BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Sokoto Zonal Missionary Pastor of Christian Evangelical Church of Nigeria (CEFN) Reverend Micheal Adaji Olobo has said people should stop seeing themselves as being poor.
Reverend Olobo who argued that, evey soul is blessed by God in different ways, added that, God blesses people according to His riches in glory.
“‘I am poor is a wrong theology of poverty. It is true that poor people will always be around us, but if you count your blessings genuinely, you will see that you are rich in one dimension””.
Continuing, the respected clergy said,
“”for some, their riches might be in good health, others wisdom, some patience, some money, some long life. The list is endless “.
While submitting that
poverty refers to inability of an individual or households to meet up with acceptable sufficient resources to satisfy a minimum social requirement of life, Rev. Olobo said the term, “poverty” is therefore relative depending on the way you see it.
“‘You may consider yourself as poor when you don’t value what you have while others are looking for it.
“”The first thing you have that you don’t value is health. May you not be poor in your health. If it were money that gives health, then the wealthy ones would not be sick any longer.
“‘The money you thought can give you life is not the reason for being healthy. It’s only God that gives, not your money. Therefore, know it from today and make no mistake that, it is not money that defines wealth””.
Considering how insatiable human needs are, Reverend Olobo said,
“”Everybody have a need and if you have a need you are poor in that regard. Financially wealthy people needs money from the poorest of the poor to be wealthy which was why they produces that which everybody needs.
“”As human beings, we need one another to succeed. But for you to be relevant and sought after as a valuable asset, then you must have a service or commodity that somebody else must look out for””.
Giving justification for his stand on striving to render sought after services or products in life, Reverend Olobo said others make money through the products they develop or services they render.
“‘Every one of us have something to offer. But selfishness in a man is what makes us think that we are different from others. Pride is the genesis of thinking you are better than others. But do not forget, that you can’t have everything.
“‘Poverty is a social deficiency. There are things you no longer need again and if you use them, give to others. We need to help one another.
“”The apostolic gospel is that everyone in Church live in communion. Let’s bear one another’s burden.
“”Until Jesus return, we will ever have poor people around us. You are poor in those things you are in need of. We need one another to succeed in life.
“”The poor people around us is an opportunity for us to fulfill what God is expecting from us. As it is also an avenue for us to demonstrate our love for God and humanity””.
The Sokoto CEFN Missionary Zone Pastor, Olobo I’m backing his call for rendering assistance to others as fulfilment of the scripture, quoted Leviticus 19 vs 10 where God instructed that a farmer must leave some part of his harvest in the vineyard for strangers and the poor to glean on.
Bringing this quote to present reality, Rev. Micheal Adaji Olobo said, “”where you earn you living from is your vineyard and farm hence we as Christians should reciprocate that aspect of the scripture.
”It is an evil against God to ridicule the poor people around us, adding Proverbs 14 vs 31 said, “”He that oppressed the poor reproached the maker.
“”You can never be fulfilled hundred percent in life, you will certainly be in need of something and that has to come from somebody else.
”None of us is poor, none of us is rich because as much as you have a need, we are both poor and rich hence we lack one thing and have another which the person we see as rich lacks””. Rev. Olobo submitted.
