Friday 25 May 2018

Wealth is Divine



Wealth is an abundance of valuable possessions or money; it is a plentiful supply of what we need, and desire. It goes with affluence, riches, substance, luxury, well-being, etc. All the promises of God to us here on earth are wrapped up in wealth and so, wealth is our inheritance as Children of God and therefore, is interwoven with Christianity. Over the years, many Christians have been living in falsehood, with an attitude that is repulsive to wealth, just for a weak self defense. No wonder, most of the celebrated scientists, entrepreneurs, leaders, celebrities, etc are either non Christians or non dedicated Christians.

In the bible, we read the account of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We saw how God blessed the works of their hands and made them the envy of the heathens. We also read the account of David and Solomon, chosen by God to become Kings in their time and how rich and favoured they were. Noah was a righteous man and favoured by God, yet, he built an ark that never sank during the event of a mighty flood. Bezalel was equipped and called by God; He possessed the Spirit of God and is filled with wisdom and knowledge in all manner of workmanship to design artistic works. (Exodus 35: 30-35). It was Prophet Nahum who saw the vision of motor cars we are driving today (Nahum 2:4). The list can go on and on.

Bible made us to understand that “The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). It is God who gives power to create wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). It is written in James 1:17 that “every good gift and every perfect gift (which includes money) is from above, and comes down from the father of lights (God) with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning”. It pleases God when His children use their God-given potentials to create wealth and manage it appropriately. What offends Him is when we acquire wealth through evil means or spend money carelessly. Did God not tell us that He will open the strong gates of heaven and rain down so many blessings, that there will not be room enough for us to gather them? He did promise us lots of blessings but only if we are willing and obedient (Isaiah 1:19).

When God said that His people perish for lack of knowledge (Hos. 4:6a) it is because He saw that we are so ignorant and myopic. The same bible that said “The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim 6:10) also said, “Money answers all things” (Ecclesiastes 10:19). He instructed us in Genesis to multiply, to subdue the earth and replenish it. But we chose to fall for the deceit that separated riches from godliness and that is why we are suffering.

God is searching for those who will make Him proud in all fields of endeavour. God is in need of innovators who will invent and create new things to His glory. He needs sons and daughters who will create jobs and use same to evangelize for Him.

This is a wake up call for Christians to sit up, discover who they are in Christ Jesus and use it to serve God. God has set before us an open door that no man can shut (Rev. 3:8). We need to key into God’s blessings of open doors by discovering our areas of service and reaching out to achieve it. We need to work hard to multiply what God has put in our hands. Let us not disappoint God like the wicked servant in Jesus’ parable of talent who hid his money and gave same to his master on return. Our God is a business man and He has invested much in us and expects return. That is why the bible tells us that to whom much is given, much is expected.

Christians should channel their mindsets on how to create and transfer wealth. Man’s need is inexhaustible. There are so many problems yet to be solved and we need to discover and solve them, and by so doing, our God is glorified. To key into God’s open door covenant of wealth creation and transfer, we are required to make sacrifices. Nothing good comes easy. There are still many areas that are untapped and genuine effort should be made to learn new skills, so as to fit into the new areas and break new grounds.

Are you considering setting up a business or getting employed first, to get paid? Consider and work on the following:

     Discover yourself. What do I want to achieve? What can I do best or better and how can I do or achieve that? Where is my service needed?

Do a market survey, seek knowledge and raise capital; you can raise capital for your dream business by doing those petty businesses that require little or no cash.

Plan and execute, start with what you have.

If you are already in business, consider and work on the following:

Develop yourself constantly; always upgrade your knowledge on the new trends.

Review your location and announce your presence; make sure you are strategically located.

Review your budget from time to time; have a short, mid and long term budget.

Acquaint yourself in financial management and learn how to cut your coat according to your cloth.

Network among your business colleagues; advertise your business using social and electronic media, etc.

Work with God, study your bible

Consult experts when necessary

Study your environment and be security and safety conscious

The time to act is now!

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi

Tuesday 15 May 2018

HANGOUT WITH PRISON INMATES

Prison Entrance
It took time for me to decide whether prisoners actually deserve compassion and words of hope, knowing that some had actually raped the opposite sex, robbed people of their possessions, probably killed their fellow human beings or committed one crime or the other. However, I realized that there are more criminals who are not locked up like those in prisons, those who know how to cover up their crimes. They are all around us; in the market places buying and selling, in the schools, hospitals, government offices and houses, in work environments, even among the prison staff; stealing public funds and what do not belong to them. It just happened that those imprisoned are the unfortunate ones. But then, this has not changed the way I see rapists. I also realized that some of them in the prisons are paying for the crimes they did not commit.

The hangout with prison inmates organized by Success Step Network and sponsored by Hon. Pat Asadu Foundation was indeed an eye opener to the solution the society is searching for; which is to reduce crime and curb insecurity. What do I mean?

For the first time in my life I saw prisoners; they were looking so helpless. They were eagerly peeping through their window protectors to hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, to hear words of hope and transformation that can change their lives. We saw prison environment as a place where we can reach out to criminals and those locked up unjustly; to instill morals, principles, discipline and also inject in them sense of responsibility. Success Step Network did not just preach and empowered them with words, they presented foodstuffs and Daily Manna Devotional, and even made sure that those items went to the prison inmates.
Success Step Network Team with Hon. Pat Asadu
We noticed that majority of them are youths and males. Let us not watch and let this generation gradually waste away. It will even be great if skill acquisition will be introduced in the prison environment to ensure all round empowerment. With such, they will have something to fall back on when they are released, and it will help keep their minds busy while in prison.

Ideal Olive calls on well meaning Nigerians to make out time to visit prisoners and encourage them with foodstuffs and words of wisdom; just like what Success Step Network is doing. If we don’t have the time, but have the means, we can at least sponsor those who are willing to go; just as the likes of Hon Pat Asadu are doing.

I cannot forget Sunday, May 13th 2018 in a hurry, a day with the prisoners. How can I forget the resounding “Auntie bye bye and Auntie bye” from the prison blocks, as we turned our back to go. We all have work to do.

Ideal Olive commends Mr. Eric Maduabuchi Asogwa of Success Step Network and Hon Pat Asadu for such a memorable and rewarding habitual programme; and encourage others to toe that path. Together, we can reduce crime in our society.

Written by Olive Chinyere Amajuoyi
Sponsored by Samweld Nditah





An Open Letter to theTribunal Judges

  Dear Tribunal Judges, The ongoing election tribunal is very important in the history of Nigeria. It will define how good or how corrup...