END-OF-YEAR CHEERS OR TEARS
The end-of-year syndrome is keeping many families, organizations, corporations, industries and businesses in a crazy rush. The Christmas season is now known for gatherings; holidays, weddings, church services, and crusades; Housewarming celebrations, the debut of new cushion clubs with their hype men and DJs’ vibes that attract rock and roll enthusiasts to the dance floor.
Similarly, motorists are on top speed, traffic jam on the increase; everybody seems to be in a hurry; crimes and fraudulent acts are now more prevalent. While many tend to be mindful of these unrest; some others are actually mind full. It’s no surprise that young individuals and especially parents are so forgetful and quickly irritated by trivial issues. It sinks the heart that the holiday season has evolved into the most chaotic time of the year.
Happening concurrently with these tensions and anxieties are the presidential campaigns; gradual circulation of the new currency and Central Bank’s restrictions on daily and weekly withdrawals. The strain is severe as the cost of products and services keeps rising. It is quite regrettable that we must endure these abhorrent persecution and poverty before learning that we ought not to be slained and offered as sacrifices to the deities of greed, injustice, and corruption.
The plights of the common man is never the concern of the Nigerian lords inasmuch as they wear their soft robes, ride in armoured vehicles, live in opulent palaces with stunning settings.
It’s important that we reiterate certain fundamental truths while the Christmas bells continue to ring and hampers rest on corridors. Christmas is a celebration, not a competition. It’s not a contest like the finals between Argentina and France; rather it’s about love. You can still celebrate Christmas in a grand style and go to hell. So be mindful how you gather and pursue money for Christmas and New Year festivals.
True Christians should be driven by love this period. Don’t kill yourself, ‘no go dey do pass yourself’; just do the little you can. After all, “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15).” You don’t have to sweat and weep simply to celebrate Christmas.
You also don’t need to cry because you couldn’t afford to buy fish to go with your rice. Keep to your means. You can never gather enough. How much money is enough in the real sense of it? “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income….” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Work is good but don’t overwork yourself to the points of pains and tears. Rest and sleep are God’s blessings and great gifts to humanity. While not consider resting and relaxation this period. Worn-out bodies would recover if subjected to good sleep and rest. Even a little sleep can do the miracles your prayers cannot do.
Understand that overwork is not necessary for success. When you die, your possessions won’t follow you, but virtue will. While you do the little; save don’t hoard. There is a big difference between saving and hoarding.
Saving is the practice of reserving a portion of one’s income for future use. Saving is necessary with the faith that God will provide (Phil 4:19). Hoarding is the practice of accumulating and storing a sizable quantity of a certain good, which leads to its scarcity and ultimately, its increase in price. We suffer so much in this country because many Nigerian lords are hoarding for future generations. Hoarding does not indicate responsible parenting; rather, it breeds irresponsibility and inefficiency in your offspring.
The way we handle resources should reveal our trust in God. American currency has the inscription “In God we trust”. Let’s put our trust in God not the currency. Prov11:28 says “those who trust in their riches will fall but the righteous will strive like a green leaf.” Wealth is good, God wants us to have wealth; but He does not want wealth to have us. Remember the parable of the rich fool. Times are hard, but if you have been blessed, try and share this festive period. You will not beg for bread either.
Wishing you and your family the merriest Christmas and a loveliest New Year! Cheers!!!
Witnessline
Father Daniel
Rice pic FBk
