Words of Life: An Enduring Legacyනියැදිය

Update your abacus.

In Singapore, market computers are everywhere, yet some stallholders still use an abacus to calculate trading figures. Their dexterity is incredible, pushing the beads up and down the columns at speed, expertly adding, subtracting, and working out percentages too.

The abacus was used in various different forms in nearly all ancient civilisations – Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Indians, and Japanese. Fingers were first used for simple addition. Then came tally sticks and, later still, written numbers. However, since many people were illiterate, it was very useful to be able to use an abacus in business.

Today, accurate calculations in all sorts of scientific work require an enormous procession of figures, sometimes almost as long on both sides of the decimal point. Counting tables were replaced by stepped reckoners, before arithmetic saw the introduction of logarithms and slide rules. These gave way to calculators using binary numbers, which have themselves been replaced by computers and super-computers. Modern scientific progress would be severely hindered if we were still using only the abacus.

It isn’t feasible to continue using the old way for everything. This is also true in life. One cannot hope to solve the problems of the future with the tools of yesterday. It takes a new mindset and a willingness, however painful, to move on.

The Jews used the Law of Moses in calculating how to please God. Jesus, without contradicting the Law, brought new insight on many things. His teaching still needs to be adhered to, but like Paul the apostle’s instructions, it must be applied in the context of today. For example, Paul referred to slaves and their masters at a time when slavery underpinned the Roman Empire. Today, with a different mindset, we recoil when we learn of people who are held in forced captivity.

Just like the abacus, things need to change with the times. But remember, with or without an abacus, not everything that we can count matters, and not everything that matters can be counted!