SPEAKER_02 0:13

This morning Old Testament reading is taken from Proverbs chapter 29, verse 1 to verse 14. He who is often reproved yet stiffens his neck will suddenly be broken beyond healing. When the righteous increase, the people rejoice. But when the wicked rule, the people groan. He who loves wisdom makes his father glad. But a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down. A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices. A righteous man knows the rights of the poor. A wicked man does not understand such knowledge. Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath. If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet. Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seeks the life of the upright. A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked. The poor man and the oppressor meet together. If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SPEAKER_01 2:25

Last month we celebrated our 61st national birthday. You know, we have come a long way in celebrating uh National Day as a nation. Every year, every national day, we pause and take time to celebrate another good year. We remember our past with gratitude, celebrate the present with thanksgiving, and look forward to the future with hope. And this year, as Singapore marks 61 years of independence, we thank God for the many blessings that many nations long for: peace, stability, good governance, economic opportunities, harmony between people of different races and religions, and many more. As a church, we should never take any of these blessings for granted. They are gifts of God's grace and fruit of faithful service and sacrifice made by many. National Day is also a time to ask deeper questions. Not how successful have we become, but what kind of nations are we becoming? Indeed, Singapore has a compelling vision of becoming a smart nation in the future. Through education, innovation, technology, and artificial intelligence, we seek to improve life for everyone. Yet the Bible invites us to ask a deeper question. Is becoming a smart nation enough? Is being smart enough? Well, history suggests otherwise. Many civilizations have been highly educated, scientifically advanced, and economically prosperous. Yet some of these same civilizations were also marked by injustice, violence, and moral decline. Indeed, a nation may be smart and prosperous, yet still unjust. It may be technologically advanced, yet morally bankrupt. It may be economically successful, yet spiritually impoverished. Clearly, being smart alone is not enough in nation building. Certainly not enough to make a nation great and wise. Now, as Christians, we celebrate the gifts of knowledge, science, and technology. Intelligence is a gift from God. But scriptures remind us that being smart is not the same as being wise. The Bible therefore calls us to pursue something deeper, not just to become a smart nation, but to be a wise nation. The Bible describes clearly what makes a nation great and wise. Long before Israel entered the promised land, Moses addressed the entire nation of Israel with these remarkable words in Deuteronomy chapter 4, verse 6. He said, Observe them carefully, for these will show your wisdom and understanding to nations who will hear about all these decrees and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. Moses was exhorting God's people to obey God's law faithfully, so that when other nations heard about all these laws and wisdom of God, they will say, Surely this is a great nation, a wise and understanding people. Now notice what Moses did not say. He did not say a great nation is a wealthy nation or a powerful nation or an advanced nation. He said, A great nation is a wise nation. So what does a wise nation look like? What is the biblical definition of a wise nation? Proverbs chapter 9, verse 10 says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. In biblical understanding, a nation is a wise nation not simply because it has clever leaders and smart citizens, but because both rulers and people are constantly looking to God to seek his wisdom for the common good and to govern the country in the ways of justice and peace. A nation becomes wise when its people reflect the wisdom and character of God. In the Bible, there are many biblical qualities that define a wise nation. From Proverbs 29 and Jesus' teaching in Luke 10, we can identify three fundamental distinctive marks of a wise nation. A wise nation is distinguished by three compelling godly virtues: righteousness, justice, and compassion. First, a wise nation is rooted. A wise nation is rooted in righteousness. It is the character of the leaders and people that is the foundation of a wise nation. Second, a wise nation is governed with justice. It is righteousness put into practice in governance and in public life. It is our responsibility of being fair and just for everyone. And third, a wise nation is filled with compassion. By ways of righteousness and justice, it embraces a common ethos of showing mercy, kindness, and care for one another in the community. It is about care and love for our neighbors. Let me expound these three distinctive virtues one by one. First, a wise nation is rooted in righteousness. You see, a wise people knows that righteousness is a vital moral attribute, much more important than being smart. King Solomon, known as the wisest man ever lived, says in Proverbs 29, verse 2, when the righteous increase, the people rejoice. But when the wicked rule, the people groan. In the King James version, which I like, when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked rules, the people groan. Interestingly, Solomon begins not with economics, not with technology, not with military might. He begins with character. Truly, the well-being of a nation ultimately depends on the moral character of the people, beginning with those entrusted with leadership and governance. So what is righteousness? In the book of Proverbs, righteousness is more than personal holiness and morality. Righteousness includes godly character, values, principles, ethics, and integrity. It is about what is good, what is true, and what is just according to God's standards. Being righteous describes a person whose whole life is rightly ordered under the authority of God. It means living in right relationship with God and acting rightly towards others. A righteous person is one of good character and integrity. He leads by examples, living out God's purpose and goodness for others and doing what is right in God's eyes. He is the same person in private as in public, not living a double life. A righteous leader is one who has the right attitude to serve. Every endeavor is done for the common good, serving the public interest, and for the benefits of the greater community. In fact, this character of being righteous is universal. It applies to everyone, to you and to me, to those in the government, in the marketplace, in schools, in the neighborhood, and indeed in our own homes. In essence, a righteous person is one who fears God, who upholds justice and shows mercy, who serve rather than exploits and seek the common good rather than personal advantage. And that is why Solomon says, when the righteous rule, when the righteous increase, the people rejoice. People rejoice because they live without fear. They know that integrity is value. Promises are kept. People's welfare and livelihood are looked after. Now, in such an environment, trust is developed. Public trust grows. And this kind of society becomes a blessing to all people in the land and beyond. Now, conversely, when righteousness and integrity are absent, public trust is destroyed. Suspicion quickly fills the vacuum. And without trust, even prosperity begins to feel fragile. And no wonder, Solomon says, when the wicked rules, the people groan. They groan because fear replaces hope in everyday life. And self-interest replaces service for the public good. Let me summarize the first point. The moral character of the people is central to becoming a wise nation. And righteousness, integrity, and trust are key imperatives for a society to become a wise nation. Next, righteousness must lead to upholding justice, which is the second point. A wise nation is governed with justice. King Solomon says in Proverbs 29, verse 4, by justice a king builds up the land. And he who exacts gifts tears it down. In the NIV translation, it says, by justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down. What Solomon says is remarkable. He does not say that a nation is made stable by military strength. He does not say a nation is established by economic prosperity or technological superiority. He says a nation is built up and made stable by justice. And this is a profound biblical truth. In other words, a wise government upholds justice, resists corruption, and creates social stability. On the other hand, an unwise government is driven by bribery and self-enrichment, which undermine trust and respect. So what is justice? When we hear of the word justice, oftentimes we think only of the Supreme Court and the legal systems. The Bible's understanding is much richer. Biblical justice basically means giving to every person what is rightfully due. Because everyone is created in the image of God. Justice is not about favoring one group over another. Justice is about ensuring every person is treated justly with dignity and fairness. So justice means more than equal treatment. It means honesty. It means protecting the weak and the vulnerable. It means ensuring that power is exercised responsibly. So Solomon warns against a ruler who is greedy for bribes. This is a vivid picture of corruption. Corruption erodes the moral foundation of a nation. It teaches people that influence better matters more than integrity. That power is more important than principle. That honesty is optional. And once a society begins to believe these lies, decay has already begun. The prophets in the Old Testament repeatedly condemn leaders who manipulated the legal systems, who exploited workers, accepted bribes, or neglected the poor. They condemn these leaders because these practices deny the basic dignity that God gives to every human being. But where justice is upheld, people flourish because they know that they will be treated fairly and justly. Indeed, justice is one of God's highest expectations. Of society. Like righteousness. Justice also builds trust among the people. When people believe that laws are applied fairly, they trust the social institution. When judges are impartial, citizens are confident in the legal system. When public servants act with integrity, people are willing to cooperate. And when people trust that they will be treated fairly, society becomes more cohesive. So justice therefore contributes not only to order and stability, but also to peace. And without justice, people begin to feel that the system serves only a few, the rich and the powerful. When trust is lost, social cohesion begins to weaken and the nation becomes unstable. And that is why justice is not merely a legal issue. It is deeply a relational and communal issue. Justice allows neighbors to live together in harmony rather than suspicion. Justice is for everyone. Justice begins wherever God has entrusted us with responsibility. Parents must be just and fair to their children. Teachers must treat students impartially. Employers must deal honestly with employees. Managers must evaluate subordinate fairly. Pastors must shepherd without favoritism. And church leaders must listen carefully before making judgments. In fact, justice begins in the ordinary decisions of life. Every time when we refuse to show favoritism, every time when we keep our promises, every time when we defend someone who is being treated unfairly, we are practicing biblical justice. Indeed, a wise nation is built not only in parliament, but more importantly in homes, in schools, in offices, and in churches. And this leads us to the third defining virtue of a wise nation, where compassion is visible in the lives of ordinary people. So the third defining virtue is a wise nation is filled with compassionate people. A wise nation is one where mercy and compassion abound in everyday life. You see government caring for its people. You see people caring for one another. Both government and citizens understand the values of compassion and appreciate the benefits of caring for one another in the community. And people are quick to show kindness, mercy, care, and love to one another, especially those in need, as a way of life, as a culture, as a distinctive characteristic of our national life. And this kind of this is the kind of compound spirit that kept Singapore going in our early years. In Proverbs 29, verse 14, Solomon says, if a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever. In the NIV translation, if a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will always be secure. Now why the poor? Because the poor have the least ability to defend themselves. Throughout scriptures, God repeatedly calls its people to care for those who are vulnerable. The poor, the widow, the orphan, the foreigner. Not because they are more valuable than others, but because they are often overlooked, neglected. One of the clearest measures of a nation's wisdom is not how it treats the powerful, but how it treats those who have little power. So let me ask you. Do you think Singapore is a compassionate nation? A caring society with gracious neighbor? What do you think? Yes. No response. Some of them nod your head. What would a wise Singapore look like? Let me paint a picture for you. Imagine a Singapore where the young and the elderly are never forgotten. Their needs are always taken care of. No one is left behind in despair. Families care for one another across generations. Migrant workers are treated with dignity and respect. People of different races and religions look after one another. Churches become places of care, healing, and friendship. Now, this is a picture of a compassionate society. A wise nation. So how can we become a compassionate society and a wise nation? Only by the grace of God. Only if we look to God's wisdom revealed in Christ Jesus. Even the smartest and the best of governments cannot create a compassionate society by legislation alone. Laws can restrain evil. Policies can provide assistance. Institutions can administer justice. But government cannot make people love one another. That happens only when hearts are transformed. And that is why Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. The story of the Good Samaritan is a familiar story. And the background is this a lawyer asked Jesus, What shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus got him to answer the correct answers himself. The two greatest commandments. To love the Lord your God with all your being and to love your neighbor as yourself. But then to justify himself, the lawyer asked Jesus, and who is my neighbor? And this prompted Jesus to tell the parable. To lead the lawyer to see himself as a neighbor. A neighbor, a loving neighbor to someone in need. Let me summarize the story quickly. A man was robbed by robbers, beaten and left on the road half dead. Three men came along and saw the victim. First, a priest. He came and saw and then passed by. Perhaps he was busy on his way to do some other religious duties. Second, a Levite, he came and saw, and also left the scene. The third man, a Samaritan, came and saw, and he had compassion on the victim. He attended to the victim, took care of him, sent him to a nearby inn and paid for all the expenses. Now, after telling the story, Jesus asked the lawyer a thought-provoking question. Which of these three men proved to be the neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? The lawyer said, the one who showed him mercy. Correct. What a soul searching and eye-opening conversation. The lesson is this. To love our neighbor as ourself, as God commanded, we need first to see ourselves as a loving neighbor to people around us. My dear friends, the lawyer asked, Who is my neighbor? Wrong question. And Jesus changed the questions. Will you become a neighbor? And I believe Jesus is also asking each one of us here today the same question. Will you be a neighbor to someone? Will you show compassion to someone in need? I was uh deeply encouraged by a heartwarming testimony from my 91-year-old mother-in-law about a recent incident that happened to her. She was alone doing grocery in the Budok neighborhood. On the way home, she stumbled and fell on the concrete pavement, knocking her head. Fortunately, no bleeding, but visibly shaken. Now immediately, three people rushed to her aid, holding her up and checking if she was okay. One lady in her 50s took my mother-in-law to the AE at Changgy General Hospital, waited until she completed her test and treatment and sent her home. My mother-in-law said she felt so blessed by God's protection. And she was amazed that there are kind people around who really care for others, even for an old woman like her. My dear friends, if the church and the majority of the people of Singapore are able to see ourselves as caring neighbors to people around us, then by the grace of God, Singapore will truly become a compassionate society, a wise nation. We need to revive the camping spirit. Let me conclude. As we celebrate our 61st National Day, we should give thanks to God for his abundant blessings all this year. Now the truth is, no nation is perfect, no government is beyond criticism. Gratitude should not lead to complacency. But when and where we see evidence of righteousness, justice, compassion, integrity, and faithful public service, we should thank God. We should thank God for every good gift comes from Him. Amen. Now scripture also reminds us to pray. The Apostle Paul urges believers to pray for kings and all who are in high positions. So let us continue to keep those in authority in our prayers. Pray that God will grant them wisdom beyond human smartness, commitment beyond political courage, humility beyond personal ambition, and hearts that value righteousness, justice, compassion more than power and positions. Let us also pray that Singapore will not only remain smart and prosperous, but will become increasingly wise. Becoming a nation where leaders govern with righteousness, justice, and compassion. Becoming a society where people care for one another. And a community where Christ is honored. Make us a people that reflect his character in every sphere.