The Successful Suffers

If you want peace and quiet with no opposition, then do nothing. Once you do something for God, the devil will not be happy and he will stir up fleshly and worldly human beings to persecute you. It's the devil's envy, surely the "original sin". Abel's offering was accepted as he gave the best, the fats of the lambs, and he was killed by his elder brother whose offering was rejected. It was envy that led to murder. The first murder, a fratricide was as a result of envy. Whenever you do something or give something in God's glory, you will face opposition. When I reflected on 1 Sam 18-20, it was like the story of my life. I remember when I was elected to the Executive Council, many became jealous.

During our first Pastors' Conference (1996), one senior leader sat outside the hall because he did not want to listen to my preaching. When one pastor asked him why he was outside, he could not contain his anger, "Why should Tony one so young, with only one year ministry experience be elected as Treasurer-General?" The next year we had a Leaders' Conference in Sibu, Sarawak and there were two translators appointed but they did not turn up last minute. They were not happy I was the coordinator and organiser of the Sabah's 430 strong contingent. Perhaps wanting to see the Conference failed, they chose not to turn up. An hour before the start of the Conference I was roped in to stand in for them as a translator. I lost 2kgs during the Conference but the whole conference (1,100 participants) heard the Word of God through the Malay translation that I did. 

When I won a PhD scholarship in 2000, I informed my leaders that my study would go on for a few more years. I did not receive any congratulation messages from anyone. When I completed my PhD in 2003 I sent in a copy of my degree for filing as our salary or pay is determined by a number of factors, one of which is one's theological qualifications. Until today I had received no commendation from those who know better even when I published my doctoral thesis with T & T Clark in 2005. One church leader told me that if this happened in their denomination, their church would hold a thanksgiving service in honour of their pastor who authored a book published internationally. No such thing happened, all because envy. 

I could go on and on. In recent times, when I joined a local Seminary a number of lecturers could hardly afford a smile, let alone extend welcome. Just because one is PhD holder and they are not. How jealousy wrecked relationships, and like King Saul they will find reasons to put down the person who they are envious of. No wonder, when I said my final goodbye to one of the cleaners (a non-Christian), she said twice, "There is no longer anyone good here" ("Tiada orang baik sudah di sini"). A non-Christian could could sense one's genuineness but so-called Christians whose noses are lifted high, the Lord knows afar because He does not acknowledge the proud and as for the proud, his soul is not right with him.