SINGAPORE – Matthew and Mark both record Jesus describing the danger of being a rich man. He told those gathered around him that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25) Jesus was explaining his previous statement about “how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.”

There are two things that are often overlooked when reading this passage of Scripture.

1. He did not say that it is impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
2. He did not say that riches were the issue. He said that trusting riches is.

Philip Ng Chee Tat is a highly-accomplished businessman who, along with his brother, has spent many years directing the growth of many companies in the Far East, including the Far East Organization and the Sino Group from his home in Singapore. The primary business of the companies is property development. Their employees number in the tens of thousands. Their personal wealth is in the multiple billions of dollars.

Philip is recognized as the wealthiest man in Singapore. But money is not his motivator, his idol, or a thing in which he puts his trust. His trust is clearly in Christ alone.

Wherever the media covers Philip, his faith in Jesus is readily evident. Even the corporate Mission Statement of the Far East Organization declares that

We are a Christian Enterprise, which develops real estate and operates businesses by serving with grace and love, integrity and honesty.

The company’s core values are created from the acronym BUILD which not only describes what they do but also how they do it.

• Business with Grace
• Unity
• Integrity
• Love
• Diligence

Matthew Yao recently interviewed Mr. Ng on his podcast. In that short video, which follows, Philip explained that he was “always in search of a better life, a better purpose, a better me, a better everything,” until he discovered that he was seeking all the wrong things.

Watch the video and listen to Mr. Ng as he explains that the missing piece in his life was knowing God through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

It doesn’t matter if we are rich or poor, we are missing life itself unless we know and trust God. The only way to come to him is through Jesus Christ.