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This song hopefully serves as a haunting reminder of Jesus' words that "the world is passing away and its power (lusts), but the one who does the will of God, remains forever." We hope it will encourage Christians to lay up real treasures in heaven and to pursue and invest in eternal things with all the gusto of people with something to prove. |
Credits: Lyrics: Miltinnie Yih; Music & Performance: Christie Yih |
Story Behind the Song
The motivation for this song came from the 2003 Waterwind Asian American Christian Songwriting Competition. My mother and I decided to collaborate on this project, since she is a writer and I am a musician. She first wrote the lyrics and then gave them to me to put them to music and record the song. Our efforts were rewarded in March 2003 when Waterwind pronounced us winners of the competition!
Here are our thoughts on the meaning behind the lyrics and their relevance to Asian American Christians:
Asian Americans as a minority group in the US tend to be able to rise above obstacles better than other minority groups. Some say this is due to the work ethic or parental influence or the high value of education of Asian cultures. Whatever the reasons, Asian Americans are able to buy into the American dream better, which usually translates into a lifelong pursuit of acquisitions and comfort, with its attendant snares.
In this pursuit, one develops a strong sense of willfulness and determinedness which is often diametrically opposed to a life of dependence upon the Lord. It is seen in the way we pamper and coddle our own pet indulgences or the way we protect our resources for our own use and goals. While the need to achieve and succeed can be a positive way to overcome obstacles, it is often an excuse for pursuing temporal rewards instead of pursuing eternal ones and can become a pernicious form of idolatry.
This song attempts to remind ourselves that there is a war for our hearts and minds and souls. What shall we spend our lives for - temporal or eternal things? We must be ruthless in our resistance to the deceptiveness of sin, which longs for temporal comfort and pleasure. We need to keep before our minds the fact that all our works must pass the test of eternity.
Asian Americans are the most educated minority group with the most disposable income. "To whom much is given, much is expected." Certainly we have not been given so much just to keep for ourselves? Surely we are called to do more than just upgrade the rest of our lives! I personally believe that God is blessing us as a group during these last days so we can invest back into bringing the good news to the Asian countries that are opening up. In Acts 16:6 the Holy Spirit forbid Paul to go into Asia, He led him West instead to the beckoning of the man of Macedonia. During these last days, the doors are open for the last great frontier for the gospel before our Lord returns. The man of Asia is beckoning. As Asian Americans, we need to be ready to invest what we have been given, whether it is our time, talent, treasure, or our very lives. In order to do this, we need a Biblical view of our possessions and our lives.
Lyrics
Lord, You are my dearest treasure,
Purge my heart of its false loves.
Let me seek instead Your pleasure,
Set my mind on things above.
For the world is fast passing away, and also its power;
But the one who does the will of God, remains forever.
Put to death my own devices,
Loose every foothold, every part,
Expose my flesh in all its guises,
Release what woos this wayward heart.
When praises of this world have faded
Along with fame and all I owned,
Would I have built with hay and stubble,
Or silver, gold and precious stone?
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