WHEN DOES CONFIDENCE BECOME PRIDE?

WHEN DOES CONFIDENCE BECOME PRIDE?

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded – Hebrews 10:35(NIV)

Confidence is a great virtue; it has countless rewards. Real confidence is the master key to enjoying real success. It is, for example, among the 10 top leadership qualities. A person devoid of real confidence should never dream of being a real leader.  Why? Real leaders think and act differently from the crowd. Thus they live unusual lives, and it takes real confidence to maintain such lifestyles. Albert and Comfort Ocran said it best when they wrote, ‘Leaders are authentic and original. They are not afraid to be different. Indeed, they actually celebrate their sense of uniqueness through their words and actions. Jesus was often emphatic about who He was and who He was not. Even though He often ended up offending the religious establishment of His time, He was still emphatic that He was not just another rabbi but “the Son of God” and “The Way, The Truth and The Life”’.  However, confidence if not checked can translate into pride, the bad one! Confidence becomes pride if it remains at the first level of confidence-self-confidence.

There are two levels of confidence: self-confidence and God-confidence. Apostle Paul captured the two levels of confidence when he wrote, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” – Philippians 4:13(KJV). The clauses “I can do all things”, and “through Christ which strengthens me” respectively refers to self-confidence, and God-confidence. The language of the self-confident is “I can!” For TD Jakes, “Self-confidence is all about self-perception”. Thus it is about the thinking pattern, positive or negative, of a person. And one becomes who she thinks.  Lester Sumrall once said, “Those who say I can! Can; and those who say I cannot! Cannot. The power is in both words”. I therefore agree with Dr. Fines Moono that “the sky is not the limit. Your mind is the limit. What you limit in your mind cannot be achieved”. Truly, it is less debilitating to be physically crippled than to be crippled in your self-perception. Thus it is vital for a person to have faith in herself.  People who do not have faith in themselves are usually emotionally invalids, dysfunctional and miserable. Besides, they do not see themselves as resources but constantly search for someone to draw from. However, self-confidence as important as it is is not enough. It must be complimented by God-confidence.

God-confidence is one’s inner-confidence. For Bishop David Oyedepo, “It is your inner-confidence that guarantees your outer-confidence”. This means that outer-confidence (self-confidence) without inner-confidence has no foundation. And anything without a foundation is just a package of deception and short-lived. Such a faith can never be trusted. Strength, wealth, popularity, knowledge, hope and faith fail. That is why it is sheer foolishness to put one’s confidence in worldly things or people. Thus it is very important for any self-confident person to also have faith in God. It is only through God that we find greatness. There is no greatness outside God. Besides, God is the only strength of life in all situations. TD Jakes wrote, “There are some obstacles that will confront you and require more than positive attitudes. These challenges require a resolute, unshakable faith in God”. Without God, confidence is confusion!

Self-confidence that is not founded on God-confidence is pride! Yes, it is pride to try to achieve greatness in life without depending on God through Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul is one of the greatest men in history; his secret was his balanced and potent combination of self and God confidence. For him, “To live is Christ…” Consequently, nothing was impossible to him. He was marvelously knowledgeable, and supremely influential. He was also a prolific writer. Apostle Paul for instance authored 13 out of the 27 New Testament books. Is your confidence balanced?

Richard Obeng Mensah, co-author of 37 Benefits of Reading. richardobengmensah@gmail.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

A GREAT HERO HAS FALLEN: PRESIDENT MILLS IS GONE!

A GREAT HERO HAS FALLEN: PRESIDENT MILLS IS GONE!

   Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts – Psalms 12:1-2(NIV).

     The greatest man in history started his bodily life from a manger and sadly ended it on a shameful humiliating cross. The carnal mind may think that his birth was highly controversial. He was conceived, nursed and nurtured by a virgin! He grew up as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground. He had neither form nor attractiveness; and when people saw him, there was no beauty for them to desire him. In addition, his friends and disciples were virtually uneducated and unlearned, by the standard of the world.

                                                                      

     Consequently, he was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. People hid their faces from him; he was despised, and they esteemed him not. Nevertheless he borne their grieves, and carried their sorrows: yet they did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Ironically, he was wounded for their transgressions; he was bruised for their iniquities: the chastisement of their peace was upon him; and with his stripes they were healed. He was oppressed, and was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Yet it pleased God to bruise him; He put him to grief. His soul was made an offering for sin and his seed prolonged his days. By popular opinion and conventional wisdom, he was a total failure! However, God has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

    Real greatness is in seeds. This means that great people are seed sowers. Therefore, real greatness is discovering a good seed and sowing it in a good soil. The watering is not necessarily the work of such sowers. The growth of the seeds and the increase of their fruits is the sole responsibility of God. Great people, like true sowers, are usually never appreciated in their lifetime. This is because they are perceived to have wasted precious seeds that were put in their hands. Seed sowers on the other hand always know that they are primarily supposed to put the seeds into a good soil. The seeds decay in the soil. Afterwards, the seeds begin to shoot up like fresh and tender plants, fragile and unassuming. The plants contend with all forces and shades of weather. Eventually, they bear fruits in 30, 60, 100 folds.

     Real heroism, like greatness, is not always measured by academic laurels, long life, affluence, popularity, and prosperity. King Solomon of immeasurable riches and wisdom says it is true. Similarly, monuments and infrastructure do not always constitute a proof of greatness. Monuments fall; infrastructure eventually fractures. Balloon economic indicators are always ridiculed by economic realities. So-called political achievements and stalwartness are mostly lyrics of nagging yellow journalism and siren songs of dirty propaganda. In addition, real heroes and heroines are mostly not found at the seat of governments, law-making assemblies, judicial corridors, and intellectual parlours. They are neither decorated in business suits. Jesus says it is true. Real heroes are humble, compassionate, selfless, sacrificial, and serviceable. They are always ready to lay down their lives for others and also for the cause they champion. They see leadership as God first; the people second; and themselves last! Thus real heroes passionately and selflessly lead a cause or champion visions, not people. Leadership and followership relationship does not mean that leaders must place their needs before followers. Besides, positions, titles, personality and charisma are not leadership. Charisma by itself is never an answer to economic crisis! Japan had recently learnt that technology without God is a trash!

   Real heroes are, among others, always marked by humility. Humility is seeing yourself as human and recognizing God as the source and answer to all human needs. It is also seeing oneself as a steward of God’s creation. Besides, real heroes are never afraid of pain and death. Greatness begins when a person has come to a point in life where that person is neither afraid to suffer pain nor death for the sake of God, and the good of humanity. That is why all great heroes are always selfless. They move on even in the face of painful adversities. They always vow to suffer death than to surrender to hollow and sheer adversities. To them, greatness is in character, virtues and sacrificial love. They see generations unborn as their best judges; Dr Kwame Nkrumah agrees.

      President Mills is a hero! Oh! How I wish he lived to write his own story. Probably, his real disciples will one day write his true story. It has been said that men die but once, and the opportunity of a noble death is not an everyday fortune. It is a gift which every noble spirit prays for. An individual whose aim was to assist in the development of a nation, if left to the wishes of human, should not die suddenly, but when life was planning; death was laughing at it. Besides the wish of humans is not the wish of God. The greatness of most great men is seldom felt in their lifetime; but their great works are reflected in the background during their eternal rest. President Mills, may your good works speak for you. Rest in peace!

      Richard Obeng Mensah, author of If You Think of Your Opposition You Lose Your Position.

borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

LOVING YOURSELF

LOVING YOURSELF

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves lovers of money, boastful, proud …” – 2Timothy 3:1-2 (NIV).

Every true law is rooted in love. Love is the oldest law in the world. Nevertheless, it is the most lively and precious commodity on earth. Words of love form the foundations of every true home, community, nation and continent. Its language is spoken and understood by all persons in their specific environs. No wonder, all manner of laws are made to ensure its sustenance. Love always lies at the centre of every true law. It is superior to eloquence, prophecy, knowledge, faith, riches and liberality. Love’s most distinctive feature is that it never fails. Besides, it is never self-seeking.  Yet there is a need for loving oneself. Loving oneself is the first stage of love. The second and last stages are love for God, and other persons. Thus real love is a three-way traffic. Any love short of this is lifeless. On the other hand, love is complete and alive if it comprises the three stages.  Any love that remains only at the first stage only translates into cruel and gruesome hatreds.

Real love is self-transcending. That is why no person can live a satisfying life without having right relationships with right people. It is simply impossible! Without love, the eloquent is reduced to a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal; giving and sacrifices are unprofitable; and prophecy, knowledge and audaciousness are nothing! Even God knows that without real love He is nothing! Love is His most dominant trait and greatest weapon. Satan on the other hand is nothing because he is devoid of love. That is why he is ugly in all sense. Thus any other person devoid of real love is ugly to his or her environment, even if that person is successful in life. Success, even if it is good, is not good enough if it is devoid of real love. One must be significant. Significance is the product of good success that is self-transcending and enveloped in real love. It goes without saying that real love is significant love.

    The need to love oneself, and God and others may appear complex. It has been said that educators take simple things and make them complex but communicators take what is complex and make them simple. Jesus is the greatest communicator this world has ever known. He communicated with his audience effectively-direct, simple and precise. Jesus taught love in simple and meaningful ways. For instance, he once taught his followers that all good laws can be categorized into two-love for God and love for one’s neighbour. Thus the best way to obey any good law usually hinges on either loving God or your neighbour or both.

    We are to love God with all our mind, might and soul. This means that we must love God more than ourselves. On the other hand, we are obliged to love our neighbours as ourselves. Thus the standard for loving other persons is the same degree we love ourselves. It is said that we are to love our neighbours as ourselves, not more than ourselves; true, but not so with God. We are to love God with our all and even more than we love ourselves. Besides, our love for both God and other persons must be demonstrated at all times-good and bad. The Bible cautions us against diluting our real love in the last days. The last days is marked with terrible (difficult) times. People will therefore be tempted to be lovers of themselves. Today, the global economic crisis for example is crushing the real love of some people. However, the only way to face any crisis is to have real love. Real lovers ride above crisis moments and soar higher even is such times. Crisis moments are their promotion moments; ask Joseph, David and Daniel. Are you a real lover!

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Persecutions are Promotions. He was the 2009 National Best Student Author/Writer. borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

THE PRIDE OF LIFE

THE PRIDE OF LIFE

The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it – William James.

Love is the strongest force on earth; it is superior to faith and hope. Unlike faith and hope, love never fails. Nothing on this earth can withstand sustained love. Yet it is one of the most misunderstood subjects among humankind. More pathetically, its application is highly misplaced. Misplaced love becomes lust. Many people for example love this world rather than God and His Word. In other words, many people love the things in this world more than God. All that is in this world are the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

Lust of the flesh is satisfying a legitimate need such as hunger in a forbidden way like stealing. The lust of the eyes on the other hand is about making a decision based on external guides-good looks, a pretty package or positions. It is said that many women are deceived by a handsome face, fancy clothes, and expensive sports car. Likewise, the heads of many men turn at the sight of good looks and beauty. Lastly, pride of life is the need to be on the top; the need to be ahead of or superior to others. It may be about being better or thinking you are better than others. It may also be a desire for appreciation (gratitude and worth) or acknowledgement (standing ovation, a pat on the back, and strokes to the ego). Perhaps T.D Jakes said it best when he wrote, “Wanting acknowledgement isn’t bad in and of itself. But when it guides your actions, when it becomes a substitute for acting from the heart, you can make some very wrong decisions. If all you’re after is (acclamation), then anyone can shower you with flattery, lure you with hollow words of praise”. Thus pride of life is obsession with one’s status or importance.

Pride, like a coin, has two sides-good and bad. T.D Jakes argues, “Yet pride isn’t all bad. Taking pride in your work and your appearance is a good thing. No one would hire someone who takes no pride in her work. But pride should be self-generated. Wanting to do your best and congratulating yourself for a job well done are commendable…Wanting to improve yourself and do a good job are virtuous endeavors. Keep up the good work, but be careful that your pride doesn’t make you fall”. Thus pride becomes bad if it causes you to fall. This means that pride becomes evil if it drifts a person from God and His Word. Pride at this stage becomes worldly.

Worldliness comprises both internal and external behaviours. Its external context relates to the people we associate with, the places we go and the activities we enjoy. It is internal if it begins in the heart and is characterized by these attitudes-preoccupations with gratifying physical desires; craving and accumulating things, bowing to the god of materialism; and boasting of what you have or do-obsession with one’s status and importance. Many people take pride in their status, education, beauty, strength, riches, religion and ethnic origin. This attitude becomes evil if a person’s love for them is stronger than that person’s love for God and other persons. For Apostle Paul, human achievements, no matter how impressive, cannot earn a person salvation and eternal life with God. Paul had impressive credentials such as upbringing, nationality, family background, inheritance, orthodoxy, activity, and morality. However, his conversion to the faith in Jesus Christ was not based on what he had done, but on God’s grace. Are you depending on your achievements, background, church and other affiliations, education, status, reputation or just being good to make you right with God? Then you are proud! So repent lest you fall!

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of right your writing.

borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

PRIDE VERSUS HUMILITY

PRIDE VERSUS HUMILITY

Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all – William Temple.

The evils in this world can be categorized under three (3) main headings. They are the lust of the flesh; the lust of the eyes; and the pride of life. Life is full of proud people and things. To be proud means feeling pleased and satisfied about doing or having done or owing something; having a proper  amount of self-respect; having or showing a high opinion of oneself; and having an exaggerated opinion of personal worth or abilities. Thus contrary to popular public opinions, pride, like anxiety, is not necessarily evil but neutral. This means that depending on a particular set of facts, being proud may be good or evil! However, there is a thin line between pride and humility. Psychologists have said that humility might best be understood relationally. Relational humility means that we experience another person as humble in a particular relationship. Everett L. Worthington Jr. wrote, “We can say that a person is humble if four (4) conditions are met”. If we -

1. believe that the person closely matches our ideal picture of a humble person;
2. believe the person does not overestimate his or her position in relation to God or humanity;
3. trust that, in our relationship, the person will treat us with dignity even if our needs, goals, and priorities conflict with his or hers; and
4. believe the person would freely share himself or herself with someone who is needy.

                                                     

Therefore, the ideal picture of humility includes being selfless, modest and humane. Thus a humble person must demonstrate the positive “other-oriented” emotions such as empathy, compassion, love and sympathy. That person must also be willing to share himself or herself with others and to submit to God, to goodness, to humanity, virtue, the needy and, in his or her relationship with other persons, attuned to their needs. Jesus Christ is the epitome of humility. Humility does nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. It considers others better than itself. Philippians 2:3-4 commands us not to look only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others. God resists the proud but exalts the humble.

It is a sad commentary that many people misplace pride with humility and vice versa. They unfortunately tag the proud as humble, and the humble as proud. Such people are simply proud. Pride is saying or doing anything that is contrary to God’s Word. Thus humility is not overestimating oneself or something in relation to God or humanity. It is a life that is totally surrendered to Jesus Christ.  Humble people always relate to Jesus as both their only Saviour and Lord. They live for Jesus Christ and for the good of humanity. Knowing Jesus more and more is their priority. God’s Word is the basis for their actions and inactions. Humility means loving God by obeying and serving Jesus, and loving your neighbour as yourself. Are you a humble person?

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Persecutions are Promotions. borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CRITICISMS

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CRITICISMS

Honest criticism is hard to take particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger – Franklin Jones.

Criticism is a fact of life which no person is immune to.  Criticism has variously been defined as the expression of disapproval of someone or something.  It is a spoken or written opinion or judgment of what is bad or wrong about someone or something. Criticism may thus point out one or more faults of someone or something. Besides, it may be used to assess or consider the qualities of someone or something usually for the purpose of improvement.

There are two (2) main types of criticisms-constructive and destructive. Destructive criticism is devilish and primarily seeks to destroy. It comes from envious, jealous and mediocre minds as well as the hypocrites, the ignoramus, and inexperienced scoffers. Bishop Dag Heward-Mills says he “prefers to hear (his) dogs barking in the morning than to listen to critical and inexperienced scoffers”. Constructive criticism on the other hand is godly, sober, graceful, lovely and merciful. It calls for accountability, correction and improvement. Constructive criticism may for instance question the status quo or challenge conventional wisdom with the aim of initiating or causing positive life-transforming changes. It comes from experienced and learned minds. While constructive criticisms must be humbly received, destructively criticisms must always be ignored.   “Listening to (destructive) critics is letting Muhammed Ali,” in the view of Robert Duvall, “decide which astronaut goes to the moon”. It must however be noted that destructive critics are not always wrong. Instead of fighting them you must use your time to develop and improve yourself.

There are limitations to criticisms, even the constructive ones. Firstly, never criticize what is blessing people. Secondly, never criticize God’s anointed vessels. God always has a peculiar way of dealing with His anointed vessels when they go wrong. Prophet Nathan was for instance sent by God to King David to rebuke him of his lustful adultery and gruesome murder. Besides, God judged him severely and openly. Absalom, his son, however criticized King David to his own peril. He simply had no license to criticize or judge his father despite the latter’s sins. Thirdly, never criticize or judge people who have judged themselves. Thus people who have honestly accepted their faults and truly repented need not be criticized by others. God even never judge people who judge themselves and truly repent. You choose to do so at your own peril!

Criticism operates under the law of reaping and sowing. For Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, anytime you criticize or judge another person you set yourself up for judgment. Jesus Christ spoke about this truth in Matthew 7:1-5. Jesus in effect taught us these lessons about judging others:

1. Judgment gives birth to future judgment, as rightly stated by Bishop Dag;
2. A person is judged in future in the same manner, degree or quality he used to judge others;
3. It is better to always judge oneself than to judge others;
4. Hypocrites are prohibited from judging others; and
5. Only persons with integrity or who have rightly examined themselves can judge others.

It must be noted that Jesus is not necessarily forbidding us from criticizing or judging others. His primary concern is that it must be done rightly and well. The Word of God is the standard for criticizing or judging someone or something. Jesus once said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true” – John 5:30-31. God’s will is His Word. God’s Word is His power and wisdom. It goes without saying that we need divine wisdom to criticize constructively. Bimbo Odukoya has this advice for marriage couples, “In times when couples have to correct one another they should desist from criticizing each other. Criticism only results in resentment and ultimately malice. I always recommend that any such correction should be preceded with compliments”.

Criticism is a test of your humility. How you respond to any form of criticisms demonstrate your level of humility. It also determines whether or not you grow in wisdom. That is why you need wisdom to respond to your critics. Wisely ignore destructive criticisms but humbly accept constructive ones. They will not only help you examine your ways, motives and attitudes but will also add value to your life and work. Proverbs 25:12 says that it is a badge of honour to accept constructive criticisms. Always develop an attitude of listening to your critics and learning from all that is said, if possible. However, do not be distracted by what others do or say. You have your life to live; rightly live it in the highest and best way. Fulfill your destiny by right focused endeavour, having in mind that you shall one day stand before God for the judgment of your deeds. Therefore, pleasing God in everything you do and say should always be your guide.  In this light, I agree with Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams in saying that, “People who make history do not depend upon public opinion. And public opinion is not always right”.

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of right your writing.

borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com

THE PREGNANT VIRGIN

THE PREGNANT VIRGIN

Afia Noway was highly admired, liked and loved by both the young and old alike. She was a proud native of Dwakrom City. Dwakrom was well known for its fervent trading and religious activities. Noway was well known in her native land. Her electric fame was grounded on her unique beauty and character. As a true Christian, righteous and holy living was her most important pursuit in life. She was a staunch member of Looking unto Jesus Ministries. Noway was among others the leader of the singing group.  Pastor Hasty Carnal, her pastor, was proud of her and always mentioned her name during service and appeal especially to the young congregants to emulate her. Of course, Noway was a pure virgin. But one day she was found to be pregnant. Both her church and the entire Dwakrom community were not convinced of her explanation for the pregnancy. To her mind, she has never known any male person. The church expelled her in accordance with its Constitution, and the community banned her based on its custom. Was justice being done?

Justice is mostly never achieved by merely applying applicable laws to relevant facts. Application of applicable laws to relevant facts may definitely lead to judgment, not necessarily justice. Judgment is never justice. It has been variously said that justice emanates from the people. False! Justice emanates only from God. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Therefore, it is impossible to do justice outside God and His Word. People may easily accuse or judge a matter, not so with justice! While judgment is mainly based on the use of the senses justice is spiritually discerned.  Judgment mainly emanates from the seeing of the eyes and hearing of the ears. Justice on the other hand flows from righteousness judgment and equity. Justice is always surrounded by mercy, peace, righteousness and truth. For instance, through truth, justice dispenses freedom. Thus there is no freedom outside justice. 

Joseph, Daniel, Prophet Hosea and Virgin Mary once found themselves in complicated matters. Joseph was wrongly accused of rape and thrown into prison; Daniel was innocently cast into a lion’s den for praying to God; Prophet Hosea was commanded by God to marry a prostitute and he obeyed; and Virgin Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps, they were criticized, condemned, damned, and wrongly judged by many people. By human judgment, they were guilty but before God they were blameless. Their generations inflicted injustice against them but God decreed justice in their favour. People scorned and rejected them but God glorified them. 

Jesus Christ, God’s incarnate, was even judged and punished more severely. People questioned his birth and ministry. His power and authority were attributed to devilish powers. Jesus was also opposed and rejected by his own Jewish brethren because of wrong judgment. God never forbids us from accusing, criticizing, or judging people. He however forbids us from doing so falsely or wrongly. We accuse falsely or judge wrongly when we ignore God and His word and rely on our senses and physical facts to do so. How will you judge Afia Noway?

Richard Obeng Mensah, author of Persecutions are Promotions. borncapy@yahoo.com/www.richard-obeng-mensah.blogspot.com.