You Can Decide Your Fate

Rev. Dr. G. K. Nwatu

Text: Deut. 15:4-5, 11; 

4 However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land (KJV)

The first line in verse 11’ of the above texts sounds as if God has predestined some people for poverty. The fact however is that nobody is predestined to be poor. God only shows that He knows that there are some who will decide to remain poor whatever opportunities and potentials they have got.

Verse 4-5 however show that there should really not be anyone that is poor if the whole world will live in absolute obedience to God’s demands.—4 However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, 5 if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.

Obedience to God’s instructions is therefore one of the secrets of successes—Josh 1:8; This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (KJV).

·        Diligent obedience to God’s instructions can make God to set a man on high—Deut. 28:1-2; And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: (KJV).

·        Obedience to God’s instruction can also make a man eat out of the fat of the land, otherwise not—Isa 1:19-20; 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (KJV)

We are to resolve to consistently, implicitly and explicitly obey God if we must continue to enjoy His blessings and prosperity. The choice is therefore ours, to obey God and prosper, or to live in disobedience and remain wretched here/hereafter. You can decide your fate.