Rob Kwok

Howdy, I’m Rob from Houston, Texas. I have a wonderful wife Karen and four great kids. I’ve been a trial lawyer for nearly 30 years and have won record jury verdicts and settlements across Texas against the largest corporations on earth. I’m in the Texas Lawyers Hall of Fame and yet, I still find teaching the Bible more nerve-racking than arguing a case to a jury.

Before I was even born, God freely gave up his only son, Jesus, to die in my place, for my sins. (Romans 5:8) And Jesus willingly laid down his life for me. His perfect life in exchange for my imperfect life. Jesus generously saved me by his lavish grace, grace I cannot earn and grace I did not deserve. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift to us in Christ!

Our giving journey began 10+ years ago when a friend invited my wife and I to join a Bible translation project for a people group in Northern Thailand. The project’s cost was over $700K but would impact more than 7 Million people by giving them Scripture in their own language for the first time. At first, we were intimidated by the amount, but we quickly saw that the more we gave, the more freedom we experienced in our finances. That freedom has led to lasting joy.

The danger of wealth is the allure of freedom without limits. In a worldly sense, wealth promises freedom to do whatever you want whenever you want, to be your own god. But freedom that’s not submitted to God leads to destruction, even death. I learned this the hard way as a high stakes gambler who lost millions of dollars in a weekend and also when I drove intoxicated and wrapped a Corvette around a light pole and almost died aboard a life flight. Wealth apart from God and his limits is not freedom, it’s folly.

Over the past decade, I’ve studied Scripture to teach Bible and I keep learning more about Jesus. Each day, the Spirit is kind to open my eyes to see Jesus more. Just this week I was drawn to Jesus’ words that he “earnestly desired” to share the Passover meal with his disciples – his last supper on earth. (Luke 22:15) Jesus knew he was hours away from false trials, scourging and death on a Roman cross, and yet He earnestly desired for the plan of salvation to unfold, even though He would suffer and die a brutal death. Wealth and success are temporary, but Jesus’ love is eternal.

Wealth comes from the Lord. (Deuteronomy 8:18) We need to show up ready and do excellent work, but over time I’ve realized how few things are under my control. Therefore, whatever income I get is rarely from my own efforts. And if it’s not from my efforts, it doesn’t really belong to me. All wealth belongs to God. All of the silver and gold. (Haggai 2:9) All of the real estate. (Psalm 24:1) God owns it all. When I was 25 I wish I knew that the many blessings from God are for the purpose of serving others, not just myself. It’s not about what we have, it’s about what we do with what we have been given.

My most life-giving habit is I pray constantly - in my dreams, while I sleep, and I usually wake up praying for the new day, for the good of my family, my friends and life situations. I re-dedicate each day to God’s will and his plan for my life and ask the Lord to direct each step and grant me wisdom for the day. 

Giving is a family event. My awesome wife, Karen and I talk and pray about giving constantly. We involve our children in our giving decisions. We pray they will grow up immersed in generosity and will carry on the family mission to work faithfully and give generously. In practice, we give first to our local church and focus the rest on Bible translations. When we receive extra income, we quickly move the funds out of our personal accounts into our NCF giving account.  

My clear purpose today is to show up on time, prepared, and put myself in position for God to work through me. And then to give generously from whatever He allows me to earn. God’s word is life and our family is on mission to see the Bible translated into every language on earth by 2033. My children understand to carry on this mission until completion in my unforeseen absence.

The three words I want to be remembered by are: “Saved by grace.” (Ephesians 2:8)