Saint Meso' World

07/02/2026

My Encounter with Gbajue Scammers in the 80s
By GMT Obanigba

In the late 1980s, before “419” became Nigeria’s most famous export after crude oil, we had something called “Gbajue” — the prehistoric version of Yahoo Plus.

Back then, telex communication was king. It was faster than letters, slower than today’s WhatsApp, and the machines were so expensive they deserved their own police es**rt.
My uncle, with whom we were squatting at the time, had managed to buy a fairly used telex machine for about ₦800. His plan was to open a business centre and make small, honest money. Fate, however, had other entertainment plans.

One day, he met a man who introduced himself as a businessman from Calabar. The man claimed he had a telex machine for sale and a “partner” waiting in a hotel room. We went there and met the said partner, who looked serious enough to pass for a banker — or at least a professional liar. They promised that anyone who found a buyer would earn a juicy commission. Free money always sounds intelligent until it speaks.

We all set out to be the first to secure a buyer and we were already spending the huge expected commission from the sales in our head.

The initial price was ₦20,000, but whenever a serious buyer appeared, they would suddenly upgrade it to ₦30,000. In those days, ₦30,000 could buy you a whole house in Ikeja, plus leftover change for curtains. Naturally, buyers vanished like spirits at dawn.

After a week of fruitless marketing, the duo complained that hotel bills were killing them softly. They begged my uncle either for a loan or for accommodation. Being a kind man — and a bachelor with extra space — he chose hospitality. They moved in with us, bringing their own telex machine. Now we had two machines in the house and zero sense.

Every morning, they went out in search of buyers and returned in hired taxis with strange-looking “customers.” After dramatic bargaining, they would announce that their own machine was too sophisticated to sell and would instead propose selling my uncle’s machine. Trust is expensive when sold cheaply.

Soon, they became compound celebrities. They bought food from Chicken George, Domino, and Mr Big and “served everybody round.” Nothing builds trust like fried rice and free chicken. Even angels would have fallen for that.

Then one glorious day, they went out as usual and returned in a taxi. None of us was around, they loaded both machines into the vehicle. As the taxi rolled out, we entered the gate and one of them waved at us like a man going to buy bread. Inside the flat, we discovered the truth: my uncle’s machine had joined theirs in exile.

My uncle, who still believed that they would come back since they had gotten a buyer for the two machines, was busy calculating profits in his head — from ₦800 to ₦20,000. He started calculating the cost of a tokunbo Toyota Datsun 180k and a parcel of land in Ikorodu.

I was busy calculating human wickedness in my rotten head. I had a premonition that all our expected sudden riches had vanished.

They never came back.
Not with money.
Not with machines.
Not with shame.

That was our baptism into the church of Gbajue. Since then, I have learned a timeless lesson:
When strangers start feeding you free chicken, check your valuables — not your appetite.
© GMT Obanigba

Career Counselor

06/02/2026

“From Boast to Blackout: How Obidients’ Political Bravado Met a Locked Portal”
By GMT Obanigba
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Peter Obi once travelled abroad to mobilise his followers—popularly known as the Obidients—where some of them openly boasted of their technological prowess and hinted at plans to influence the 2023 election through digital means. Disturbingly, Obi was present at such gatherings without offering any firm public rebuke or caution against illegal conduct. Silence, in moments like that, is not neutral; it is loud.

Recall that during the election, INEC reported over 3,000 attempts to breach its Result Viewing (IReV) portal. This was not a rumour mill statistic; it came from the umpire itself. Logic therefore invites a reasonable question: who stood to benefit most from sabotaging the system? The same group that had earlier advertised its digital strategy and later cried the loudest when the portal was shut down.

“Since the Obidients Has Learned to Hack, INEC Has Learned to Lock”

When INEC temporarily suspended uploads, Obidients and their principal were the most vocal in accusing the commission of rigging. Yet, ironically, this shutdown may well have been a defensive move to prevent the uploading of manipulated results.

Unfortunately, INEC handled the situation with excessive timidity. It failed to communicate clearly to Nigerians that the shutdown was a security response to hostile digital interference. That silence created a vacuum, and in politics, vacuums are quickly filled with propaganda.

To this day, Obidients continue to chant “rigging” like a political anthem, even though the sequence of events suggests a classic case of the hunter crying victim after missing the shot.
It is also instructive that the National Assembly has refused to make electronic transmission of results mandatory. This is not necessarily backwardness; it is caution. In a country where cybercrime is an industry and hacking is no longer exotic, insisting on a fully electronic electoral process without airtight safeguards is like building a glass house in a stone factory.

Now, we are in the process of enacting another electoral law and critics have been clamoring to make electronic transmission compulsory without addressing the issues like hacking of the system and low Internet connectivity deployment in the country. If you insist on the legal and mandatory transmission of results and it happens that there is internet disruption during the transmission, what happens?

Will the results still be valid?
Will the courts order a rerun story or uphold the delay results?
Or if hackers succeed in disrupting the INEC portal, will the law still insist that INEC must continue to use the system by force or by fire?
Are we not creating many other problems by solving just one problem?

I think it is ideal to retain the former position of hybrid of both the physical transmission and the electronic transmissions

Chinua Achebe’s wisdom in Things Fall Apart comes handy here:
“Since a man has learned to shoot without perching, he has learned to fly without perching. Since a child has learned to die, his parents have learned to bury him.”

Nigeria has learned painful lessons about manipulation—both physical and digital. Once beaten, twice shy.
Therefore, electronic transmission should remain optional, not compulsory, until a near-perfect system is built—one that guarantees security, transparency, and public trust. Technology should serve democracy, not endanger it. Elections must be contests of ideas, not coding skills. Not even in America is election mandatory to be transmitted via electronic since its e to election results are still legally required to be counted manually.

Let us fix the roof before inviting the rain. NIGERIA IS NOT YET RIPE FOR FULL AND SOLE RELIANCE ON ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF ELECTION RESULTS.
© GMT Obanigba
January 5, 2026 ゚viralシ

06/02/2026

Let's not discard ballot box snatchers ONLY TO EMBRACE INEC SERVER SNATCHERS - By GMT Obanigba

GMT Obanigba writes on Why Nigeria Should Think Twice Before Handing Elections over to the Internet

Nigeria’s romance with electronic transmission of election results is beginning to sound like a love affair with a stranger met at 2 a.m. on social media: exciting, modern—and dangerously premature.

We have been here before. In 2019, Atiku Abubakar and the PDP told the Election Petition Tribunal that data from an alleged INEC server showed he defeated Muhammadu Buhari. INEC replied, “Which server?” The courts agreed with INEC, not because cyberspace does not exist, but because Nigeria’s digital election architecture was too hazy to verify.
The lesson was simple: what cannot be clearly proven in court can easily be contested in politics.

Fast-forward to 2023. The Federal Government announced that INEC and other government websites suffered about 12.9 million cyber-attack attempts within three weeks of the election period. That is not opposition propaganda; it is official disclosure. In other words, while Nigerians were queuing peacefully to vote, invisible queues of hackers were lining up online to test the gates.

Now add a Nigerian specialty to the mix: cybercrime. From the famous “Yahoo boys” to globally convicted fraudsters like Hushpuppi and Invictus Obi, the country has produced hackers who breached banks and financial systems in the United States and Europe. If American banks can be hacked, it would be poetic self-deception to assume an election server in Nigeria is Fort Knox.

Then came the theatre of politics. During the 2023 campaign season, viral clips circulated of political supporters abroad boasting of their “tech power” and claiming elections could be digitally influenced. Whether they were joking or serious, the message was unfortunate: some people now think democracy is a coding competition.

This is where the danger lies. Mandatory electronic transmission of results would turn elections into a cyber battlefield. Instead of ballot snatchers, we would get server snatchers. Instead of thugs at polling units, we would have keyboard warriors in distant time zones. And instead of physical evidence, courts would be asked to interpret log files and IP addresses while politicians shout “glitch” and “hack” like rival football chants.

INEC itself admitted its portal was under hostile digital pressure in 2023. Yet some lawmakers are pushing to make electronic transmission compulsory by law in 2027. That is like insisting on driving at night without headlights because the road “looks modern.”

Technology is not the enemy. Recklessness is. Electronic tools should assist elections, not replace transparency with technical mystery. A system that only experts can understand is a system ordinary voters cannot trust.

Nigeria’s problem has never been innovation; it has been verification. We do not yet have a cyber infrastructure that is independently auditable, forensically robust, and legally airtight. Until we do, mandatory electronic transmission is not reform—it is a risk too dangerous to take.

As the elders say, when a child learns to juggle knives, the parents should remove the firewood. Modernisation without safeguards is not progress; it is performance.
Let electronic transmission remain optional and supplementary. Let paper, people, and public scrutiny still have a role. Democracy is not an app to be updated overnight.

Until Nigeria builds a digital fortress, it should not turn its elections into an online experiment.

© GMT Obanigba
February 6, 2026

05/02/2026

I’m the Prime Minister of Spain. This Is Why the West Needs Migrants.
Feb. 4, 2026

By Pedro Sánchez

Mr. Sánchez is the prime minister of Spain. He wrote from Madrid.
Imagine you’re the leader of a nation, and you face a dilemma. Half a million or so people who are crucial to everyone’s daily lives inhabit your country. They care for aging parents, work at small and large companies, harvest the food that’s on the table. They are also part of your community. On weekends, they walk in the parks, go to restaurants and play on the local amateur soccer team.

But one crucial thing makes these half a million people different from other people in your country: They don’t have the legal documents that allow them to live there. As a result, they don’t have the same rights as your country’s citizens, and can’t fulfill the same obligations. They aren’t able to receive a higher education, pay taxes or contribute to Social Security.
What should we do with these people? Some leaders have chosen to hunt them down and deport them through operations that are both unlawful and cruel. My government has chosen a different way: a fast and simple path to regularize their immigration status. Last month, my government issued a decree that makes up to half a million undocumented migrants living in Spain eligible for temporary residence permits, with certain conditions, which they will be able to renew after a year.

We have done this for two reasons. The first and most important is a moral one. Spain was once a nation of emigrants. Our grandparents, parents and children moved to America and elsewhere in Europe seeking a better future during the 1950s and 1960s and following the 2008 financial crisis. Now, the tables have turned. Our economy is flourishing. Foreigners are moving to Spain. It is our duty to become the welcoming and tolerant society that our own relatives would have hoped to find on the other side of our borders.

The second reason that made us commit to regularization is purely pragmatic. The West needs people. Currently, few of its countries have a rising population growth rate. Unless they embrace migration, they will experience a sharp demographic decline that will prevent them from keeping their economies and public services afloat. Their gross domestic product will stagnate. Their public health care and pension systems will suffer. Neither A.I. nor robots will be able to prevent this outcome, at least not in the short or medium term. The only option to avoid decline is to integrate migrants in the most orderly and effective way possible.

It won’t be easy. We know that. Migration brings opportunities, but also huge challenges that we must acknowledge and face. Nevertheless, it is important to realize that most of those challenges have nothing to do with migrants’ ethnicity, race, religion or language. Rather, they are driven by the same forces that affect our own citizens: poverty, inequality, unregulated markets, barriers to accessing education and health care. We should focus our efforts on addressing those issues, because they are the real threats to our way of life.
Not many governments agree with regularizing migrants today. But more people do than we often assume. The regularization effort underway in Spain actually began as a citizen-led initiative endorsed by more than 900 nongovernmental organizations, including the Catholic Church, and it has the support of business associations and trade unions alike. More important, it is backed by the people: Nearly two out of three Spaniards believe that migration represents either an opportunity or a necessity for our country, according to a recent poll.

MAGA-style leaders may say that our country can’t handle taking in so many migrants, that this is a suicidal move — the desperate act of a collapsing country. But don’t let them fool you. Spain is booming. For three years running, we have had the fastest-growing economy among Europe’s largest countries. We have created nearly one in every three new jobs across the European Union, and our unemployment rate has fallen below 10 percent for the first time in nearly two decades. Our workers’ purchasing power has also grown, and poverty and inequality levels have dropped to their lowest since 2008. This prosperity is the result of Spanish citizens’ hard work, the E.U.’s collective effort and an inclusive agenda that views migrants as necessary partners.

What is working for us can work for others. The time has come for leaders to speak clearly to their citizens about the dilemma we all face. We, as Western nations, must choose between becoming closed and impoverished societies, or open and prosperous ones. Growth or retreat: Those are the two options before us. And by growth, I’m not talking only about material gain, but also our spiritual development.

Governments can buy into the zero-sum thinking of the far-right and retreat into isolation, scarcity, selfishness and decline. Or they can harness the very same forces that, not without difficulties, have allowed our societies to thrive for centuries.

For me, the choice is clear. And for the sake of our prosperity and human dignity, I hope many others will follow suit.
Pedro Sánchez is the prime minister of Spain.

05/02/2026

Drink this combo once daily to experience perfect life

05/02/2026

WEEKLY HEALTH TALK SERIES-5
ZOBO + TUMERIC

Health Nugget: A home brew drink of the combination of Zobo laced with Tumeric should be part of the daily ‘Food and Daily Drugs’ for your perfect Healing.

Many of today’s common illnesses — high blood pressure, joint pain, diabetes, frequent infections, stomach troubles, and chronic fatigue — are linked to inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. While drugs are important and often necessary, nature has quietly provided helpers that work alongside medical care. One such helper is the simple combination of zobo (hibiscus) and turmeric.

Zobo is rich in antioxidants that help relax blood vessels and support heart health. Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful natural anti-inflammatory compound known to reduce swelling, improve digestion, and support the immune system. Together, they form a gentle health tonic that may help the body manage pain, regulate blood sugar, reduce cholesterol strain, and strengthen resistance to infections.

For people living with long-term conditions, this drink can become part of a healthier lifestyle routine — alongside good food choices, regular movement, and adequate rest. It is not magic, and it is not a miracle cure, but it can reduce the body’s burden and sometimes lessen dependence on frequent painkillers and excessive chemical intake.

The wisdom here is balance:
Use medicine when necessary, but do not ignore nature’s pharmacy. A warm or chilled cup of zobo with turmeric, taken moderately, can be a daily reminder that healing is not only found in hospitals but also in habits.

One thing is basic, if you start this combination early in your life, less say, in your 30s, you may be keeping the doctors far away from you.

Let's note this caveat anyway, before changing or stopping any prescribed medication, always speak with a health professional. True wellness is not about choosing between drugs and nature — it is about using both wisely.

©GMT Obanigba
The Counsellor

30/03/2025

Grace: The Believer’s Comfort and Succour

"But the God of all grace, He who has called you into His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself perfect, establish, strengthen, and ground you." (1 Peter 5:10)

Grace is at the heart of the Christian experience. It is through grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9), sustained (2 Corinthians 12:9), and strengthened in our journey with Christ. Peter, in his epistles, places a strong emphasis on grace, encouraging believers not only to receive it but to grow in it. He prays that grace would be multiplied in their lives, not in the sense of receiving something new, but in experiencing the grace already given in a deeper and more profound way. This is why grace is the ultimate comfort and succour for believers. Unlike the fleeting riches and pleasures of the world, which perish with time, grace provides lasting peace, strength, and hope.

The Abundance of God’s Grace

Peter describes God as “the God of all grace” (1 Peter 5:10). This statement is significant because it highlights that grace is not limited to salvation alone but extends to every aspect of the believer’s life. Paul affirms this in 2 Corinthians 9:8: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." Grace is sufficient for every trial, every temptation, and every calling in life.

The Apostle John echoes this truth in John 1:16: "From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." Grace is not just a one-time event but a continuous outpouring from God’s fullness, enabling believers to grow, endure, and be transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Grace in Suffering: The Believer’s Comfort

One of the most profound aspects of grace is its ability to sustain us through suffering. Peter writes that after believers have suffered for a little while, God will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle them (1 Peter 5:10). Suffering is a reality of the Christian life, but grace ensures that suffering is never in vain. Paul echoes this in Romans 5:3-5: "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

God’s grace does not remove suffering but provides strength to endure it. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul testifies to God’s words: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." This means that grace does not just comfort us in trials; it empowers us. When believers understand this, they no longer view suffering as something to escape but as an instrument of divine grace working in their lives.

The Grace of Life: Our Eternal Inheritance

Peter refers to the “grace of life” in 1 Peter 3:7, describing it as an inheritance for all believers. This grace is available to everyone, regardless of their status, ability, or strength. Titus 2:11 states, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people." The grace of life is our eternal inheritance, not just something we look forward to in heaven but something we can experience now.

Paul, in Colossians 3:2-4, urges believers to set their minds on things above rather than earthly things: "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." This perspective allows believers to be content with grace rather than pursuing ephemeral things of the world.

The Danger of Seeking Worldly Things Over Grace

The world tempts believers with wealth, success, pleasure, and power. While none of these things are inherently evil, they become dangerous when they replace our pursuit of grace. Jesus warns in Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Paul warns Timothy about the love of money in 1 Timothy 6:10: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." Many believers have been led astray by seeking worldly success instead of deepening their relationship with God.

James 4:4 offers a strong rebuke to those who prioritize worldly desires: "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." This is why believers should seek to grow in grace rather than chasing after temporary pleasures.

How to Grow in Grace

Growing in grace means deepening our understanding and experience of God’s favor. 2 Peter 3:18 instructs believers to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." How can this be achieved?

1. Through the Word of God: Grace is revealed in Scripture. Acts 20:32 states, "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified."

2. Through Prayer: Hebrews 4:16 encourages us to "draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

3. Through Fellowship with Other Believers: Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts us to "consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together."

4. Through Suffering and Trials: Romans 8:28 assures us that "all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose."

5. Through Humility: James 4:6 declares, "But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"

Conclusion

Grace is the believer’s greatest comfort and source of strength. It sustains through suffering, provides eternal inheritance, and satisfies the soul in a way that worldly pleasures never can. Instead of chasing after temporary riches and fleeting pleasures, believers are called to seek the deeper experience of God’s grace, growing in it daily. As Peter prays in 2 Peter 1:2, "May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." When we truly understand and experience grace, we find that we need nothing else, for in grace, we have everything in Christ.

GMT OBANIGBA
March 29, 2025

23/03/2025

A CALL FROM THE WILDERNESS EXHORTING US TO FOLLOW CHRIST

Christ Formed in Us versus The Self-Centered Gospel of Prosperity Preachers

The essence of the Christian life is transformation—Christ being formed in us so that we may express Him fully. This was the heart of Paul’s ministry, as he travailed for the believers, not just that they would receive salvation, but that Christ would be fully grown and expressed in them (Galatians 4:19). The focus of the gospel is Christ—His revelation, His indwelling life, and His formation within the believer, leading to a life that reflects His image (2 Corinthians 3:18).

However, in contrast to this Christ-centered gospel, modern prosperity preachers have introduced a self-centered and materialistic version of Christianity. Their message is not about Christ being formed in believers but about personal wealth, success, and the glorification of the preacher and his family. Rather than travailing in prayer for Christ to be revealed in their followers, these preachers are preoccupied with growing their financial empires, promoting their personal brands, and ensuring that their own wealth and influence increase.

This stark contrast highlights the need for true believers to reject the deception of mammon-driven preachers and return to the true gospel—a gospel centered on Christ, His life, and His work in us.

The Differences Between True Christianity and the Prosperity Gospel

1. The Focus: Christ versus Self and Self

Paul’s message in Ephesians 3:17 and Galatians 4:19 makes it clear that the goal of the Christian life is to have Christ dwell in our hearts through faith and to have Him formed in us. This is a process of transformation, where our thoughts, desires, and actions become aligned with Christ’s nature. The true gospel places Christ at the center—He is the focus, the message, and the goal.

In contrast, prosperity preachers have replaced Christ with themselves. Their messages are filled with personal stories of wealth, success, and how God has "blessed" them with material riches. They glorify themselves, their wives, and their children, making their personal lives the centerpiece of their ministries rather than pointing believers to Christ. Instead of leading people into spiritual transformation, they lead them into materialistic pursuits. Their sermons revolve around their achievements, their breakthroughs, and their possessions, not the person of Christ. On various banners and in big billboards mount in front of their churches, in their crusade grounds, you see them in their hotshot suits advertising themselves and their wives while they relegate God and Jesus Christ to the background.

2. The Message: Spiritual Growth vs. Material Gain

The gospel that Paul preached was one of transformation. He spoke of believers being conformed to the image of Christ, living holy lives, and growing in their relationship with God. The central theme of Paul’s teachings was Christ in us, leading to righteousness, peace, and a life of godliness.

On the other hand, prosperity preachers emphasize financial prosperity, personal ambition, and material gain. They teach that faith is a tool for acquiring wealth rather than a means of growing in Christ. Instead of encouraging believers to seek God’s kingdom first (Matthew 6:33), they tell people to sow financial “seeds” to receive financial blessings. Their version of the gospel is transactional—give money to the preacher, and God will make you rich.

Paul, however, wrote, “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:8-9).

3. The Objective: Christ’s Image vs. Worldly Success

Paul’s desire for the believers was that they would be transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). This transformation is not about acquiring worldly success but about reflecting Christ’s character—His love, humility, patience, and holiness. The true Christian life is about denying oneself, taking up the cross, and following Christ (Luke 9:23).

Prosperity preachers, however, teach a different goal. Instead of Christlikeness, they promote worldly success as the ultimate measure of God’s blessing. They teach that a person’s spiritual standing is determined by their wealth, status, and material possessions. This is in direct contradiction to what Jesus taught when He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19).

4. The Leadership Style: Servanthood vs. Self-Exaltation

Jesus taught that true leaders are servants. He washed His disciples' feet and said, “The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). Paul also demonstrated this servant leadership, often suffering persecution and hardship for the sake of the gospel. He did not enrich himself from the believers but rather poured out his life for them.

In contrast, prosperity preachers exalt themselves above their congregations. They demand honor, expect to be treated as celebrities, and live in extravagant luxury while their followers struggle. They build multi-million-dollar mansions, own private jets, and wear expensive designer clothes, all while preaching a false gospel that convinces their followers that God wants them to be rich. This is the very opposite of what Christ taught.

5. The Result: True Transformation vs. False Hope

Paul’s gospel leads to real transformation. When Christ is formed in a believer, their life is marked by peace, joy, love, and righteousness. They become more like Jesus, displaying His character in every area of their lives. This transformation is internal, leading to eternal rewards rather than temporary wealth.

The prosperity gospel, however, leads to false hope. Many who follow these preachers end up disappointed when their financial breakthroughs do not come. Instead of growing in Christ, they become frustrated, disillusioned, and sometimes even lose faith. The prosperity gospel is a trap that keeps people chasing after worldly riches instead of seeking after God.

The Way Forward: Returning to the True Gospel

For true Christians, the call is clear—reject the deception of mammon-driven preachers and return to the simplicity of Christ.

1. Seek Christ Above All Else

Our primary goal should be to have Christ fully formed in us. This means prioritizing our relationship with Him through prayer, Bible study, and obedience to His word

2. Test Every Teaching Against Scripture

Do not believe every preacher simply because they claim to speak for God. Test their teachings against the Bible. If their message is centered on money rather than Christ, reject it.

3. Live a Life of Contentment and Holiness

The Christian life is not about chasing after wealth but about seeking holiness, righteousness, and godly contentment (1 Timothy 6:6).

4. Be Wary of Preachers Who Promote Themselves

True men of God exalt Christ, not themselves. Be cautious of preachers who constantly talk about their personal wealth, their family, and their success rather than pointing people to Jesus.

5. Invest in Eternal Treasures

Jesus commanded us to store up treasures in heaven rather than on earth (Matthew 6:20). This means living a life that is focused on serving God and others rather than accumulating material possessions.

Brethen, I give you this parting word, the prosperity gospel is a counterfeit message that distorts the true gospel of Christ. Just as Paul travailed for the believers in Galatia to have Christ fully formed in them, we must labor in prayer and diligence to ensure that our faith remains rooted in Christ alone.

True Christianity is not about wealth, success, or personal glory—it is about being conformed to the image of Christ. As believers, we must turn away from the deception of prosperity preachers and commit ourselves fully to Christ, allowing Him to transform every part of our being—spirit, soul, and body.

May we reject the sorcery of mammon worship and fully surrender to the Lord so that He may be formed in us, guiding us into true riches—the eternal riches found in Christ alone.

© GMT OBANIGBA
March 22,2025

Career Counselor