12 Sept 2013 by Natasha Kim CM-
Michael Lee, brother of the well-known Reggie Lee recently shared his testimony at a recent FGB (Full Gospel Businessman) meeting at Summit, Subang Jaya. That day, he stood smiling and ready to share. “It’s a privilege to be here because I serve God, a God who loves me and cares for me,” he said. When he was younger he did not believe in God and spent his life thinking that having money was the thing that made the world go round. After all, money solves a lot of problems, doesn’t it?
He began by sharing his family history. Michael was born into a wealthy family with business galore, i.e. petrol kiosks, rubber estates, cinemas, orchards, taxis, and more. However, the money they had could not truly fulfill them. His father used to return home wasted and he would abuse the whole family. “I have never seen my father show a gesture of love to my mother and vice versa,” he shared.
One day, his mother decided to separate with his father and bring up her five children on her own. She began to wash clothes and cook for people so that Michael and his siblings could have food to eat; that became their life. From then onwards, Michael took a stand and said that he would not become like his father who became poor. “I will go from rags to riches!” he said.
Curse is such that the iniquity of our fore fathers will fall down the generation line. And though he said he would not become like his father, he ended up just like him. “I drank like a goldfish!” he said. In terms of work, he ran video arcades and illegal gambling machines.
In terms of relationships, he did not reach any real success either as he did not truly know how to love the woman he married, even though they courted for many years. Michael only knew how to show love in terms of material and say things like “I love you” but the truth was, he could not feel love for anything other than his bank account. “The mouth can say ‘I love you’ a thousand time but when you don’t mean it at all, it means nothing,” he shared. His wife attempted to run away at one point and he was shocked, as he thought everything was well. His wife clearly felt empty from the empty cheques of love he was giving her.
He was living for money not realizing that money was the cause of the problems in his life and the life of his family.
One day, all his businesses came crashing down one by one. The police raided and took everything and though he kept replacing the confiscated machines with new ones, he could not keep up. He was lost and did not know what to do. When he was down, many people preached the gospel to him but he persecuted them and said, “I have no time for God and I don’t think your God should have time for me.” He began to question what he lacks in life that led him to this situation.
The Point of Surrender
One day, in his despair and sudden search for something more in life, he turned the Bible in his room, which his brother Reggie gave to him. The following verse stood out to him:
Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. May you live to see your children’s children.
(Psalm 128)
With nothing else to lose he said, “If you are the one true God, I surrender my life to you and let’s see how you take my life. That was the best day of my life!” God started to transform Michael’s heart as he entered into a relationship with Him and walked with Him.
Buying a House
When he came to know the Lord, Michael did not own a house but he was staying in a friend’s house for free. He was utterly thankful for that. When he bumped into a friend who managed a computer class, she found out that he did not own a house and gave him a long lecture. All Michael said to her was, “Never mind, you know our God is great, if He wants to buy me a house, He’ll buy me a house.” With that, she brushed him off and went away. In reality, buying a house was unthinkable because he had tons of debts to pay.
Two weeks later, a man in church walked up to him and asked him if he wanted to purchase his house as he was looking for a buyer. Michael jokingly replied saying, “Yeah sure why not?” A week after that, the man approached him again about the topic and of course Michael explained that he was joking and panicked. This man, to his surprise said, “No worries, you get your lawyer and I will sign the agreement. Go to the bank and get a loan and whatever the bank gives you I will take it and give me the balance when you have money,” he said. That itself was a miracle, he thought and agreed to it.
He then prayed to God and asked God which lawyer he should go to, a Christian one that he had in mind or another one who worked close by. “The Lord said “No” to both. Then, he thought of a non- Christian lawyer who was a well-known trickster and the Lord said “Yes”. Hence, Michael just obeyed.
After everything was done and the lawyer’s bill came, his jaw dropped; the man who was selling his house on the other hand was cool and composed. Michael thought, “Wow, this guy really had super faith!” When the lawyer found out that Michael was working in the security line, his eyes glimmered as he was looking for someone to do some security work in a huge bungalow. Michael then got the job and his lawyer fee was settled from there! He was so amazed! Finally, he understood why God wanted him to hire this lawyer instead of other lawyers.
Because of his faith and obedience to God, many miracles began to take place; he got his house, his security business prospered and his relationship with his wife could not better! “If you are faithful to God, the Bible says, ‘You will reap the good of the land!’” he shared. In this journey of life and after all he has gone through, he now knows that God can make things happen even when things may seem impossible. “He is God, don’t play-play!” he said before he came to a close. Many went home inspired and encouraged.
Picture Reference
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/hate-money
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