THE LITTLE BOY VS BUSINESSMAN MENTALITY

THE LITTLE BOY VS BUSINESSMAN MENTALITY

"I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple." - 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (MSG)

One day, a businessman walking along the beach noticed a boy hurriedly picking and throwing things into the ocean.  Approaching the boy  he asked, young man, what are you doing?" The boy replied, throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out, if I don't throw them back,  they'll die". The businessman laughed at him and said, "Don't you realise there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish. Stop wasting your time, you can't make any difference". After listening politely,  the boy bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean, then smiling at the man, he said, " I made a difference to that one".  (The Starfish Story, Loren Eiseley 1907 - 1977)

The tide of this world has washed many people out of the ocean of God's enclave. There are many helpless and stranded starfish on the shore of life and heaven is looking for people with the little boy mentality to go pick and throw them back into the ocean of God's love before they pass out. Unfortunately, many believers have developed that terrible businessman mentality in the kingdom. They think the act of rescuing lost soul is a complete waste of time and resources. They are bunch of Jamboree believers who believes that what makes one a Christian is the show of designer dresses, wristwatches, and also singing and dancing in church every Sunday. They believe any time spent for evangelism and follow-up is a waste. What a myopic mind-set! That is the businessman mentality.

"Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: “Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously. “Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment,...."-  Matthew 10:5-10 (MSG)

However, the Bible says the businessman mentality contradicts the great rescue mandate in Matthew 10: 5-10. The one who sent us to the shore of this world is patiently looking over our shoulders and expecting to see us make maximum impact for Him everyday by proclaiming the good news (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Hope you will not disappoint Him? Knowing that heaven rejoices over every single starfish we throw back into the ocean, then, we cannot afford to be slack on the shore (Luke 15:7 & 10). We must never get distracted or be fooled by the modern day businessmen around us. If we do, we may lose our place in the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).

"Jesus replied, ‘A man that ploughs a field must continue to look straight ahead of him. If he looks behind, he cannot plough well. People that look behind them cannot work well for the kingdom of God .’ - Luke 9:62 (EASY)

Friend, are you one of those helpless starfish that had been washed to the sea shore by the strong tide of life? Has the lust of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life dragged you out of the reach of the Almighty? Are you a backslider? Are you an hypocrite?  Has your inordinate obsession for power, position, success and riches thrown you out of the Great Shepherd's everlasting arms?  Then, please repent and surrender your life to Jesus now. Stop struggling with your maker and throw yourself back into that powerful fountain of His blood that cleanses deeply. You will never regret that you did!.

Beloved, are you one of those with the businessman mentality around, please repent and amend your ways. If you don't repent, you will be held liable for every starfish that dies around you (Ezekiel 33:8). Are you one of the few believers with the boy mentality in the church today, I rejoice with you. Please keep throwing those stranded starfish back into the ocean (2 Timothy 4:5). Great shall be your reward in Heaven. Never stop living a life that radiates God's love and command positive impact. Keep the fire burning till you hear "well done thou good and faithful servant" in the city of Gold.  

God's counsel to us as we approach the end of age is summarised in one powerful poem titled "One More Day to Live". As we meditate on this poem below, I  trust God to help us remain steadfast in picking and throwing starfish back into the ocean every day of our life till Christ returns. 

ONE MORE DAY TO LIVE ( By Carol Ann)

If I had only one more day to live,
All love, praise, and glory to you I’d give.
I’d try my best to put a smile on someone’s face
To share with them your saving grace.

I’d remember things about my life
The times you were there through fun and strife,
And thank you then for all you’ve done.
Without you no victories would have been won.

If I have one more day before I die
I would apologize to the kid I made cry.
I would take back the harsh words said to everyone,
And fill their hearts with laughter and fun.

If I only had one more day
I wouldn’t push anyone away.
I wouldn’t try to hurt a friend
Because I should love them to the very end.

Why not live each day as if it were our last
Looking towards our future and forgetting the past
To be a Christian each day we live
And most importantly to always give.

My prayer for you and my humble self is that, the Holy Spirit will pour a fresh passion for lost souls in our hearts. May we truly live each day as if it would be our last on earth. And as we rescue starfishes for Christ on the shore of life, may we not miss out of the grand reception on the eternal shore in Jesus name, Amen.  

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church Of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, I want to invite you to the February 2020 Holy Ghost service. Date: Friday, February 7th, 2020. Theme: Let The Light Shine -2. Time: 6pm (Nigerian Time). Venue: Redemption Camp, Km 46 Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State, Nigeria.  Ministering: Our beloved Daddy G.O - Pastor E.A Adeboye and other anointed Ministers of God.

Good morning and do have a blessed day.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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