In Africa and in Nigeria in particular, majority are said to be living below poverty level. As a result of the scourge of poverty and lacks, there is prevailing corruption, oppression, terrorism, restiveness and many more crimes than the developed world.
It is God's will that we have more than sufficient to fulfill his will. "And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." Joel 2: 24-29. This is certainly the will of God for His people to be abundantly satisfied. His desire is for us to overcome poverty and lacks both in the physical and in the spiritual.
How can we overcome poverty and lacks?
These following principles will help us overcome poverty and lacks as individual, family and the Church.
Have the right perception of the situation: - "Many of man's achievement are tied to perception; if you do not perceive, you cannot receive." (Femi Emmanuel). In the Book of 2 Kings 2: 1, 2, Elisha did not see vision or prophesy to the woman till he made the woman had the right perception of herself. “The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” She never saw anything in the family that could fetch them enough money to offset the debt her late husband left behind. Poverty is capable of blindfolding one's eyes except by the help of spiritual counsel. Apostle Paul prayed for spiritual enlightenment for the church of God. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,” Ephesians 1: 18; 2 Kings 6: 17 -20; Matt. 15: 34; Mark 8: 5
Be ready to invest whatever you have. It is true the Lord says, “But there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess—“Deut. 15: 4. However, prosperity is not automatic but comes with the blessings of God on diligent efforts. God is not against business. He wants us to be entrepreneur when the Bible says, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Gen. 2: 15. Work or business is not a curse but God's way of making man responsible and accountable for the world he lives in. you can determine your future through your action or inaction. “Speculation is an effort, probably unsuccessful, to turn a little money into a lot. Investment is an effort, which should be successful, to prevent a lot of money from becoming a little.”
― Fred Schwed Jr.
The man of God told the widow to borrow additional pot in order to share what she has into them. Subsequently, he told her to “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 Kings 4: 7. Do not eat up all your income, sell, pay debt and take care of your family from the balance.
Beloved, you can overcome poverty and lacks if you can see things with the eyes of God and not the way situation and people around define it. It is not all about what they said but about what you see and the way you see that will change your poverty level to prosperity. Do not be driven by what you can consume but what you can provide. As you meet needs of others, they will provide for what you will live on. Remain blessed in Jesus name.
Rev’d G. S. Adeyemo+2348036797596
G-mail: abundantgracemi@gmail.com
