Over the years, I have monitored the lives of young men I once taught in Sunday school, now in their 60s. I have also seen pastors who have been pastoring for decades. Instead of enjoying life and being productive, they stagnate, reminiscent of the man at the pool of Bethesda who waited 38 years for a miracle.
The Pool of Bethesda: A Metaphor for Inaction
In the biblical story, the man at the pool of Bethesda gave excuses, saying he had no one to help him into the pool when the water was stirred. He waited for probability instead of seizing the moment. Jesus told him, “Take up your mat and walk,” highlighting the capacity and ability within him that needed a divine push.
A Message to Men: Take Responsibility for Your Life:
Men, do not let religious activities and the hope of a miracle prevent you from actively managing your life. Do not rely on the “hope capital” of one miracle from a guest preacher to transform your life. Ask yourself these simple questions:
- Have you seen a rich man in the prayer band?
- Have you seen any prayer band member or prayer warrior who is doing very well financially?
Even if you see a rich man, he often forms his own prayer team, sometimes in his factory or home, while producing wealth.
Handle Life with Personal Responsibility:
Church is not the pool of Bethesda. Serve God in different capacities, but don’t play with your life. You only have one life to live, and it is your responsibility to make the most of it. Living solely on the hope of the miraculous is too probabilistic. Seize the days, moments, and seconds to produce something sustainable for your future.
The Reality of Old Age:
Old age is expensive, lonely for men, and not the time to start hustling. It can be very frustrating to see people in old age who have been hoping and waiting on miracles their entire lives. It is crucial to produce something now that can sustain you into old age.
God bless you.
