You are here: HomeOpinionsArticles2013 04 01Article 269577

Opinions of Monday, 1 April 2013

Columnist: Sarpong, Justice

"The One Who Is UnwillingTo Work Shall Not Eat"

Rev. Asante, "The One Who Is UnwillingTo Work Shall Not Eat"

Ghanaians should keep their faith, whether Christians, Moslems, Budhhists, Agnostics, Stone worshippers, Tigare worshippers or Trokosi Worshippers but they should never believe faith alone can solve their problems without hard work. This article is in reference to what Rev. Asante, the Moderator of the Methodist Church told his congregation during the Easter church service that,

"God can fix Ghana’s frail economy - Rev. Asante"

Rev. Asante, there is nothing that God cannot do and almost if not all Christians believe that so what we should ask ourselves is why then will God allow us to go through harships. Prayers alone without doing what is expected of us as servants of God will not fix our economy. The days when manna used to fall from heaven have ceased to exist because of our sins and God has entreated all his servants to work for a living. Telling Ghanaians God can fix our economy without telling the people what they should do to get this blessings from God is shirking of your pastoral duties.

"The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church established that no matter how worse our economy has become, the broken homes recorded and marital problems unresolved, we should have hope and believe the bright light at the end of the tunnel would restore things as we prepare to witness the resurrection of Jesus Christ.In order to see this come to pass, Rev. Asante warned politicians, public servants and all individuals to recognize that: “all we need to do as a people is to recognize that when Jesus Christ died on the cross for us, he broke every wall. We shouldn’t allow hatred, kingship, political affiliations and chieftaincy divide us.”

Where is the sermon for the people to work hard, eschew the habit which has become a canker in Ghanaian society,"It's government work". In Ghana government workers are paid to work eight hours but most of them work two hours ou of the eight and use working hours trying to figure out what numbers the National lottery is going to drop doing "Banker to Banker". People leave their offices to go on lunch break at twelve and don't return until 2:00PM and some don't even return at all. We should be teaching our congregation responsibilities and what is expected of them as members of society what they should do to make life better for the whole country instead of the laziness of our people.

I believe Reverend Asante has read the Book of Thessalonians in the Bible and should have quoted 2 Thessalonians 3:10, to encourage Ghanaians to work hard instead of telling them prayers alone will fix the economy.

"For even when we were with you, we gave this rule. The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat" There is no where in the Bible where laziness and corruption is tolerated in exchange for prayers because not to work is against the will of God and creation order, it immediately and naturally results in the problem of survival. It is called “natural punishment”.

Sad a man of God instead of entreating Ghanaians to walk the path of Jesus and talk about salvation and deliverance has become a political figure telling Ghanaians God will fix our broken economy through prayers.

Hard work is accorded respect in the presence of God even God through the book of Thessalonians advocated for people to work to earn a living. Reverend Asante should preach about salvation and deliverance and leave what is Ceasar for Ceasar. He should not allow the gifts being heaped on him by this administration to distort and mess the thinking of Ghanaians because prayers alone will not fix any economy not because God cannot do it but because God want us to work for a living.

I will leave Rev. Asante to digest on these quotes from the Bible and maybe he will find them appropriate to talk to his congregation in future.

“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘If a man will not work, he shall not eat.’(2 Thess:3:10)

: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!”(Prov. 6:6)

"The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth!”(Prov;19:24)

Justice Sarpong

(CARDINAL of TRUTH)