Many of us rely a lot on handphones. Besides using it to keep in touch with people, some also use it to play games, watch videos, as a calculator, keep appointments, etc. Some also use it as an alarm clock to wake them up for work. The handphone has become indispensable, very indispensable. One of the most popular handphones today is the iPhone—everyone seems to be holding on to one. In the first few days of the new year 2011, however, this phone faltered. For some reasons as the year changed from 2010 to 2011, the alarm in the iPhone failed to sound off, causing many to be late for work. One journalist in a Chinese newspaper wisely said:

One should not put all your confidence in the same place … the greater the usefulness of the handphone, the greater will our reliance on it be … I suggest that we like me, do not throw away the traditional alarm clocks in our homes (Lianhezaobao, 5^th January, 2011).

False Security

This glitch in the handphone picks up a what the Bible regards as a fatal weakness in us human beings: a reliance on things other than God Himself. Some of these things include money, a company’s or our nation’s economic well-being, loved ones, friends, colleagues, health, doctors, etc. But the Bible clearly warns us that these things have no true value of security in themselves. Thus Proverbs wisely says “cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle” (Prov 23:5). This has been proven true many times. For instance, just when the economy was picking up, the world was hit by SARS. Consider again, “wealth brings many friends, but a poor man’s friend deserts him” (Prov 19:4). Your most trusted friend or your superior who is very supportive of you becomes your enemy overnight or your health fails you just when you thought you were about to strike it rich. The newspaper is replete with such instances. We will be fools not to acknowledge the unreliability of riches, friends and health. In fact the Bible warns us that we bring upon ourselves misery if we rely on such things: “For the love of moneyis a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faithand pierced themselves with many griefs” (1Ti 6:10); “The sorrowsof those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their nameson my lips. (Psa 16:4). These “gods” refer to anything that you rely upon for happiness.

True Security

Only God does not change: He has and will always be all powerful, all wise and all loving: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8). Only Jesus can bring you real peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubledand do not be afraid” (John 14:27); “But seek first his kingdomand his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt 6:33), that is, always fulfil your responsibilities to God first. Do not let anything else take you away from doing what pleases Him. Make a decision today: “I want to live a life that pleases Him.” If you do, God will surely shower on you and on your family real and good blessings.