THE BEST GIFT[1]

 There are different kinds of gifts. Some in appreciation of you as a person, some in appreciation of your contribution to a goal, others in celebrating your coming of age. yet, there are gifts that have ulterior motives, gifts to make you compromise , gifts to sway you from what they see as a stiff opposition to their way of life. There are those who give you and it becomes a tool to blackmail you for as long as it takes. But this one thing we all must know is that man’s gift is not a perfect gift. There are gifts that are given with a good motive , but as time changes it is use as a yardstick to tell others of how ungrateful one can be. Some are given and you are expected to reciprocate and we see this in the politics being played out in many African countries, the poor folks are given a small bag of rice, and expected to vote for these politicians who afterwards becomes very corrupt and non performing ; it is very convenient for them to weaponize poverty to get their way with the common man on the street. Most often, they reach these people through their community leaders, who are also corrupts and would often refuse to pass on the booty, converting them to their personal use and consumption. when some of these leaders go this way, their names will be maligned and a campaign of calumny will be organize against them[corruption fighting corruption]. Yet, noble men have received gifts from others, statesmen, presidents, Royals and many more, have gotten one kind of gift or the other. Gifts have an ugly two prong fork: blackmail and corruption. Therefore, it is not for nothing, that the bible have this to say to those in high office in the book Exodus 23:8, And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. Whatever be the gift it will never survive eternity; it can be stolen, destroyed or depleted. There was a man who had an opportunity to the next prophet of Israel, a man who had walked with one of the chosen prophet of God called Elisha, Ghazi had the privilege to be close to this man of God , but instead of getting his blessings and be the next occupant of that office he got a curse all because he was covetous. Gehazi was a very useful servant to the man of God; he ran his errands and was always present in times of action, but this one thing destroyed all that; Gifts. 2 Kings 5:21, So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?2 Kings 5:25-27, But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

To be continued, [gguobadia@hotmail.com]

MARANATHA!