What's the difference?!

God repeats what’s important.

If you’ve had the chance to really spend time reading the Bible, you will, from time to time come across repetitions of the same thought or instruction. I learned that this is “Biblical emphasis” or God telling you that the particular thought is a big deal to God.

This weekend, I experienced that “in your face” emphasis about a particular topic that obviously needs to be shared with all Filipinos. The topic: “What difference can I make” was the preaching two Sundays ago when I attended church service.

I found myself saying Amen! Every three minutes because it was so timely and such a powerful message. In fact, I told Pastor Robert Hern that I would be stealing his material. A week of utter chaos came and I forgot all about the topic.

This weekend I was holed up in Lipa City and when I went to the Sunday service, I realized that Pastor Raymond De Guzman’s topic was “What difference can I make”. Clearly God has a plan in mind and this is proof that “nagging” can be divine!

In summary, the topic begins with asking the question and then connects to the fact that many Filipinos can’t or don’t even bother to vote during elections. They come up with all sorts of excuses but never admit that they simply did not want to.

An interesting word or concept that came up was that many of us don’t want to take “Ownership” of what we have or what we own in terms of our country and our citizenship. Both are blessings and privilege and not just data on your passport or drivers license. 

Ask your self: Do you love our country? Most guys will probably say yes. But the next question nails them to the wall: if you love this country then how come you pee by the sidewalk, on the street, behind a tree or just behind the door of your car?

Answer: because you don’t treat it like it’s yours.

In other words you don’t take ownership of the place. Robert really pushed hard when he asked: “would you urinate on your living room?” Of course not because you own it, you love it and respect it.

Take ownership of what God has given us: Our towns, our cities, our Country.

“I love the Philippines” should not just be about tourism. It must be a constant appreciation of what is ours. Pinoys from abroad tend to wonder why guys like Robert and myself or even my wife who is from Holland choose to live in the Philippines when we have options to live in “better” places.

Being a Pastor, Robert’s answer was backed up by a biblical passage from the book of Acts chapter 17 verse 26. He said because that’s where God wants me and I love it. It is no accident that you are a Filipino, so start living and loving it!

Take ownership even of the guilt. Don’t say Filipinos are crazy drivers, pigs or law-breakers. Admit that you are an intermittent law-breaking swine and “repent”. That means really, really regretting the act and committing never to do it again, even when no one’s looking!

We complain about government and politicians but we never admit that we do more complaining than doing something about the problem. You spend time and money texting radio stations to tell them your opinion and to hear your name on the air! That makes you a critical spirit lacking in attention and poor because you make bad investments on text messages that does not change things.

Pastor Raymond for is part made an interesting point on the aspect of “Self-Government”. We must learn to govern ourselves or to be disciplined before we can even dream of a “Good government”.

Here in Lipa, Batangas we are familiar with the sight of toll receipts flying at the Star Toll like confetti because drivers don’t want trash or litter in their cars or vehicles so they simply drop the receipts by the toll way! No littering inside what they own but ok outside what they don’t own!

Be productive and get involved.

In the parable of the ten talents, Jesus Christ teaches us that the productive servant will get the honor and the Lions’ share, while the lazy or the hesitant and unproductive servant will lose even what he has.

By Heaven or by Earth, the same rule applies. A person who is unproductive has nothing to offer to God in terms of tithes or offerings. As a consequence God cannot reward or promote them for their laziness.

Take this a step further: an unproductive “Citizen” does not give unto Caesars’ what is Caesars’ and becomes a burden. Being productive is not just about being employed. It’s about doing something for your self or for others.

In our “maids-dependent” nation, many men have gone AWOL on their share of helping out at home. In the end they become perfect examples to their sons and daughters that it’s OK to make someone else do the work. That’s a double minus!

In much the same way, ownership applies to you taking responsibility by obeying the law, respecting people of authority, paying taxes or protecting not just the “environment” but your immediate surroundings. Pray for those in authority because they in turn have the burden of being responsible for “you”.

By taking ownership and responsibility you are sending a clear message to those in-charge that these things matter to you or to us and we expect the same from them. When the public watches, the authorities pay attention.

But before they do, You must make a difference BECAUSE YOU CAN!