New Year Blessings

The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22)

When the Lunar New Year arrives, people will greet one another with New Year well-wishes. Before believing in the Lord, we would bless each other: “Gong Xi Fa Cai'(‘wish you get rich’)”. When we became Christians, such a blessing sound materialistic. But it is very natural to unbelievers, and they like it most.

The word “福Fu” (Blessing) is a very rich word. Different people may have a different idea of what a blessing is. It can be wealth, health, a successful career, a harmonious family, and so on.

The fu written by Emperor Kangxi is the only one that combines the character patterns of fu and shou, which is considered as a symbol of blessing and longevity at the same time. At the upper right corner there is the character duo (meaning many); below is the character tian (meaning land); on the left there are zi (meaning descendents) and cai (talent); and on the right there is shou (meaning longevity). Therefore, the character is considered as a symbol of descendents, talent, land, longevity and blessings. Many implications contained in this character, and it is recognized as the root of all blessings. The life of Emperor Kangxi shows a blessed life – he received Christ and became a blessed child of God with everlasting life.

The Beatitudes Jesus proclaimed in the Sermon on the Mount are not associated with material prosperity, but related to the saving relationship that believers have with God in Jesus. The reconciliation with God is the beginning of blessings. The more intimate we are with God, the more we are blessed and satisfied in Him. True spiritual satisfaction is often not related to material wellbeing.

This new year, although the pandemic has not yet been fully controlled, may God grant us peace, joy, and love as we witness for Christ to our relatives and friends. May the Holy Spirit produce His fruit in us, transform our character, and make us a blessing to many.

Rev Choo Yee Kee