Crazy Rich Asians

Dear reader, 

People always mix up the phrase ‘Money is the root of all evil.’

In reality, it is “The LOVE of money is the root of all evil.” 

In the story ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ you see greed on full display, most would assume that greed is the centerpiece of the conflict in the story, but truthfully it’s not, and it’s very refreshing. 

Our story follows Rachael Chu an Economics Professor at NYU, and her boyfriend Nick Young as they travel to Singapore for Nick’s brother’s wedding. 

Rachael and Nick had been together for a little over a year now, and she was excited to travel to Nick’s homeland and experience his culture. 

Nick wasn’t too keen on the idea, but he went along with it anyway. Little by little more of Nick’s past is revealed, and it turns out that his family is the wealthiest in all of Singapore. 

Rachael is confused by this hidden information, but Nick assures her it was simply so he could be truly loved for who he was, not the amount of money in his pocket. 

Nick had grown so calloused to the obscene amounts of money and enjoyed living in modest housing with average surroundings. 

When Rachael is invited into his past she learns of the people He grew up having to deal with. 

(More family members than I will take the time to mention here, but I will sum it all up with this.)

They were crazy rich asians with a butt-load of problems. 

They would hide and ignore their problems with money typically, but no matter what the hurt and discomfort of their daily relationships with one another, they would press on either avoiding one another or attacking each other verbally. 

It was hard to swallow at first. Rachael is a very gentle and kind woman, but the relatives of Nick were abrasive and hardened in the heart. 

It was clear she didn’t fit in with them. Rightfully so. 

The movie continues with Nick sharing with one of his friends that He wants to propose to Rachael, but his friend asks him genuinely “What does she have to offer?”

Nick didn’t need to think twice.

“She doesn’t need to offer anything. She doesn’t need a rich family or anything for me to want her by my side. She sees me as I want to be seen, she sees past the money, she doesn’t want it.”

Yet Nick’s family continues to berate Rachael and try to get her to leave. Leaving horrible messages, a dead fish in her bed, and spreading lies about her. 

In the Asian culture the parents and grandparents need to approve of any marriage, so they can pass down the ring that has been in the family, but if they don’t approve the ring doesn’t get passed. 

The mother and grandmother of Nick make it clear that Rachael isn’t ’good enough’ for Nick, and don’t give their blessing. 

Nick goes ahead and proposes anyway, but Rachael turns him down so Nick doesn’t lose contact with his whole family from the dishonorable act. 

This is the glimpse of the gospel I saw in the movie, when it’s clear that everyone in the family is wrong with their perspective of the relationship between Nick and Rachael, Rachael still chooses to die to herself so the person she loved would benefit even if she didn’t. 

It’s a gut-wrenching moment, but it’s one that I can see Christ making on our behalf. He chose to bear the weight and the burden of our sin on the cross, He didn’t benefit at the time, it was the worst pain anyone could ever bear, yet he did so for our gain. 

Rachael does this and Nick’s Mother sees the lengths of the sacrifice she made and finally earns her respect. 

Yes, this story ends in a very abrupt and happy way, but I don’t want to neglect that our marriage with Jesus will be so beautiful and worth the wait for us as well. 

Every trial and conflict we walk through in this life is well worth it, He laid down his life for us, he made us white as snow, and even when Satan and his cronies constantly tear at us wanting us to doubt our value, Jesus is there to lift us up and tell us…

”You matter to me. I see you, I hear you, I want you.” 

Take these words and hide them away, you’ll need them every day of your life as more tactical lies are armed and ready to be launched in your direction. 

Sincerely, 

Your Fellow Not Rich and Not Asian Brother

-Mitchell