Prayer is part of human existence. Every culture, tradition and religion across human existence prays; sometimes to a particular deity or a fellow human who may be considered powerful and influential. Needs and lack is the reason for prayers, but only a few people understand that prayer is an act of worship. You only worship what you consider worthy. It is worthy because it has a worth. When people pray, they expect answers to every of their prayers, but God wants us to be an answer to someone’s prayer. When we become an answer to someone’s prayer, we show gratitude to God for the many gifts and opportunities received.
In Matthew 25:31-46, we discover that whatever good we do to others we do to the Lord. God created everyone wonderfully, and there are no two persons that are the same; people in their uniqueness approach life differently. Some are born with high IQ; others are born brave; this also affects their outcome in life; this supposedly imbalance offers responsibility for the strong to bear with the deficiencies of the weak. Everyman’s true strength and maturity is measured by his attitude to money, wealth and position. This reveals so much about his spiritual commitment and worth for humanity. God’s love for His creation is for both the poor and the rich alike.
In Matthew 26:11, Jesus answered his disciples: “For you have the poor with you all ways, but Me you do not have always.” In life we meet people that we may never meet again; we are given opportunities that may never come again; for this reason, Paul in writing to the Galatians said: “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10 and Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”
In Deuteronomy 15:10-11: “Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be open handed toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”
Many wonder why God allows some persons to be poor and others to be rich. God created humans with will power, skill, opportunity and chance; our reaction and action to will, skill, opportunity and chance; the action and inaction determines our output and what we become and how we are celebrated after life.
The Bible has a lot to say about wealth and poverty. God is the creator and owner of everything in the universe, including wealth and poverty. In Proverbs 10:22, we read: “The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” This verse reminds us that God is the source of all blessings and that wealth comes from Him.
Furthermore, the Bible teaches that wealth can be a blessing or a curse, depending on how it is acquired and used.
Proverbs 11:28 states: “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.”
This verse warns us that wealth can be fleeting and that those who rely solely on their wealth will eventually fall. It also reminds us that righteousness is more important than wealth.
Today, we remember and celebrate a man whose wealth and legacies of greatness has transcended time and generation; who in life channelled his resources to better his people and create wealth. Today, the history of this community and the Urhobo nation will remain incomplete without the name of Olorogun Michael Ibru boldly written in it. With a standing ovation let us again as we will always do celebrate the legacies of Olorogun Michael Ibru, who was born on December 25, 1930, and died on September 6, 2016.
• Being a talk delivered by The Ven. Stephen Wolemonwu, Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, during Olorogun Michael C. O. Ibru Memorial Thanksgiving
