appreciation as a church member under our care. We should be appreciative and thankful for their affections. Our church members also feel honored to be able to contribute to the welfare of their pastors. The problem is, after a while, we begin to expect free services and assume that all services rendered to us should be heavily subsidized. Sometimes, we may often demand that special treatment be granted to us. When we have come to such a state, we are at a low point in our role as a servant of God. May we never come to this state!

Ministry is a privilege. Let’s build an honorable ministry. Do not be a weak link.

Your fellow servant,

Dr Albert Ting, Principal
Singapore Bible College