Have you ever stopped to think: Why do I love Singapore?

Exactly one year ago, Honeycombers published a list of 57 glorious reasons to love our little red dot. Thinking that they were simply trying to squeeze out 57 reasons to match 57 years of independence, I was actually impressed that some in that list were things I had taken for granted.

They cited things like clean and drinkable tap water, our public libraries, colourful HDB estates, and beautiful sunrises and sunsets (if you care to look).

Of course which list would dare exclude Changi Airport, hawker food and the fact that churches, mosques and temples co-exist peaceably?

As interesting as such an exercise is, I think the more important question to ask is: How do I show my love for Singapore?

More precisely: How do I show my love for Singapore as a follower of Jesus Christ?

I want to suggest three ways we can make this 58th National Day special. 

1. Be thankful for how far He has brought us

There’s really no denying that Singapore is a global phenomenon like no other. And there are many world rankings to cap our journey from Third World to First. While it’s fitting to feel a sense of pride, we should be even more amazed at God’s sovereign hand in “setting us up”.

Acts 17:26 tells us: “From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” 

Our time and place in this world is unique. Historians now know that Singapore’s roots can be traced back to 700 years.

But Singapore’s success is not merely wrought by any confluence of geography or politics but by the sovereign appointment of God. So nothing is by luck or the sheer force of men’s will.

It is also not by chance that the Singapore Church has been entrusted to steward the calling as the “Antioch of Asia”. So let’s first of all be thankful to God this National Day.

Singapore is also blessed because the Lord has provided and placed leaders to govern and, with them, a system of governance. So it follows that the second way to love Singapore is to …

2. Be prayerful for our leaders

God exhorts us in 1 Timothy 2:1-2 to pray “for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness”. 

When God’s Word says “all”, it means “all”. It’s tempting to point fingers at politicians or to fold our arms in despair or derision. But notice that God wants us to pray for ALL those in authority regardless of whether or not we agree or disagree with them. He did not give us a way out.

What do we pray for? Why not start by following Psalm 45:4 to pray “for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness” to spread to all leaders – from our Prime Minister down the line. 

Why does God put such a premium on praying for all those in authority? The answer is in verse 2 –“that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness”. To me, that’s the code for saying: “That we may live unhindered in our witness and untainted in our integrity.” 

The third way to love Singapore is directed inwards. 

3. Be faithful to our true north

We all love the song “Home”. But as sojourners on earth, our true Home, the one that awaits us, must always order our lives here and now. The order in Matthew 6:21 is clear: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The location of the treasure determines the location of our affections – our hopes and ambitions.

As Singaporeans, we take ourselves, our material well-being, our eating and even our fun seriously. Are we even more purposeful in pursuing what author David Swartz once described as “a magnificent obsession” about God’s Kingdom?

S Rajaratnam, one of our nation’s founding fathers, said in 1990: “Being a Singaporean is not a matter of ancestry. It is conviction and choice.”

Perhaps we can adapt it for us Christians, too. Being a Singaporean Christian is not a matter of ancestry. It is conviction and choice.

For the compass needle of our hearts to be faithful to our true north, our choice must be to stay focused on trusting Christ, not on mere man. (Isaiah 2:22)

Our conviction? To live each day by faith, blessing others in Singapore in love and to be always propelled by Gospel hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3). I believe that as we seek first His Kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33), everything else will fall into its right place.

Let’s be thankful for how far He’s brought us. Let’s be prayerful for all our leaders. Let’s be faithful to our true North. 

A prayer for Singapore

“Our Father, we thank You for Your blessings on Singapore. It is by Your divine appointment we are born or we live here. And we are reminded that to whom much is given, much is expected.

Help us to be good stewards of whatever You have provided – be it Singapore’s international esteem or her achievements in material or non-material aspects. We confess we are a people quick to complain because our excuse is to keep standards up. But today, we are simply grateful to You. 

We pray for all our leaders who run in office, for their pressures are unique. We ask for “the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness” to permeate all that they decide and do. 

Finally, we ask that You recalibrate our hearts. May our agenda match Your heavenly one. May we conduct ourselves as sojourners in this beautiful nation, this outstanding home on earth, such that we may point others also towards our true North – our Lord Jesus Christ.

In His Name we pray, Amen.”

Happy 58th National Day!

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