TOPIC: PROMOTING THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE
📖 TODAY'S TEXT:
Ezekiel 34:1-10
🔑 KEY VERSE:
"..Woe to the shepherds of lsrael who feed themselves. Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool... but you do not feed the flock", (Ezekiel 34:2)
🖊️ COMMENTARY
History tells us that one of the causes of the French Revolution of 1789 was the scarcity of bread which brought untold hardship upon the masses, while the privileged class had everything they needed. Nobody would like to subscribe to a violent Revolution which is always associated with deaths as it happened in France, but for negligence on the part of some leaders in government and other spheres of life who fail to be responsible and provide basic needs that will enhance the welfare of the people so that they will have a sense of belonging and Contribute patriotically to the unity, stability and development of the place organization. Citizens will be proud to call a country their own if their welfare has been guaranteed by the government. Members will be proud to call the church theirs if their spiritual and physical needs are met.
Our text for today is God's indictment against the Rulers of lsrael, who enriched themselves by mercilessly exploiting the people. They had no concern for the welfare of the people who had become poor, unhealthy and unhappy. In anger, God said He would judge the wicked, insensitive, callous and uncaring shepherds, and promised to provide a shepherd like David over them. Ezekiel's prophecy of God providing a good shepherd for Israel is likened to the lyrics of the poem by James Ngugi's, Weep not, my darling. "With these kisses let me remove your tears, The ravening clouds shall not be long victorious. They shall not long possess the sky." The poem provided tremendous encouragement until God delivered the Kenyans from the white land grabbers and many years of suffering. Same God will also deliver us from wallowing in penury by predators who control the various tiers of government and corruptly enrich themselves at the expense of the masses.
Therefore, as leaders in any sphere of life, we must stop at nothing from providing for the poor among us medically, financially and materially. For religious leaders, just feeding the flocks of God especially the poor among us with the word and prayers is good but not enough. Paul wrote, "They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which l also was eager to do"(Gal 2:10).
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APPLICATION:
Leadership and exhortation is the order of the day in Nigeria. Every leader in Nigeria leads with what Nigerians call "Nigerian factor". Everyone in Nigeria uses that in leadership. Every aspect of leadership in Nigeria has Nigerian factor. What is Nigerian factor in leadership - if I may ask? Nigerian factor in leadership means extortion, making money from people you lead at all cost, "Stealing by tricks" that is Nigerian factor.
Every leader in Nigeria is a criminal. Every Nigerian is a leader. Every leader in Nigeria finds a way to extort the subjects as Nigerian factor.
You lead in your clan, autonomous Community, local government, state or the national levels. You are a leader where you are. As a Nigerian, you apply Nigerian factor in your leadership, you are a criminal. You need to repent else one day you will die, leaving those things you accumulated as you face God's judgement. There is a Divine Capital Punishment.
We always blame the man on Apex, Zenith seat as the cause of our country, Nigeria. Everyone is involved in the criminology.
📜 ONE YEAR BIBLE STUDY PLAN
Deuteronomy 11–13
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🎚 CONTROLLING THOUGHTS
Inordinate desire to amass wealth by exploiting the masses, will always be among the causes of disunity in any country or church.
🙏🏿 PRAYER
LORD, make me a caring leader, and raise caring leaders for our nation and the church.
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