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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Don’t store up gold” Don’t store up gold is an instruction not to amass wealth. We shall reflect on the fact that when a leader focuses on storing up gold for himself, his heart turns away from God and the people he was chosen to serve.

Beloved in the Lord, true leaders are content and focused on serving God and country. Deuteronomy 17:14-17 outlines the restrictions on any king Israel might appoint, a significant departure from the practices of other ancient nations. The king must be an Israelite chosen by God, and he is forbidden from amassing many horses, many wives, or excessive silver and gold. These rules were intended to prevent reliance on military power, prevent his heart from straying through foreign alliances, and avoid personal greed. Many African countries and underdeveloped nations have suffered from the regimes of leaders and kings who store up gold for themselves to the detriment of the masses. Some greedy politicians in Africa have engaged in illegal mining and the destruction of the environment just to store up gold and other precious minerals for themselves.  Again, some go into ministry to store up gold for themselves by commercialising the pulpit and pastoral care. We have all manner of deception for financial gain going on in some African churches, coupled with their human rights abuses. Fake prophets and pastors impose rituals and hardship on their followers to feel continuously relevant and supported. Today, we are being admonished, especially Christian political and religious leaders, “… not to accumulate large amounts of silver and gold. (Deuteronomy 17:17) but to fear God and serve with compassion.

Our leadership must protect the people from going through untold hardship as a result of inequality and unjust economic policies and social interventions. True leaders have a golden heart. They are content and modest in their living. Leaders must heed Jesus’s warning when He said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15) Paul’s admonishment is relevant to us at this point, when he wrote “, But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction (1 Timothy 6:6-9)

In Summary, we discovered that when leaders focus on storing up gold and wealth for themselves, their hearts turn away from God and the people they were chosen to serve. A Christian leaders whether political, religious or traditional, must be content, fear God, live a life of modesty and always have the people at heart in all their decisions. Shalom.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit lead us to do God’s will as leaders. Amen.