Crazy Poor Asian: A True Love Comedy

I know some people rant and rave about how good the movie “Crazy Rich Asians” is.  Here’s a trailer below:

 

I am amazed at how some Christians like it.  I have concerns with it.

I have many opinions but I want to keep focus on my primary concern of the worldly materialism in the movie.  To be fair the plot of the movie eventually got around to the point about love transcending money, fame, etc.  But we kid ourselves when people enjoy the film for its flashy fashion of the Lifestyle of the Rich and Famous (Singapore edition).  What the film glamorize and glorify undermine the very moral tale of the film.

My other problem with Crazy Rich Asian is how it could reinforce certain stereotype that Asians are filthy rich.  Growing up next to the projects have its challenges.  But to be part of an Asian immigrant family living in the ghetto added extra pressure: we were fearful that we be burglarized because Asians have been targeted due to the stereotype that Asians have money .  An early memory I had was how my father was threaten for money right outside our ghetto apartment with my mom freaking out.

Going back to Crazy Rich Asians: as a pastor I am concern about people watching it would start fantasizing things that are harmful.  Besides sexual and romantic lusts I am concern that people can look at the film and think “If only I had that much money then my relationship problems would be over.”  Perhaps for some people it is thinking that having lots of money means their marriage would have no more fights about spending. While those who are single might think having lots of money means they can now get girls and their problem of singleness is over.

But is that true?  Can money do all that in a way that truly satisfies and solves all our problems?

Hear 1 Timothy 6:10:

For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Note this verse is not against having money in of itself (there’s a place of being good stewards of money); but the verse is talking about the love of money specifically.  The verse says that those who love money “pierced themselves with many griefs.”  Longing for money will only add more problems.  It’s like pouring oil trying to put out a fire.  Not helpful.

In contrast hear Hebrews 13:5

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”

Being free from the love of money means “being content with what you have.”  This verse also reveal a powerful motivation to free us from the shackles of the love of money and that motivation is based upon the character of God:  God “Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.””  Since God does not abandon us He will provide for us for what we need.

I believe in Hebrews 13:5.

I believe it because it is God’s Word. But I also believe it because I saw the verse being fulfilled during my toughest time financially as an adult: my first year of marriage.

I was still in seminary working as a full time student on my second masters.  That meant I had to pay tuition.  I was working part time as a security in Hollywood but this was during the tough time of our economy and the company almost folded and we got paid very little.  On the ministry end I was paid part time though I was working full time.  It was full time ministry since there were multiple Bible studies and Sunday schools I taught weekly plus evangelism and multiple counseling I had each week with some of the most difficult people I ever dealt with before or since. In order to make time for full time ministry during the week I worked my security job in two 16 hour shifts each week.  I didn’t sleep much and often slept in my car driving between seminary, work and ministry.  And we gave a lot financially to the church, nearly 20 percent.  Since I did ministry back then with lots of college kids and special needs people my wife and I often pay for people’s meals and bailed them out of the trouble with our cash.  We were our own bus ministry in a small car: we made multiple trips picking up and dropping off people.  With what remain financially we can only afford a small place to live.

Every thing I said above is true.  There’s people in my church who read my blog and know.

I know some people would read everything above and think my wife and I are crazy.

Looking back my wife and I would agree that our first year was CRAZY.  But you know what?  With all that we were happy.  We were joyful.  Genuinely joyful.  And joyfully in love.

We were joyful because God was the center of our lives.  We were content because God always provided.  Sometimes God provided in the form of people going out of their way to give to us.  Sometimes God provided in the form of providence: that old car still continue to work.  But most of the time it is because of my pregnant wife being frugal and pinching pennies till they screamed in order for us to do what we needed to do and still allow me to bring hungry young men over for dinner so that I can disciple them.

It was a crazy poor Asian relationship and marriage!

It was loving.  I say even romantic.

I share about my first year of marriage to make the point that joy in marriage isn’t contingent upon being rich.  The joy comes from God.  If you have to be rich in order to have joy in marriage it is because you are already spiritually rich in Christ!

I love what Proverbs 31:25 state about the godly wife in the ESV:

Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.

My wife’s love for the Lord meant we never doubted what God has in store for us in the future.  We can laugh at the time to come.

If laughter is essential to comedy our first year of marriage was Crazy Poor Asian and Crazy Poor Caucasian: A True Love Comedy.

And that’s because of God’s grace.

Singles and young married couple, put God first, trust in Him and cherish Him more than anything else!  Live for Christ together; it is worth it.