It is common knowledge that an average child in the western part of this world knows and understands the importance of extending a hand of charity to others especially those he feels he is better than in terms of good living condition. This cannot be attributed to children from other parts of the world especially an average African child. The reason is not that these children do not want to extend such hand of charity or because they do not know and understand the importance of charity rather it is because they found themselves in a continent where they were sun-kissed by poverty both of the mind and the body. One cannot blame the parents of these children for not teaching them or making them understand that it pays to be charitable because these parents also found themselves in a continent where the system favours the rich and wealthy while continually suffocating the poor and less privileged.
The True Spirit of charity
To someone who does not have the resources to extend a hand of charity, he/she will always see the act of charity as something only made for the rich and wealthy in society. I had such thoughts in my mind before now about charity but as I began to read through the internet, I began to see how individuals who had little were able to extend a hand of charity to those who they feel are better off. It may interest you to know that the covid19 saga opened the eyes of the world towards the act of charity. Before now, people thought or felt that charity was for only those who have a surplus of wealth and material things which is why they always look up to the wealthy to be the only ones extending a hand of charity to them. This is the highest misconception that has eaten deep into the fabrics of our existence as humans in all spheres of life.
What is the true spirit of charity? What I am about to say in this article is what I have observed for a long time especially within the continent of Africa and Nigeria in particular.
· The true spirit of charity does not need overflow before it extends a hand to others.
· It does not have to be very rational before it extends a hand to others.
· It does not consider himself before others (it is selfless).
· It has no borders, race, ethnicity or religious sentiments.
· It comes with a deeper sense of love for mankind in general.
· Most importantly, it does not show off or brag about the hands extended.
· It does not wait to be called upon before a hand can be extended to others.
There are lots of others but I had to pick out these because they are the ones that affect us most.
We cannot say that we do not understand what true charity means and why it is important for everyone to live by it especially those within the shore of Africa. It has become clearer to so many of us who are residing within the shore of Africa that our leaders do not understand what leadership and its relationship to charity is. It is heartbreaking to note that so the African leaders behave in a manner that suggests that they do not have any atom of love or the true spirit of charity in them. Have you ever wondered what Africa would look like if its leaders can adopt the true spirit of charity? For you to understand the point I am trying to make in this article, let me pose these mind bugging questions.
· Why do we see and hear of African presidents who have ruled over 10 years and yet they do not want to allow another person to emerge?
· If there is the existence of the true spirit of charity in Africa especially amongst our leader, why do we have the highest rate of looters in the corridors of power?
· There has been a serious decrease in the area of security of life and property in Africa especially in Nigeria, what could have been the case if the true spirit of charity is in existence in Africa?
· last but not least, why do elections in Africa end in killings and sabotage of the people’s mandate?
By the time you allow yourself to look at these questions with critical thinking towards the area of charity, you will understand that we have a lot to do as a people living in the same continent.
In their Leaders Mindset
Most of the African leaders only think about what they will gain instead of what and how they will be able to transform the economy of their countries and the entire continent. This is the demon that has constantly kept Africa in the deepest and darkest part of poverty. It is common knowledge that countries in the western world have people who are living in poverty or below average but the difference is that their leaders have made proper arrangement to alleviate their sufferings by making sure that the basic amenities (good road network, clean water, electricity, good medical system, employment and most especially the security of life and property) are put in place to take care of them. There has to be a pragmatic approach to look at the needs of an average African without any form of bias. If the African leaders can lead by example by being more charitable in their deeds, I believe that a whole number of others will follow suit.
Why should a government officer have millions and billions of money stacked here and there in different banks and safe houses in the world whereas there is a high level of poverty in the land which is ravishing the entire continent? Even if policies are made to curb looting without introducing and extending a great hand of charity to especially those who are living below $1 within the shores of Africa. The power of True Charity cannot be overemphasized it cuts across all spheres of life. When covid19 struck the world, we witnessed the true act of charity which was coming from individuals even to support the government but something happened in Nigeria which has been swept under the carpet probably because it will tarnish the image of top government personnel’s. If you followed the issue of palliative in Nigeria, you would have seen and understood why the true spirit of charity must be revived and introduced in Africa especially in Nigeria.
You cannot be on the list of the richest of people in the world whereas your people are suffering in abject poverty. Remember we said that “Charity begins at home” therefore we must make a conscious effort to allow the True Spirit of Charity to Reign supreme in our Societies. Extend a hand today your neighbour and that stranger you see every day.
Shalom…
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