One new thing i learn in Singapore, that in MRT station there will be booth with people from insurance company, or credit card company will cheerfully approach you and asked for your civil status in Singapore ( Singaporean, PR, or Work Permit Holder), your monthly income, and whether you have credit card or insurance policy already.
At first i found this people are annoying and sometimes too pushy. But as the day goes by, and since MRT is my main transportation way in Singapore i start to feel sympathy with what they are doing.
Being as an Introvert by nature, its very hard for me to stand there and greet unknown people, let alone trying to persuade them for such thing. I've been involved with ACS with their health age promotion and i always find excuse for not be the one go out and asking people for their health status by sitting behind the computer act as the operator (and i have proven myself that i am good with it)
Because of this reason, i give my respect for what this Insurance/Credit Card Salesman do everyday at the MRT station.
So that's the beginning of my journey with this Insurance Salesman
I went back from SGH that day after visiting one of my church member hospitalized there. Now since my house is at Clementi nearby the AYE Line, the closest bus to my block is bus no.97 from Harbour Front. Now since Outram Park MRT (where SGH is) and Harbour Front is just one station away i think it will be convenient to just hop in to Harbour Front and eat my lunch there as well.
As i went down to the MRT Station, there are these people try to sell an insurance policy. I've mentally prepared to say "no, i dont want now, thank you" Now prosecute me if im am bad but i often use my "proffesional status" as a pastor to avoid this kind of people. My typical reason will be "i am sorry i am a pastor and i dont really interested in money or financial policy. The way we receive salary is different with other people so i dont think your promotion is for me" Most of the time these salesman will just say thank you, or give you that "ooooh" notion, or some even asked "what is pastor"
However that day, this particular salesman answered me with something i dont expect. He said ooh, you are a pastor i am a christian too! Well, that is very typical answer, but yet i found that this man openly claim himself to be a Christian. So he asked for my phone number and i give it to him. For me, when a person claim himself to be christian somehow my mind immediately shift to "pastor mode" and say that this man is one of your flocks, you need to minister him.
And that's when the phone start to ring almost every week. This salesman, try to make an appointment with me so he can give his what so called "financial advise". So yesterday we met for the second time and he explains how good his insurance will be and how it will help me in the time of trouble.
He keeps calling me with the name "pastor" but i think he forgot to realize that we are on the different spectrum of how we see the future. For him, future is unpredictable and therefore you need to make sure that everything will be fine for your family in case something bad happen to you his Insurance policy will be the answer to that. While me, on the other side teach that our life and future is in God's hand and faith is the only insurance you need to have knowing that God never loose control of your life. One is realistic, the other idealistic.
But then the conversation become very interesting for me when he start to draw my financial scheme. He said " now Pastor Bayu. You have drawn for me your monthly expenses. Now just in case, just in case after this conversation suddenly you got struck by a car and die. How your family will sustain their life? Now, what i asked for you is just to spend an extra hundred dollar every month and we will make sure that even when something bad happen to you your family will be in a good hands." This guy really listen to his trainer during his apprentice day i guess. He really memorized all those "persuasive psychology" theory
So i said, "Ben (his name is ben), i think you need to realize that both of us work on the same field. To persuade people. you with your product of insurance, and me with salvation. All this thing are just the same thing i tell people on the pulpit or at the street. For you, you call it "financial advise" for me, i call it "evangelism". Now you told me, that if after this conversation i got hit by a car and die who will supply my family need. But maybe i need to ask you the same thing. if after this conversation it is you who got hit by a car and die, are you sure you will have eternal life?" He was quiet for a moment, and smile and he said "wow, thank you for your honesty" so i said, "i really appreciate what you have tried to do, and i am sorry if i cannot say yes to your offer but at least can i pray with you" He was shocked cos i think he didt expect that from me. I said, "as a pastor, maybe i cant give you much but one thing i can do for you is to pray and to ask God to help you in your work. You should thank God you are still working! Isnt that because of God who sustain your life? knowing that 20.000 people are expected to lose their job this year in Singapore?" He just smile, and said "thank you, should i contact you again about two months later? maybe when you already change your mind?" i smiled and said "sure you can contact me" he still trying his best...
I think that is the reason why today's world look at religion on a very skeptical way. Because we are no different than an insurance company trying to sell their product to guarantee that our future will be secured. Therefore, there must be something better, something that we as a christian need to think so our mission to tell this world about Christ will not be viewed as just another "company" trying to sell their product for your future.
This is my personal view, but i think people who claim themselves as a chrisitian should be very careful to be involved in Insurance business because like it or not it will contradict with your faith. I am not an anti-insurance man. I do believe insurance is important but you need God's wisdom to guide you.
That small conversation with Ben the insurance man, reminds me that God is really in control of life and sometimes you really need faith to see that. I am as His hitman need to see that even more.
Anyway, i told Lerie why i keep saying yes to this man's invitation to meet him. Jokingly I said, he tries to sell me his product and i try to sell my product we'll see who will win"
to be honest i want him to know and be ready because Jesus will come soon....well like it or not i am a Pastor! =) an Adventist one!
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