UGOCHUKWU UGWUANYI
At the drop of a hat, most Nigerians would opt for partisan politics over committing to expressing the things of God. But someone who has not only been in the corridors but also in the parlour of power has revealed which is more beneficial. He didn’t just stop at exposing the most profitable option but has, for want of a better term, defected to it!
If sensitive and attentive in the spirit, you’d realise that God speaks even from the least expected quarters. This is why we can’t discountenance the instructive point made by Abdur-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, Nigeria‘s minister of communications from 2015 to 2019, while announcing his resignation from partisan politics a few days ago. According to the former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, “If you put even a quarter of the effort we invest in politics into God’s work, one will certainly be better compensated.”
It is immaterial that the ex-minister came to this realisation after being outmanoeuvred in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries. In politics, it is said that you either emerge or submerge. Rather than suffer in Siberia, Shittu smartly pivoted to God, rededicating himself to his creed. Christians can learn a thing or two from this, since the subtext of man’s declaration almost conforms with the divine admonition to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 (NIV).
From Barrister Shittu’s assertion, it can be extrapolated that Christians should strive to be as tenacious in serving the Lord as politicians are with their ambitions. And you know they go all out so much so that for most, it becomes a do-or-die affair. If you can’t appreciate their zeitgeist and passion because they are out of reach, imagine the enthusiasm of their average supporter and party member – the extent they are willing to go in ensuring the victory of their man. This will give you an idea.
It is highly debatable whether “even a quarter of the effort…” is good enough for God. Still, the point seems to corroborate Jesus’s “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” comment in Matthew 11:30. Shittu’s minimisation of the requirement is understandable because he’s trying to make the point that serving God is comparatively less exerting yet more rewarding than the debilitating game of politics. But God isn’t content with half measures; instead, He prefers persons who will go all out for Him.
Moreover, Jesus declared in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” So whoever is going to be rewarded for Kingdom Service must carry God’s matter “for him head” (as the streets would say) like fanatical supporters of Nigerian politicians or their muscle men. This doesn’t mean being aggressive or violent in the service of the Lord, but going out of your way and laying aside every dissuasion from pursuing the actualisation of God’s will on earth. After all, we are saved to save others!
This is why you should be an active member of a local church. Doing so not only offers several avenues for serving the Lord but also empowers you with what it takes to advance the Kingdom of God on earth. Remember that the arrival of the Holy Spirit – which was to enable early disciples of Jesus to evangelise (Acts 1:8) – happened as they were all together in a room, not while they were in their various homes. (Acts 2:1). Be sure to find one work or the other to do in the house of God, and like Ecclesiastes 9:10 charges, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…” This further reinforces the truth that Christians aren’t expected to give their God a quarter of the effort they expend elsewhere but use all their might in serving Him.
Now, that doesn’t mean they would be found wanting in important areas of life, like career. The truth is that diligently serving the Lord will make the faithful a high-flying professional, provided they give to Ceaser what is Ceaser’s and to God what is God’s. Daniel was overtly committed to Yahweh that he could deny himself choice delicacies from the King’s table to prove the faithfulness of the Lord. (Daniel 1:8, 12, 15).
He never missed praying three times a day, yet the man of God was still able to distinguish himself above his colleagues (Daniel 6:3) and was found to be “ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers” in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. (Daniel 1:20). Scripture cannot be broken; this affirms that diligently serving the Lord and performing well in one’s career are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they complement each other. Employers and hiring managers with reservations about recruiting believers passionate about the things of God don’t know what they are denying their organisations.
The blessings that come with Kingdom Service go beyond the faithful servant to their sources of livelihood and employers! We are sure of this based on Genesis 30:27, where this was spoken about Jacob: “Please listen to me,’ Laban replied. ‘I have become wealthy, for the LORD has blessed me because of you’.” If you consider the supplanter undeserving, what about Joseph, about whom Genesis 39:5 says, “From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished.”
If responsible organisations can go to great lengths to ensure the comfort, well-being, and financial stability of their staff, how much more so the Lord Almighty? He can be trusted to be the exceedingly great reward of those in His employ. It’s because God can do better that He declared in Matthew 7:11, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Now, that’s generally speaking. If in His service, you wouldn’t have to ask before, “he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 (NLT).
VIS Ugochukwu is a Sage, Narrative Architect and Branding Strategist who can be reached via nmiringwu@gmail.com