I want to wish one and all a blessed Chinese New Year from Cape Town, South Africa.  By last (yesterday) afternoon, many food centres would be deserted as many Chinese made arrangements to have reunion dinner with loved ones.  Some of you would be travelling overseas.  Today is the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.  I believe that after worship service, many of you would be doing home visitation.  As much as it can be tiring as we would probably need to travel under the hot and humid Singapore weather, I think it is a tradition that we Chinese should maintain.  It is a time when family members and relatives get together to refresh relationship and friendship.

As a Christian, it is also a good time to do gospel work among our relatives and friends.  I am not saying that you preach the gospel to them during visitation.  It may or may not be the best time to do that.  What I mean is, it is an opportunity to renew friendship, to show sincere care and concern by kind words.  This can pave the way for us to later invite them to gospel meetings and to church.  Thus, I urge you, seize this opportunity to renew ties.

This was also what Jesus did.  A tax collector by the name of Zacchaeus invited Jesus and His disciples to his house for dinner.  A tax collector was greatly disliked by many during those times because they often collected from people more than what they should.  They regarded Zacchaeus as a sinner.  Thus, when Jesus had dinner with him, they complained against Jesus: “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.  To this, Jesus replied: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).  How does Jesus seek the lost?  The preceding context explains how he does that: He had dinner with a sinner.  In the Middle East, that signifies friendship.

Thus, if you want to bring the gospel to sinners, you need to build a sincere relationship with unbelievers.  Chinese New Year visitation creates this opportunity.  I urge you to do several things.

First, we celebrate Chinese New Year, including giving out of red packets, exchanging oranges and give words of blessings.  We should not, however, do things that sin against God.

Second, instead of wishing “Prosperous Chinese New Year,”  it may be more meaningful to wish “Blessed New Year” which means “May God bless you.”  This is more meaningful because only God and God alone can truly bless a person.  You and I can’t because we are limited in our abilities.

Third, say kind and encouraging words.  Do not compare jobs, houses or pay.  It may make the other person feel awkward or even embarrassed.  Also, do not be shy.  Your shyness may be mistakenly regarded as being proud and rude.  Take the initiative to greet, wish and chit chat.  When a person does not talk to you, it may be because he is shy rather than rude.  Do not judge him.

Fourth, when you give out red packets, consider putting in a gospel tract.  You can get them free from the reception counter or from the church administrator.  For now, let me wish one and all a blessed New Year.  May you also be a good testimony and witness for God in this festive season.