John ESENE

      An average household in Nigeria depends on subsidized by-products of crude oil such as petrol, cooking gas and kerosene for domestic and commercial use. The epileptic supply of electricity nationwide has compelled people to use generators and solar systems as a result. Another thing hunting the poor masses is the change in energy prices silently. These issues and many more have compelled many people to look for ways to meet their needs irrespective of the corruption involved.

     Many factories have been closed down while their foreign owners have relocated to other countries to produce same products for us to import at very high cost. Besides, this development has made many people jobless and also increased our hardship and insecurity to unexpected level.

   Many who were righteous have turned to evil ways to survive the current test of time!  In the past, Nigerians were used to go on protest to revolt against mismanagement by politicians. But when SARS and hunger protests ended in killings and ASUU strike lasted 10 months under Late President Muhammadu Buhari, people resolved to hide their feelings thereby giving the leaders the opportunities to do their will. Ecclesiastes told us in 5:10 that, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money nor he who loves wealth, with grain: this also is vanity”

     Now that our protest failed, rather than remain silent let us go to God in prayer and avoid corruption at all levels. If God could hear the cry of even a little child (Hagar’s son) and save both mother and child, why do you think he hears you not? 1 Jn 5:14-15 says, “And this is the confidence which we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask we know that we have obtained the requests made of Him”

     Today, most Nigerians are starving while a few others are squandering our money for their personal interest. Is Nigeria Independent? Have you forgotten that Our Creator God watches you as you go about crippling our economy? Two things obviously certain here: you are born and you will die. And when you die, you will face judgment whether you like it or not!

    The current economic hardship has opened doors for many Nigerians to see corruption as a normal thing! We now hear that some parents sell their babies. Kidnapping has become a daily occurrence all over the country. Stealing has become unabated. Cheating even within the family is no longer news. In the political sector, the welfare of the electorates has been long neglected as politicians have to consider themselves as fortunate. The resultant effect is that everyone has to fight for survival.  

     We should not allow the current economic hardship to compel us to make money at all cost believing that money can answer all your problems. Every problem has expiring date; our Creator God will see you through all your difficulties provided you rely on His promises and obey His commands.  2 Peter 3:8-9, 13 says “Do not forget one thing, my dear friends! There is no difference in the Lord’s sight between one day and a thousand years; to Him the two are the same. The Lord is not slow to do what He has promised, as some think. Instead, He is patient with you, because He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins. But we wait for what God has promised: new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will be at home.”      

      Review your past sincerely to ascertain if you have justify your righteousness for the love of wealth. If you have done so, then do not justify yourself: approach God like the prodigal son today and allow Him to have mercy on you. Jesus said to the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted, among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Lk 16:14-15. If you have cheated others, then take note and repent please!

       As a Christian, you have to think of life after death and reject the urge to stake your life for money. You should remember that no situation or difficulty is greater than God. Material possessions can make you confortable but they can never give you joy or happiness! When you put your trust in God in all your situations and see Him as your all in all, your joy and peace will be certain. So, do not rely on your wisdom or wealth. We are all aware that a thousand years here on earth is like a day in heaven, yet we strive for riches as if we will leave this world with our possessions. Ecc. 5:15 says, “We leave this world just as we entered it with nothing. In spite of all our work there is nothing we can take with us.”

     We should avoid chasing money or wealth for the glory of people. If you achieve something artificially, people will sing in your name but this glory will not last. Hence, it is no use seeking money for your glory and miss out heaven where God promised for the righteous at the end of our journey here on earth. 

      That we may realize that true happiness does not consist in the riches of this world but in living in accordance with the values of the Gospel, Abba Gold in his song reminds us how money looks sunny in a rich man’s world.

Money, money, money

Must be funny

In the rich man’s world

Money, money, money

Always sunny

In the rich man’s world

 

     Jesus Christ told us in Luke 12:16-21 about the man whose harvest was larger than his barns. He planned to build larger barns to store his grains and goods to serve him for years. But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” Jesus encourages us to be rich towards God and stop laying treasures for ourselves.