Fujianese in America; Possessing our Inheritance

Bill Brown ... Xiamen University

"But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and the house of Jacob will possess its inheritance." Obadiah 17

What makes verse 17 especially meaningful is its context: Jacob is promised its inheritance even as verse 15 warns the nations: "The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you, your deeds will return upon your own head."

Today, as we face economic, natural and political disasters, many claim this is the End--as many have so claimed over the centuries. But this End in verse 15 is immediately followed by the promise of a new Beginning for God's people--if they turn to Him. (Note that the Jews are referred to here as the house of Jacob, not Israel; God always reminds them of their likeness to their slippery ancestor Jacob when He's warning them).

Verse 17 suggests 2 main points:
1. Jacob will possess its inheritance on Mt. Zion when it is again "holy" (note that holy does not mean "religious"; throughout the Bible God warns against futile, meaningless religion and sacrifice; He demands justice and righteousness--right life, not religious life). The lesson here is that we will possess our inheritance only if we are not like the nations around us.
2. We must "take possession" of our inheritance, not just sit on our inheritance.

Lessons from Fujianese in America.
Whenever I travel around the U.S., I am amazed at how many Chinese I meet in Chinese restaurants who are from our province, Fujian. More specifically, they are from Changle, an area of Fuzhou, the capital, which long has been famous for smuggling out emigrants. What amazes me about these Fujianese (Fukienese) in America is their upbeat spirit. They start out working for almost nothing in Chinese restaurants and save every penny. Where the average American may earn $3000 and spend $4000, a newly arrived Fujianese will somehow earn $3000 and save $4000! They eventually get permanent residence, buy a house, start up a kindergarten for other Chinese' children, save more money, but another house, start a small business--and in 10 years they are wealthy. I have personally seen this happen!

At the same time as Fujian Chinese are making America their inheritance, and possessing it, some Americans who have been there for generations are sitting on their inheritance and waiting for government to rescue them! And while the abuses of big business show that we need protection, there is a balance as well. As Thomas Jefferson wrote, "A government big enough to give you everything you want is, is strong enough to take everything you have."

If the average American fails to take advantage of what his forefathers have helped provide, how much more do we Christians fail to both appreciate and appropriate our Father's provisions for us.

Acres of Diamonds In 1894, F.B. Meyer wrote about Obadiah 17, and how we fail to take possession of our inheritance. Meyer's comments reminded me of Russell Conwell's speech "Acres of Diamonds," A man in Africa sold his farm and spent the rest of his life seeking diamonds. The man who bought his farm found one of the largest diamonds ever on that very farm. The lesson: "dig in your own backyard." (Suggestion: first check with city council to make sure there aren't any buried electric wires, cables, or pipes).

F.B. Meyer, "Our Daily Homily" (London, 1894), on Obadiah 17:

"As long as Edom invaded and annoyed the house of Jacob, the people were unable to possess their possessions in peace. No sooner did the harvest or vintage appear, than their hereditary foes swooped down to carry off the fruits of their toils. But Edom's dominion was to be ended; and then there would be no cloud in the sky, no barrier to their uninterrupted joy.

There are many instances of people not possessing their possessions. Such are those who put their plate and valuables into furniture depositories, and for years leave them to neglect; who have shelves of unread, uncut books; who do not realize that coal and iron mines lie under their estates; who never enjoy the wealth of love and tenderness in their friends' hearts; who refuse to avail themselves of resources which are well within their reach.

But too many of God's people are like this. The Father has caused all his fulness to reside in the nature of Jesus; He hath given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness in Him; He hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus; im our Saviour are treasures of wisdom, of purity, of prevailing power, of love and patience. The divine Merchantman has come to us to give us gold tried in the fire, white raiment, and eye salve. But we go blundering on in our own selfish, sinful, faltering way. We do not possess our possessions. We do not call into practical use the boundless reinforcements awaiting us, at every hour, within the tiniest beckoning of our faith. We are like the manufacturer who refuses to use the steam-power, though it is laid on into the mill; or the householder who refuses to touch the button of the electric light.

Thanks to Dr. Tom Sawyer (yep, that is his real name!) for the quotes below:

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
- Thomas Jefferson

The government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
- Ronald Reagan

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
- George Bernard Shaw

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
-James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
-Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University
[Caveat from Bill: I fully support foreign aid! I think it is a Christian imperative. But I also understand its abuse. So give, but give wisely]

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
- P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
- Frederic Bastiat, Economist (1801-1850)

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
- Ronald Reagan (1986)

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
- Will Rogers

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
- Voltaire (1764)

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you!
-Pericles (430 B.C.)

No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
- Mark Twain (1866)=

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.
- Mark Twain

What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
- Edward Langley, Artist (1928 - 1995)

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
-Winston Churchill

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do read the newspaper you are misinformed."
- Mark Twain

www.amoymagic.com