NaijaPositive.com

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Has Nigeria Totally Missed 'Joseph's Wisdom'?

When Pharaoh had two dreams and Joseph interpreted them, he revealed that there would be period of 7 years of surplus followed by 7 years of famine. The wisdom revealed thereof was that God was willing to show mercy on Egypt by using Joseph to advice Pharaoh as to how to store the surplus, so they would have sufficiency in the time of famine.

Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was a wise man and therefore appointed him to oversee the management of the project that would make the kingdom prosper even in the time when others were lacking.

Likewise, God blessed Nigeria abundantly and that abundance saw its first major peak in the 1970s, but wisdom was lacking in the hearts of those ruling. Rather than store the surplus for provision in time of need, wasting and lavishness were the practices of the day. Oil boomed, agriculture was in so much abundance that, that which was not given away to neighbouring nations were abandoned, stockpiled to waste or totally disregarded as in the case of palm kernels, cocoa, and peanuts. Children were raised to believe and live in plenty without much emphasis on teachings on how to save or survive in time of lack or famine.

The 80's came and those who arose to power next, felt it was their season to gather, but not for storage and rather instead out of their personal greed. Contracts abounded but the practice was one of nepotism, so people quickly learned to align with the hands that fed them. An era of selfishness prevailed and soon almost all was squandered, and the repercussions of wasting soon became evident. Most children born in this era only witnessed the edge of wealth and by the time they began to mature, they only knew lack and want.
God is merciful and as some came to repentance and cried out to Him in the 90s, the 'era of revival gatherings' emerged, and slowly God began to reopen His doors of blessings, but had any or many learnt from the mistakes of the past? Not really. The greedy became greedier, the discontent became more discontent, the disillusioned and disappointed became merciless, and it became a game of every man for himself.

Those in position of power constantly squandered as the masses suffered. Education, careers, and ambitions suffered and joblessness prevailed, raising a new era and motto "survival of the greediest and the smartest", or should I say 'most cunning'.

Schemes and scams prevailed, 419 became the order of the day for those impoverished and restless, who in idleness had been convinced of get-rich-quick scams. Many had never known nor witnessed wealth, they had heard about the time of surplus, plenty, oil boom and agricultural abundances, but had barely or never tasted of the benefits. They sought to get education and jobs, but universities were closed often; jobs and salaries, even in government institutions were few and in between; and those that existed failed often due to power outages and high costs of operation; so if you weren't the son of 'Mr. wealth amassed', your chances of survival were very low.

With each man now seeking his own benefits, following in the footsteps of the U.S., the most prevalent and influential nation practising the motto of life which emphasized the motto of 'Me, myself and I', morality quickly began to wear down, wisdom began to be scarce, and outsmarting others quickly became the new order of the day. For those who could not muster the harshness that was required to survive, they aligned with those in power to benefit from their self-indulgences, at the expense of the masses.

It was once a pride for one to send their children abroad to broaden their horizons while getting an education, knowing they would return home to make themselves, their parents and country proud; now some children impoverished quickly learnt the act of clamouring to get a piece of the pie at all costs, and the era of deporting children who had partaken in illegal, criminal and desperate acts of shame began to prevail.

Though a minority, the shame was widespread and the cancer spread widely to a point where all Nigerians are now considered suspect, denigrated and treated as criminals regardless of their backgrounds, demeanor, careers, and lifestyles. The U.S. Dept. of Justice began keeping a dossier of 'any and all' Nigerians in the 80s, and many who were frisked unjustly at airports, ransacked, harassed and treated with racial biases by police and other authorities at the slightest opportunities, can tell you their unending tales of woe.

Some parents because of the sufferings which they are not accustomed to, have now thrown out morality, contentment and sacrifice in exchange for the spoils and riches of some of their unscrupulous sons who purchase them material goods, when the source of their sudden riches cannot be ascertained and are sometimes obviously questionable.

'Poverty in the time of need', rather than 'sufficiency in the time of need' is now the order of the day. Why did Nigeria miss the message in the wisdom of "storing in the time of surplus and abundance"?

Apart from the few wise families who practiced humility despite their wealth in the time of abundance, the most obvious others who seemed to have stored, are those who amassed wealth illegally from the purses of the nation, and even then, they did not think about of the economy of Nigeria, but rather swelled the economies of foreign nations when they stored their ill-gotten wealth in Swiss, Caribbean and other such banks known for hiding funds.

God is still merciful and blessing Nigeria, despite its grave errors and sins, but it is very obvious that wisdom is still very lacking, or the Josephs of Nigeria have been forgotten in jail, and none are heeding the advice of the few Josephs who have been released, as the rich are still getting richer, the middle class has been eroded and the hungry suffering masses are increasing daily.

Even those who en mass turn to God in churches and mosques are being taken for granted daily, because of their vulnerabilities in their time of need. Masses flocks to places of worship for prayers of deliverance, for God to open doors of mercy unto them, but many remain destitute, as some of their pastors, leaders and elders are obviously abounding in new found wealth at the expenses of the masses, and then claim they are being blessed mightily because they are servants of God, which now makes this a very lucrative profession.

Where the pastor or leader is growing, and the masses are abounding also, you may conclude that God is truly blessing them all, but where the head cow is growing fatter, with numerous cars, body guards and frequent trips abroad; while the flock are starving, even as they bring their widow's mites as tithes in expectance of blessings which are in NO way evident in their lives of servitude, one needs to reconsider.

Nations envied and sought Egypt out for food in time of famine because they had practiced the wisdom of Joseph.

Nigeria where art thou, the blessings and wisdom God bestowed on thee? God made thee a giant, reconsider your ways, stop listening to the false prophets, soothsayers and magicians who are leading you astray. Begin to listen to and heed the wisdom of the 'Josephs' among you.

Wisdom is better than fleeting riches, wealth of wisdom is better than fading pride and arrogance, and a good name is definitely better than riches, especially riches that is selfishly amassed in the deep pockets of a very few. Awake O sleeping Giant, apply the wisdom of Joseph and restore your glory!

Cxsm
28th Sept. '03

© Cxsm 2003 All Rights Reserved

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Hello Cxsm,

God bless for your words of wisdom. This particular communication is powerful. I pray that someone who can make some difference in Nigeria is receiving these and will act on it.

I know many of us out here in the diaspora want to return to help in our own little way. However, without an infrastructure and government promoting equity, justice and a healthy economy for all to take part in the country's riches, not many will go back to stay.

Nigeria will always have my prayers. Great men of vision helped to form our nation. Where are the men of vision now? We must do all we can to reach the children with good health care, education, nutrition and economic opportunities.

Please keep up the great work, my friend.

Martin E. A.
San Diego

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Words to the wise; He/she who has ears let him/her hear!

Maverixz
9/30/03

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Our Youth

Some of us may think Nigeria is a far distance away, but the reality is that the youth are 'our children' and their nourishment not just their survival will determine their capabilities and ability to run Nigeria in the future.

Cxsm
7/2/03

© Cxsm 2003
_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Wisdom emanates from the wise, not just from the elders. While experience has always been a teacher, wisdom gained from lessons learnt are the essence of moving forward.

Who are some of the 'Josephs' of Nigeria and what noteworthy advice have they given that can be shared with the general populace for our collective benefit?

Cxsm
4/21/04
_________________
May we be strengthened with the ability, willingness and capabilities to be good ambassadors of Nigeria contributing to its uplifting, rather than its detriment. - Cxsm

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404

Nigeria hasn't missed Joseph's Dream.

In the fellowship my parents belonged to as college students, someone had a dream and prophesied that there would be a time when every one would leave the country, and that the land would become the home of lizards and cockroaches, but that the exodus would be only for a time and a purpose, that people will return, and that after the reversal of the exodus, Nigeria will achieve heights that will make her a global force to be reckoned with, because Africa is close to God's heart, and Nigeria is a key nation in God's plan for the ages.

In the same fellowship, one person dreamed that Nigeria was a green palm tree, but there was fire at the roots, and people were marvelling at the green tree without looking at the roots.

This was in 1975, when the idea that the country could decay to this level was utterly unbelievable. I think it is safe to say that we are right in the middle of the exodus. It is the one reason why I don't lose hope. I grew up knowing that we would reach the level that we have sunk to. But I also know that a day will come when being a Nigerian will be a badge of pride as it was before, and all the other countries that are hating on us now will eventually have to admit that Nigeria IS the giant of Africa.
Till that day comes, Aluta continua.

Trutalk
4/22/04

admin · Site Admin Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 5404