'When
life throws us the challenge to define self, one is often caught in the
web of seeking solace and self-worth in material possession'. 'A man's
worth is not in the abundance of his possession'
A
man wakes up one morning and he is surrounded by all the good things of life; a
warm home, a beautiful wife, lovely kids, well paid job (or owns a business or
chain of businesses), luxury cars etc. The world is simply at his feet. Another
wakes up with one or two or even none of the above materials to surround him.
In the space of his mind he believes that his life is nothing or is worth
nothing because those things are not there to garnish his life. He not only
think so but the society also makes him believe that he is worth nothing
without those things. I have lived in the two extreme sides of the spectrum and
I have come to realise what Jesus actually meant by, a man’s life is not in the
abundance of the things he has. Those things that are physical and material
grant us comfort but do not constitute one’s self-worth or value. The houses,
work, businesses can vanish in a matter of days. People lost business empire
while the economics of countries collapsed in matter of days after the global
economic crisis of 2008. A beautiful, loving and faithful wife, husband or kids
can die. Even when that does not happen such lovely spouse can become
promiscuous for whatever reason, sickness can make such people become a burden
and source of sadness. If one’s self-worth or value is thus defined by having
those things, not having them or losing them means one’s self-worth is on
constant oscillating motion determined by the wind of change occasioned or
orchestrated by circumstances. That was why when Job lost all his possession he
said those thing I feared came upon me. We most times organise prayer, vigils
and seminars just the guide and guard this earthly heritage and property but
the innermost desires of better life; building value in self and in people
suffer serious setbacks. Just like the man who does not have money to spend on
shelter, food etc. believes that the problem he has is all about money but the
moment he begins to make money he realises that the problem he had from onset
is not money. According to Maslow Theory of hierarchy of need, the basic
necessities of life (water, food, shelter) need to be met before one can actually aspire
for other level of need but Maslow also postulated that the inner desires of
man; the realm to do greater things than just living or living securely develop
in people at the tender age of two. Though man can be limited by circumstances
but man is often privileged to start achieving those innermost desires even
with little. Jesus advised we should lay our treasures in heaven where moth do
not corrupt. Laying treasures in heaven does not mean building mansions in
heaven or even giving offering in church but in invest in self-inner worth
through developing core character content and value, sharing with people no
matter how small we have, helping people out of situation etc. That was why
Paul admonished Timothy to teach rich people not to be proud or trust in the
uncertainty of riches but to trust in God. That the rich should learn to be
rich in good work, to give willingly and share with the needy and by so doing
the rich lay foundation for time to come and thus lay hold on eternal life
(1Timothy 6:17-19). Unfortunately many people go on acquiring wealth before
turning philanthropist and the reasons people do those things can differ.
Genuine philanthropist believe they need to give out to people because at that
point in life when they have made money and there is no longer territories to
conquer, people connect more with their inner souls to reach out to people. Some
rich people however do this to win popularity amongst people they have hurt or
injured on the way to the top or amassing wealth. To those people philanthropic
act is more for customer relation in Corporate Social Responsibility. The
meaning of life in itself is in the life and living that seeks the good of
others
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