Opinion: God of the rich and God of the poor

by Kemi Filani

There’s nothing wrong with having faith but you  need to work, be original, take risks, and do your best.

“In terms of natural resources, Africa is the world’s richest continent. It has 50 percent of the world’s gold, most of the world’s diamonds and chromium, 90 percent of the cobalt, 40 percent of the world’s potential hydroelectric power, 65 percent of the manganese, millions of acres of untilled farmland as well as other natural resources.  Despite the natural wealth, Africa is home to the world’s most impoverished and abused people— Dr. Walter E. Williams

Money, Money, Money, must be funny in a rich man’s world… you know the song?

Have you ever wondered if there is actually a difference between the God of the Rich and that of the poor? Does seeing the rich become richer and the poor become poorer makes you wonder if they actually serve the same God?

To start with, you must have noticed that the rich and the poor do not serve God the same way. The poor attend mostly prosperity driven churches where emphasis is laid on ‘how to prosper’, ‘praying away  your suffering’ and they sure know how to fast well. They are usually faithful workers, who seldom miss church activities. The rich on the other hand, serve God with ease.

There is this popular belief that goes thus: You know a poor man through his prayer points…  “the God I serve is a God that answereth by fire” while a rich man prays softly “the God I serve doesn’t require stress”, you would hear them say!

The poor are at the receiving end of the society, managing things and struggling to survive while the rich are the ones making it all happen. You see it in their outfits, appearance, fleet of cars, mansions you find them in etc.

I am not trying to mock here but trying to point out something! I found that most times, the poor are poor because they choose to be poor and here is why.

Sometimes, too much emphasis on spiritual matters may cause the poor to refuse to talk about money matters because they have the mentality that “God will always provide our needs according to his riches in his glory” like money will actually fall down from heaven without working for it.

You find them complaining “ah, there is no job out there…ah, I don’t have any money to even start any business etc” where as they are the ones that have decided to sit, fold their hands and watch time pass by.

You see, you shouldn’t limit yourself or fail to take risks all in the name of “my God would do it”…yes, faith is the key, you need to have faith but faith without works is equal to nothing.

There’s nothing wrong with having faith but you  need to work, be original, take risks, and do your best.

God helps those who help themselves; like the widow in the Bible that Elisha ministered unto, if she didn’t have any pots at home, would she have encountered the miracle of oil from the pots?.

Agreed,  No one can guarantee your success except the one who gives d ability to produce wealth and that is God, but you need to have something first.

You need to change your thinking mentality! You should get up, learn as many skills as you can, utilize the skills, go for the available jobs even if their pay isn’t that ‘inviting’…that’s what would add up to your CV tomorrow, rather than just sit at home waiting for a messiah to pour down his shower of blessings on you.

You want to start a business; go ahead, don’t be scared of taking risks…the little capital you have got can start something. The richest men on earth today didn’t start big, you don’t have to start big too…you do the little you can, added up with your faith and see if God wouldn’t multiply it for you.

Wealth is based on productivity, and productivity is expandable.  In fact, productivity is fabulously expandable.” — P.J

On this note, I wrap up to say that there is indeed just one God! It is you that determines your poor or rich state!

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

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