ओं पास्टर एनोच अदेबोये'स JET

MUCH ADO ABOUT ADEBOYE’S JET

As poor as a church rat is a common saying when someone wants to express the gravity of poverty. It is not a compliment rather it is insulting to identify the Church of Jesus Christ with poverty. After all, Jesus became poor that we may be rich, simply put, Jesus chose to be poor so that no Christian would suffer poverty. Anybody who believes that Jesus died on the cross to take away sins should also know that that same Jesus took away poverty so that that person would not suffer poverty. The Bible talks of “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and not the poor in material things or wealth. Material poverty is not the same as spiritual poverty. This is what is confusing many Christians today. One can be rich materially and be poor spiritually and vice versa.

Ask that girl standing by the street side at night and she is wont to tell you that she took to prostitution because her parents are poor so she is the family bread winner and pay her siblings school fees. Most suspects arrested by the police for robbery and NDLEA for drug trafficking have been blaming their woes on poverty. According to their tales, they got involved in these crimes to raise capital for one business or the other or to settle debt. Yes, the Bible talks about being easy for a camel to pass through a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven. The rich man the Bible talks about is one who worships his wealth, that is, wealth has taken the place of God and God being a jealous God cannot share his glory with anything. There is nothing glorious or dignifying in poverty. In short, poverty is a curse.

The same Bible also tell us that we shall lend to nations (note the word nations) and not borrow. Can one give what he does not have? One must have enough to be able to give out of the abundance of his riches. Many are shocked by the sudden financial turn around in Christendom today. They are not happy that churches no longer go cap in hand begging for funds to execute one project or organize a programme. There is nothing wrong with a Christian being rich or wealthy. Our covenant father, Abraham, was rich in all things and he was God’s friend and confidant. According to the Bible, Job was a righteous man as well as the richest man in the East (of his time).

For some weeks now some persons have been on rage because the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Pastor Enoch Adeboye has a jet. If I may ask: Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and his anointed,” (Psalms 2:1, 2). What is the big deal about a Pastor owning a jet? Have the G.O.’s critics bother to find out the purpose of the aircraft and what it would be used for?

Mathew’s gospel Chapter six verses 33 say “But Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” All these things referred to in the above passage include jets, mansions, choice property and other good things of life that give comfort to man. In the book of Genesis chapter eight and verse 22, the Bible says that as long as the earth remains seed time and harvest shall not cease, Adeboye has been sowing his seeds all these years, where were his critics and why should they shout now that he is harvesting? You cannot reap what and from where you did not sow.

Are the members of RCCG complaining? Did they say they were coerced, intimidated or sweet-talked into buying a jet for their Papa? Adeboye chose to seek the kingdom of God and its righteousness, when Christianity was not glamorous, I am very sure some of his colleagues and mates then would have considered him a mad man to abandoned his job as a lecturer to become a mere pastor. And now that he is reaping they are murmuring. The jet is just one of those things that Jesus promised would be added unto whosoever seeks his kingdom and righteousness. Remember Jesus is the master of the universe and he owns everything and everybody in the world and is at liberty to give to whomsoever he chooses to bless with his wealth. A servant is worthy of his wage. God created the heaven and earth and Adeboye is his servant and cannot wallow in poverty. It is God that gives power to make wealth.

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts; my cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall choose Jerusalem” (Zechariah 1:17). Money is necessary for the expansion of the kingdom of God. One needs money to buy Bibles, build churches, organize crusade and retreats, and send relief material to the poor and needy. No amount of prayer and fasting can make these things to fall from heaven; God must use human agents to meet the need of Christians and the church. If you check the prayers of many Christians it is full of God give me this, give me that: this is a testimony to the desire of every Christian to come out of lack, want and poverty. No pretence. If the economic needs of many Christians are met, their prayer points would be reduced by 80 per cent and they would now have time to pray for the expansion of the kingdom of God. Many have talked about Christians who stole money and donate same to church. The church does not ask anybody to steal his employer’s money. And the church is not a security agency that investigates the activities of its members. Some persons stole and donate to church with the belief that God will accept their gifts but remember the story of Cain in Genesis, a pastor may receive your offerings and tithes but the God in heaven would not accept any stolen or ill gotten money. The church does not ask its members to steal or make money fraudulently.

Most of the so-called church leaders criticizing Adeboye are doing so out of envy and jealousy and not because of care for the poor. No man, no economic policy or programme can wipe away poverty from the face of the earth because the scripture cannot be broken. The book of Deuteronomy Chapter 15 Verse 11 says “The poor shall never cease out of the land:” So are people saying that Adeboye should not enjoy the harvest of his labour because they are poor people around him and in his church. Our master Jesus Christ when he was around did not heal everybody, in fact, when blind Bartimeus cried to him to have mercy on him, Jesus asked him what do you want me to do for you? When, it was obvious that the man was blind.

Adeboye deserved the best money can buy. He has paid the price. He is greater than the president or head of state of any country and if a president can have a jet attached to his office it is not out of place for Adeboye to have one. There is a difference between living in comfort and living a flamboyant lifestyle. And Papa Adeboye is not such a person and would not start at this age. The Bible says it is an anathema for slaves to be riding horses and princes are trekking. It is time Christians stopped glorifying poverty and opens up their minds to receive wealth from above. Malachi Chapter three verse 10 says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouses, that there maybe meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour out a blessing that there shall be no room enough to receive it.” Is God a liar? Will he say it and would not be able to perform it? I strongly believe that true riches, like wisdom, come from God.

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