TB Joshua Gave Life to People, not make a Living from People

 

We often hear the phrase “making a living” to refer to the work we do to earn a living and sustenance. Many Christians and Christian organizations have fallen into that sustainability syndrome just as much as anybody else, thereby making a mess of the Good News of Jesus. They use their ministries to build financial empires around themselves. However, the Founder of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, SCOAN, Prophet TB Joshua came to change lives and to change nations. This should remain the Focus of the SCOAN family worldwide.  One big lesson he is leaving with us is the fact that he didn't worry about his life, what he would eat, drink, or, what would wear or where he would live. He cared for the teaching, the healing, the giving, and the praying for others at every meeting. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today, (Matthew 6:25-34). God who provides for the sparrows will surely provide for us. God is ultimately providing everything we have. We work hard, make prudential decisions, and are responsible for our duties.  In that sense, we could say we’re making a living. But we need to take it as God’s gift to us and not of something we’re laying hold of independently. In the Garden of Eden, the primal sin is the illusion of seeking radical autonomy for self and the idea that I can separate myself from God, make my judgements, work in my strength, think like God. That’s a complete delusion. God’s going to restore all things one day and the glory of SCOAN will be greater than the first.

Whenever Jesus looks at the world, He sees what can be and all the possibilities. Jesus shows us what the kingdom of heaven looks like and asks us to live its principles here on earth. This means turning what is regarded as normal personal economics upside down. TB Joshua led, lived and gave as Christ did by turning his economy into Jesus' economy. TB Joshua was willing to drop everything to follow Jesus like the first Apostles of Jesus, even right from the time he had only a little. Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed Him” (Mark 1:16-20). TB Joshua was willing to give whatever Jesus asked of him and at that very moment. This remembrance should help not just to build on Christ's Foundation but to keep the Church in union with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus told a young rich man saying, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21; please read 19:16-30). This area is where we'd found TB Joshua using his resources to empower the impoverished. His ministry sponsored international crusades and he gave generously to needy individuals personally and through Emmanuel.TV's Partners. The currency of Jesus's kingdom is different from the circulating ones in our societies. Jesus’ currency is self-sacrifice, faith, holiness and love, reflected in TB Joshua's teaching and living without hesitation or reservation.

Jesus has also given us the mandate to bring the gospel to those who are yet to hear His name. Jesus' economy is not just about alleviating physical poverty alone. It is also about alleviating spiritual poverty. TB Joshua was able to touch the lives of many, meeting both their emotional, physical and spiritual needs.

Similarly, God is asking us to demonstrate our belief by bringing the good news to those who feel hopeless. We are called to drop everything for Jesus because His economy is all about envisioning what the world could look like if we live in His love, righteousness and integrity. To further appreciate the life and time of TB Joshua we should join God in the process of making that vision to changing lives and changing nations a reality and our priority. In this way, Prophet TB Joshua will live on in the heart of the world.

Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria