Stop and R.E.L.A.X

27 Sept 2013 by Adeline Lum CM-

Tony Tay, once the founder and owner of one of the largest business groups in New Zealand and involved in 38 companies in a diverse range of sectors, found the most precious jewel in his life —Jesus Christ—at the pit of his business.

Reviving his business by the mighty hands of God, he handed the management of his company to his trustees. And for the past five years, he had been a full-time minister at the Jireh Marketplace Ministry International, as an international itinerant preacher especially in China, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Left to right: Tony Tay, Victor Liew, Dennis Ng, Jimmy Wang

Arriving in the FGB in Damansara Utama led by Victor Liew, Tony shared how he felt privileged to meet with 29 pastors in China who led half a million congregation in China. In a Sunday service in China, people had to come to church two hours before the service start to sit in the main auditorium. Otherwise, the other people would be in the field listening to the message.

“We are really living in the end times. God is working powerfully in China and Indonesia,” said Tony. “I can see wherever we are, we see a lot of human problems; it’s the problem of men!“

The fallen image of God

We are created in the image of God in truth, righteousness, and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). Truth represents intellectuality, righteousness represents morality, and holiness represents the spirituality.

Ephesians 4:24

and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

But a lot of times, we forget that we are created in the image of God. We see a lot of crisis because of the fallen nature of men. No one is righteous, no one understands, and no one seek after God (Roman 3:10-11).

Tony shared that everywhere he went, teenagers today face the problem of intellectuality (Identity Crisis); they do not know whom they are and what their place are with God. Secondly, they face the problem of morality (Responsibility Crisis); they don’t know whom they are responsible to. And lastly, they face the problem of holiness (Authority Crisis); without the knowledge of scripture, they have an authority crisis in their spirituality. When the image of God is fallen, that’s where the problem is.

Last night, he was speaking in a question and answer session. Many of the participants, be it businessmen and housewives, forget about Jesus and felt very stressed.

Hence, Tony asked them to relax or ‘R.E.L.A.X’!

What is R.E.L.A.X?

Readjusting your Values

If we get our values right, we will stop toiling. But when we have a wrong value system that does not have the value of eternity, we will only focus on our problem. Be a victor, not a victim. Soar but not sink.

“Everywhere, people are sinking. That’s why in China, everyone is flocking to churches because in every two marriages, there’s one marriage that is breaking up,” said Tony.

That is why China has about one billion Christians currently. People in China are hungry for God.

Tony Tay (right) praying for the attendees with Victor Liew (left)

Enjoy the Presence of God

A lot of Christians do not know how to enjoy the presence of God. No matter what we do, one of the things we should do is to delight in the Lord (Psalm 37:4). We always forget Psalm 37:3, which says that we should feed on His faithfulness. Hence, we do not need to worry about our needs.

Psalm 37:3 NKJV

Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

“Why do people turn into workaholics? This is because they are fearful that they could not provide for the family. But the Bible says that we should not live in fear but enjoy his presence,” said Tony.

Tony was told before that his decision to pass his company’s management to his trustees is a brash move.

“But we don’t know how to cast our burdens to Jesus. Many Christians carry the burden around but they don’t want to trust God,” he added, anchoring his trust on Isaiah 45:2, which says that the Lord would walk before him and cut through rods of iron for him. Now, that is comforting!

Isaiah 45:2

I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.

“When there’s a calling in your life, you know that you won’t be sweating and toiling, which is not God’s Will. We must know how to enter that rest,” said Tony.

Limiting your work hours

“I ask people why they have to work fifty to sixty hours per week,” he said. “They tell me, ‘If I didn’t work that much, I couldn’t have all these privileges of having a big house, a nice car, and maids.”

But the paradox is that these wealthy people don’t even spend time to enjoy the luxuries they earned in life. While he or she work like a cow in the marketplace, his or her maid ironically enjoy the luxuries earned more than the owner.

“They like to do that just to show off, which is definitely not God’s will. God want us to pursue excellence, not worldly successes that compromise family bonds. Self-control is about knowing where your priorities are,” he said.

Anticipating God’s care

Many people forgot that they are the children of God. And as the child of God, He cares for Tony’s every needs, always walking before him.

“It’s not how much money you have but how good of a steward you are and how much you’re in the presence of God,” he said.

X for Exchanging God’s peace

People today live anxiously. Tony has never felt happier and healthier until he laid down his burden on God. To him, this is the best season he and his wife have because they learned to pass their burden to God. Sometimes, he would preach 40 hours a week in China and Indonesia but God gave him divine health. As soon as he responds by faith even in the face of poor health, the Lord healed him and helped him to do his will.

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Ending his speech, Tony asked what are we ultimately living for? What are you ultimately living for?