Page 28 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 9

MY AFRIKA

work while those other people were God is the One Who gives the for me. I’m not saying God can’t
probably slacking off somewhere. I power to get wealth... but the ques- make you crazy-rich. I’m saying
mean that’s why they’re not as well- tion is why? that everything He does, He does
off and well-prepared as you. I think we have stopped knowing with a purpose and we should find
You pushed yourself and bought what it means to be human and out why. Otherwise, you can truly
yourself a car that lost most of its how that to be human also includes have everything and have absolutely
value as soon as you drove off in it, knowing and understanding that nothing at the same time. Wealth
but you look good in it, so it’s fine. life and death are two sides of the with no purpose.
same coin. But death backed up One of the most beautiful things
You slogged and bought beautiful by a life lived for the betterment of about having is being in a position
clothes, went on holidays, filled humanity is truly glorious and worth to help those who do not have, not
your shoe rack and eventually cre- emulating. to lord it over them, but – in service
ated a shoe room for all your stuff. It is very common to hear people to the King – to ensure that what
Aah, the good life! Why should call themselves self made mil- He has in mind for each life He
anyone think that you owe them lionaires or self made-billionaires directs you to pour out into, will
anything? They should just do what and which is ok really. But getting come to pass. This is living rich to
you did and die rich too. 1.2 billion caught in the web of their ever pres- die empty – not poor – but fulfilled.
Afrikans dying rich. What a glori- ent pride for their great achieve- For what does it profit a man that
ous death, eh? ments, they forget that it is only a he should gain the whole world, yet
After all, if they work hard (like the man with breath in his lungs that lose his soul? Those words haunted
handcart pusher), if they are faithful can lay claim to anything. For he me for years, and then one day I
in carrying out their duties (like who cannot claim to be a self-creat- discovered that they were in the Bi-
the minimum wage construction ed man, who cannot claim that he ble. I understood that God wanted
worker) they will have everything was not made by the breath of God me to know that there was more to
that you have. Won’t they? should not lay hold of the foolish- life than what I had embraced and
ness of pride. For the grave he is believed and that the path I was on
Or maybe, for just a moment, we going has no preferential treatment was pointless. Until then, I had ded-
can consider the alternative. for either the rich or the poor. It's icated years to this path, believing
all bones and smelly dust. everything I had been told about it
Indulge me for a moment, because was the way things should be.
I believe that what has been given I am not just speaking to you alone
into our hands has been given not but also much more to myself. When I observe what is happening
for the benefit of self, but all and in the Land of Light (a.k.a. Nige-
not for our consumption for tempo- I lived the “my money is my ria) right now, where people in the
ral things, but to be applied to the money” life for many years and battle against SARS, are regarding
divine and eternal purposes of God. eventually shifted gear, thanks to one another’s needs as a priority,
I am not saying don’t buy clothes God, to an understanding that I am my prayer is that this becomes the
and shoes, at least your body needs a steward of what He gives into my norm once again for the continent
them. I’m saying, understand that hand and that what He gives into of Afrika.
what has been given to you is a my hand comes only because He
privilege and not a right. I know of has determined that it be so and That it would not be a temporary
many people who are too incapac- for the purposes that He deems state of affairs but a real concern
itated to work but they desire to. I it should be for. This means that, for one another and to know who
also know of those whose lives are when provision comes, it is incum- needs what and who can supply it
committed to the pursuit of bene- bent upon me to find out why, and from a place of genuine love and
ficial activities for the society, that what to do with it. Knowing that my care would be firmly established
are not income-generating and in supply comes from an abundant in Nigeria and the rest of Afrika.
order for them to stay focused and Source, Who will take care of me With this kind of heart towards one
on task, they need help. I’m saying and Who has chosen to include me another, we can overcome every
consider the possibility of living in His plans. This allows me to live single hurdle that we face ahead of
with an eye and a heart for those free of the pressure to accumulate us. Together.
who do not have the opportunities things, money, property and lets
that you have, understanding that me walk in the ways He has chosen

28 | Heal . restore . rebirth . Afrika