Rushing to False Prosperity

Nigerians must learn to stop worshipping money and deifying opulence.

I'm not saying this because I'm jealous or envious or a hater.

But this mentality is what has gotten us into the current mess we find ourselves in.

When I was little and I came home with an eraser that did not belong to me my mom would freak out. Even though I claimed it was a gift she would not be pacified. You were guilty until proven innocent. She would come to school to confirm you did not steal it.

Those were the good old days.

Nowadays it is common for a young school drop-out to leave his village on foot and return six months later in the latest Range Rover to a rousing welcome. All sorts of traditional titles would most definitely be showered on him and he will be presented to the young ones as a role model. No one bothers about the source of wealth; only how to spend it with him.

Nearly every testimony in church is about new cars; houses and million dollar contracts. We give people church positions and titles based on their supposed financial net-worth rather than spiritual net-worth. Youths actually flock to certain churches because of a mentality that everyone there buys a car within a short time of joining the church.
What we call testimonies in our churches is becoming a spiritual stink. When last did we celebrate Character and Integrity? How far we have fallen!

It's so bad these days that even in some secondary schools it's the children with the richest parents that get picked as Prefects. And the schools are 'rewarded' with large endowments from their parents.

And we are shocked that majority of our youths are only interested in get-rich-quick schemes. We should prepare ourselves for more armed robberies; kidnappings and white-collar crimes. It is not their fault; they are doing what we taught them.

This country is as corrupt as the Sahara is dry. I have said before that we have to treat corruption like Ebola - infectious; destructive; deadly.

Meaning anyone and everyone around that flashes unpalatable wealth and opulence should be treated first with cautious suspicion rather than a shameless rush to align ourselves and get our 'share'. We should stop worshipping them in our offices and churches and villages. Test all spirits.

In countries where reason still rules, we still find a few people able to ask the serious questions. Wesley Snipes and Lauryn Hill can testify to that.

I have mentioned no names. Just trying to get us to think.