PASSING DIVINE TESTS

Years back, I returned from a mission outreach we held outside Nigeria with a little left over of the ministry's money on me. That little money left on me was more than all that was in my personal account then. After every outreach, i normally account for all expenses during the outreach in our own way and I'll return the remaining money into the ministry's purse. That I still do. When I got home, my mother-in-law who had been with us for weeks was prepared to return to her base. She had been of great help to us especially in taking care of the children. It is honourable for us to send her forth with substantial money and some gifts. That's not a payment for services rendered. She's a blessed woman already. It is all about honour. All I had was less than N7,000 in my personal account. My wife asked what we would give to her. I was working on my laptop and thinking about an appropriate response but I was short of words. I just didn't know the right answer to give but i calmed her. Something pointed my attention to the ministry's money with me. I was tempted to give her something substantial from the left over money but I decided I won't. The money with me was more than enough to meet that pressing need. I looked away because it wasn't mine. It was hard. I didn't even borrow from it as some would have done. Long ago, I made it a policy that ministry money isn't available for such.

A few minutes after my wife left the room, I received a message from someone I know in Sokoto state. She asked me to send my personal account number. I sent it without thinking twice. The alert I got was a shocker. I gave my mother-in-law a substantial amount and we had a litle left on us. I didn't tell this person I needed money neither did I solicit for her help. It was a miracle. However, deep within, I knew I passed a test and got the result immediately. If you must rise in life, your integrity will be tested. God will not move you to the next level in life and ministry until you pass the exams in the school of faithfulness and integrity. As a minister of the Gospel, don't mix ministry money or properties with yours, separate them. When God bless your ministry with landed properties, don't take part of it to build your personal house neither should you claim the church's parsonage as yours. If you do, it shows you lack integrity. You raised the fund for that project in the ministry's name not yours, why convert it to your personal property? Remember, ministry and ministry properties cannot be inherited so why handle it as though it is yours? Have a separate purse for yourself and family. The arrogance and lack of integrity of some ministers is the reason they say "God's money belongs to the man of God." Hear this, God's money belongs to God and not the man of God.

I'm not saying it is wrong for the ministry to remunerate or take care of ministers. I believe in having robust welfare package for God's servants. However, it must be done the right way, agreed upon by relevant authorities and documented to avoid arbitrary spending. It is wrong for a minister to dip his hands into the purse against order. Taking what is not yours by right is stealing. Money, women & power will test you. God rejected Eliab before he was chosen yet David was accepted by God before he was enthroned. Isn't that surprising? God must have tested Eliab at some point without him knowing. When he and others were paraded before Samuel, God rejected them for Kingship not out of hatred but because they weren't fit for the task. A shepherd boy in the wilderness passed God's test in the wilderness and was enthroned above men of military might and rank. Where Samson failed, Joseph succeeded, where Judas failed, Peter succeeded(Acts8:20). Prayer alone is not enough to raise a man, there are test to be taken. It is good to pray but it is also good to pass divine tests. Some ministers practically live on the mountain yet they are nothing short of a failure in life and ministry yet some have never been to any mountain before but keep growing in leaps and bounds as they passed divine tests. That's not to downplay the place of personal prayer retreat. This may be your season of examination, be diligent to write your papers well.