Recently it was reported in the Nigerian Punch, a retired General ( who had served meritoriously in the corridors of power in several laudable capacities) publicly and proudly admitted to being enriched by a magnanimous award of an oil block 12years ago from which he realised $1Billion and seeks to give a tithe of it $100m through his foundation to support charities and many worthy causes.
Deuteronomy 17[14] When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; … [16] But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. [17] Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. …
Perhaps only a few are dumbfounded at this public revelation of a most refined kind of resource looting. More that have benefited from the largesse of the amiable General are a bit embarrassed at his lack of discretion and tact while the values of future generation of leaders are updated as they take copious notes on what to do when in leadership. It is suspected by some that this unusual admission of past misdemeanours perhaps reveals only just a tip of the iceberg.
Let me humbly suggest that this cannot be another example of favour from God. Instead, God warns leaders not to greatly multiply the silver and gold that belongs to Him but be stewards and serve the people they lead with it. In Deutero
nomy, God lists the heavy costs for disobedience to His commandments. This includes … Deuteronomy 28[33] the fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed always.
The oil block – a national resource – did not belong to the leaders (they are stewards) and so this manner of award and indeed other similar ones can only be examples of larceny that needs to be urgently judged and rectified. Many families of previous national leaders, ministers, resource officials and corporate moguls groan under strange curses they cannot comprehend…even as the nation wonders how it is possible that social and economic oppression has become almost normal. The Nigerian energy sector also remains strangely perpetually dominated by foreigners as very little value is locally created in spite of local content pronouncements and an extremely talented populace.
Also, we cannot tithe ill-gotten wealth and bring into the treasury of God to obtain pardon. We cannot bribe God or society with giving to become holy or to make our resources also holy when they have already come from illicit activities. On the contrary scripture teaches that the entire treasury of God becomes polluted if “dirty” money is accepted. This also suggests we are not to shy from asking detailed questions concerning unusually large sums given for any noble cause…even if this offends many. Dirt is loathsome…it pollutes everything it touches and is not cleansed by quick-fix generous giving.
Haggai 2 [12] “If one carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with the edge he touches bread or stew, wine or oil, or any food, will it become holy? Then the priests answered and said, “No.” [13] And Haggai said, “If one who is unclean because of a dead body touches any of these, will it be unclean?” So the priests answered and said, “It shall be unclean.”
Luke 3 [14] And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Hebrews 13 [5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Someone said resource oppression continues to thrive in perhaps this most religious nation as new power cabals emerge from the emerging politics. Hear Jeremiah…
Jeremiah 8 [8] How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD,” when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? [9] The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have? [10] Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners. From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. [11] They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. [12] Are they ashamed of 
their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished…NIV
As we honour the General for rare honesty in his open admission, my prayer is that children of God will urge politely that the proceeds from this shameful transaction and indeed perhaps many others discovered not just in government but also in the corporate sector – be voluntarily and completely returned to the national treasury for the benefit of the people God has blessed to enjoy His wealth…over 150 million Nigerians mostly living in deprivation in need of electricity, good roads, education and basic medical care. Indeed God would have begun a new thing with this urgent call to restitution.
Ephesians 4:28Ephesians 4:28
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. to give: or, to distribute
WP-Bible plugin Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Deuteronomy 22 [22:1] You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep being driven away or stolen, and hide yourself from [your duty to help] them; you shall surely take them back to your brother. (Amplified)
Proverbs 9 [17] Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. [18] But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Exodus 22 [9] For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
A last word from Jesus – the friend of sinners…in the home of Zaccheaus the famous tax collector who corrected his ills as best he could…Luke 19[5] And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house. [6] And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. [7] And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, that he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. [8] And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. [9] And Jesus said unto him, this day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. [10] For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
God bless you all even as He reigns in our lives.
Bode
