“Do Not Receive God’s Grace In Vain!”(II Cor.6:1-8a).
The West may have helped to underdevelop Africa. But how long can we continue to cry over spilled milk? Since we became our own masters what have we done to change the status quo of enslavement and underdevelopment? While the colonial slave masters worked for the interest of their countries, our own “children of the soil” leaders are home-bred modern day slave masters working for themselves and at best for their families – and sometimes extending their generosity to their tribes.
A few African proverbs show this degree of greed and selfishness:
- When your brother is up the palm tree, you will eat ripe nuts. Or when your brother is up the plum tree, you will eat black plums.
- When fire falls on you and the baby, you should first remove your own before that of the baby.
- When there are mass deaths, each person should mourn only those who concern their household.
- When the food is not well prepared, orphans are given much to eat.
Many such proverbs abound within the continent. The proverbs exhibit the lack of patriotism and demonstrate too much self-interest!
The fellowship of believers is expected to be the difference. True fellowship means sacrifice and concern for the common weal.
Chrrist died so “that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (II Cor.5:15). Living for him who died is not through long worship services, long and regular prayers, weekly vigils and fastings, etc – as important as they are! Living for him who died is to ensure that we do not put stumbling blocks on the paths of others.
Paul tells us, “As God’s fellow workers, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path so that our ministry will not be discredited…”
The efforts we put in, in the name of serving God, may turn out to be wasted years. If in the course of our service to the LORD we have become the reason for the frustration, pain, tears and even the death of others, then we have put stumbling blocks on their paths and this will discredit our ministry.
Glory be to God because in the time of his favor, he hears us, and in the day of salvation, he helps us.
As his servants we should commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and disdresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor…”
Prayer: Holy Spirit, remind us always of our focus so that our labors would not be wasted years. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.