On one of my usual visitations to some rural communities in the Northern Region of Ghana where I used to work as the coordinator of a Christian project called Faith Cometh By Hearing (FCBH) Project.
After supervising the activities and progress of a particular community, I encouraged them to be hardworking since that will guarantee them a prosperous future and a much fulfilling Christian life.
After the church service, the community pastor reached out to me, wanting to know if I have not backslidden as a Christian. What was my crime to have warranted such judgmental remarks? His reason was that I encouraged people to be prosperous minded, and 'Prosperity' is for the worldly people while 'Heaven' is for the Christian.
He was, however, quick in quoting scripture to support his claims. "And again I say to you; it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24).
He again reminded me of a rich man in the Bible who went to hell while a poor beggar in his house went to heaven. Pastor Solomon, repent! He concluded. Just like this, my pastor friend, there are many Christians or even pastors who have misinterpreted the Holy scriptures either out of their selfish interest or properly on ignorance.
The same can be said about real-life situations where many are in diverse forms of bondages simply because they interpreted life.
What are interpretations?
Interpretations simply mean explaining or giving meaning and understanding to a particular development based on personal experiences, other people's experiences, and spiritual or cultural exposition.
As a child of God, you need to know who you are before interpreting a particular situation. Christians don't see things as the ordinary person sees. We perceive from the spiritual realms. If not for the Spirit, how could Samuel overlook the supposedly qualified sons of Jesse to anoint David as the king of Israel?
"But the Lord said to Samuel, do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him, for the Lord do not see as many sees, for man looks at the outward appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
One of the prowesses of interpretations is that when it is properly executed, it brings freedom, relief, and longevity to man and his environment, which is why great men seek divine interpretations around every unfamiliar situation before they take action.
Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. (Daniel 4:4-6).
“Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh has a dream, and behold he stood by the river. Suddenly there came out of the river seven cows, fine-looking and fat, and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the river, ugly and gaunt, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the river. And the ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven fine-looking and fat cows.
So Pharaoh awoke. He slept and dreamt a second time, and suddenly seven heads of grains came upon one stalk, plump and good. Then behold seven thin heads blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. And the seven thin heads devoured the seven plump and full heads, So Pharaoh awoke, and indeed it was a dream.
Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise me. And Pharaoh told them, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.
Genesis 41: 1-8.
Friend, who you are today and who you will be tomorrow will largely depend on how you interpret the various happenings, which is why two people could both be fired in their lucrative jobs. One commits suicide out of frustration while the other finds inspiration to live a more fulfilling life even without the job.
By Solomon Gumah
Christian Author and a Journalist
Email: solomongumah6@gmail.com.
Contact 0249653540/0241727498
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