Tending the assiduousness of miracle seeking, By Bolutife Oluwadele

Going forward, I would urge each and everyone of us to put more energy into developing our gifts and passions, then we can seek the miracle of linking these with the right persons or sources that would give them all the incredible boosts needed to make things happen bountifully.

Miracle seeking is legitimate!

Come along with me, please.

For some time now, in our climate, we have been inundated with the new philosophy of seeking all manners of shortcuts to overcome poverty, especially generational ones. While this phenomenon can be traced to the prosperity preachers, the complicity of the laypeople may no longer be ignored.

All sorts of miracles characterised the ministry of Jesus, and that seems to be the bedrock of proselytising about the legitimacy of miracle seeking. No one who believes the Scripture will deny that He earned the reference as a miracle worker. Scriptures abound to affirm this.

I will deliberately avoid quoting from the Scriptures here. My reason is for the reader to take that as a personal assignment to disprove what I will say, or better still, to affirm its veracity.

Get your Bible for confirmation. Or your Bible app. But not from your pastors or G.O. this time around.

Jesus started with about seventy people, which subsequently pruned down to twelve authentic followers. He even asked the twelve if they wanted to leave as well. They said ‘no’. They were contented with his leadership and the miracles, which they enjoyed while these lasted.

Miracles are often brief interventions. They are not supposed to be permanent features of life and living. For instance, the five thousand who were fed with a few loaves and fish was due to a situation in which the chance of getting supplies for the multitude that trooped to Him was simply impossible. Yet, did the more than 5,000 people follow HIm thereafter? There is no record of such a following.

What about Joseph coming from prison to become a prime minister within a few hours? Was that not a miracle?

The answer is both yes and no!

A miracle can also be like winning the lottery. You do not win if you do not play. However, there has not been any recorded instance in which lottery winners became wealthy thereafter. Many died in indescribable penury afterwards.

A man’s gift makes way for him. Joseph was reportedly gifted in the interpretation of dreams. He was a dreamer himself, and his dreams landed him in trouble.

Nevertheless, he was also gifted in supervisory acumen. He was in charge of the Potiphar household, until he was jailed for overcoming seductive overtures. He was in prison and still exhibited his supervisory acumen. His job, after interpreting the dream of Pharaoh, was made easy by his supervisory skills. A man diligent in his duty will sit with kings.

The blind healed at the temple was asked if he thought that the healer used an evil spirit to heal him. He was less concerned about that. To him, once he was blind, but now he could see. That was the end of the discussion!

When people are desperate for miracles, they care less about their sources. That is the main reason why many a miracle seeker is easily deceived.

How does lasting prosperity come into being?

Through work. God does bless the works of our hands.

A miracle can also be like winning the lottery. You do not win if you do not play. However, there has not been any recorded instance in which lottery winners became wealthy thereafter. Many died in indescribable penury afterwards.

Thus, is playing the lottery wrong?

I have not said so. Neither is seeking a miracle wrong. However, miracle seeking should be for the purpose of crossing certain hurdles or bridges. It should not be a way of life. Some attend miracle services all over the place.

Nevertheless, miracle seeking is not an easy task either. Lots of time, energy, and focus are put into it. Fasting, mountain climbing, and all sorts are invested in miracle seeking, including ‘sowing seeds’ for ‘magical’ returns.

In the final analysis, we need to get back to work, and then our prayers may be answered when our commitments to what we are doing become real.

How about ritual killings?

It falls within the genre of seeking shortcuts to prosperity. The ‘merchants’ in that trade may probably tell their ‘victims’ that if you do not play, you cannot win.

Investments in business, trade, professions, and the development of passion is the surest way to prosperity. Where miracles play roles is in ‘accidentally’ connecting anyone decently engaged and diligent, with sponsors or buyers of whatever is being offered. A miracle is an intervention to lead us to more incredible blessings.