Unemployment, backwardness, stagnation, confusion about life are  world-wide problems. Recently, we travelled to one of the rich African countries, and I was surprised to see people sleeping in the open air along the streets. Why? No job to pay house rents and able bodied men were out under the dew of the night covering themselves with blankets. There is more to poverty and unemployment than what can be envisaged.

Many countries in the world invest in tourism because they want people to visit their countries so as to spend money and leave within two weeks at most. Why? The government of such countries is managing their resources for more profit without over stretching their amenities. It is all a strategy to put poverty at bay.

Despite whatever excuses, other countries in the world want Nigerians to come and do business with them for they believe we are a wealthy nation. But most of our citizens are poor. Each time I read daily papers, my conclusion is that Nigeria’s problem is multidimensional. It will take the presence of God, His wisdom, grace and favour for Nigeria’s Glory to be restored; for the problems are both spiritual and physical. Cultural, ethnic, character, environmental flaws are some of the confrontations; it is  not exactly the government as people are saying or made to believe.

Nigerians are a blessed race, intellectually and creatively too. We are a people who do not give in under oppression. We always surely come over, adjust perfectly to situations and move on as if things are normal. The reality is that this nation is in the valley, moving through to come out to the mountain top where she is meant to be.

And this is why families are in disarray, facing diverse challenges. Not until homes, families, communities face the reality, we may not access our glorious inheritance. Look inward and see how your home or family is cooperating with the devil to frustrate every effort to come out of the wilderness to the country’s Canaan land. It is an individual’s exercise. This exercise is of the heart, not of the brain or head.

1. Let every home return their family to God. Invite God and then handover the affairs of your family today and tomorrow to Him. Call a family meeting not only to eat and drink this season but make a Passover celebration where you can reconcile your family to God. If every family can do this, we can together take the nation Nigeria to our desired Canaan land. There are many who find it difficult to seek and trust God. They feel their freedom will be tampered with. This is the lie of the devil. Satan is keeping many lives  in bondage with its deception.  As the word of God came through Prophet Zephaniah, so it is coming likewise to Nigerians saying, “ And it shall come to pas at that time. I will search Jerusalem/Nigeria with lamps and punish the men who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart, the Lord will not do good nor will He do evil.

Looking For A Way: God’s word says “by strength shall no man prevail.”

Glory be to God, not all our teenagers are dubious, wayward, lazy and indolent. Not many of them are without future ambition. There are smart, intelligent, positively creative teenagers and youths in Nigeria who are seriously thinking on how to make good things happen for them legitimately or legally. There are youths who register with events managers around Lagos, who give them jobs on part time basis, with which such youths take care of their financial needs.

More youths organize lessons for younger ones in their neighborhoods. Others go from home to home coaching students or adults to pass GCE. Or they engage them for personal lifestyle improvements. The entertainment Industry is really helping our youths who are so talented to earn good money as ‘Stand Up Artistes, Singers and Dancers’. This is an innovative way to get our teenagers and youths engaged.

Most of these youngsters are graduates who could not get white collar jobs but keep life and soul together in creating something legitimate for themselves. I also learnt that there are communities who give farmland to their children as soon as they finish secondary education. Such children, through an organized community effort, will farm the land and make money to further their education. Even after their higher education, such children do not give away their experience as farmers. Also, there area smart parents, especially in Lagos area, who enroll their children into learning handwork after school hours. These include handwork like Electrician, Shoe Making and Repairs, Fashion Designing, Handset Repairs and Selling, Computer Lessons, the Act of Buying and Selling of diverse items etc.

This is a creative way of making our teenagers to find delight in handwork through diligence and then grow to be responsible youths. All these efforts will yield good results if parents can add showing their children how to serve and obey God. Let them know the importance of having enduring relationship with God who can give and sustain success. Return to God and find your way into your own Goshen. Let the People Return to God.

Why Poverty In Homes? To be continued Next Week.