Rising above "Slavery"

There are different forms of slavery and each form has an effect on us all irrespective of whether we are directly involved or not. There is the physical slavery that we all know and that was abolished long ago, there is the corporate slavery to which a lot are still bound by, sexual or marital slavery in which either party becomes enslaved to the other, mental slavery that gives false hope and binds the soul and financial slavery that breeds corruption. There are a lot more of those but whichever one it is a slave is a slave!

To know if you fall into any of this category, check this out: It results in poverty, irresponsibility, low self-esteem, failure, negative pride and in most cases greed. Whatever way we look at it every individual that cannot account for his life or existence, he who's basic need is dictated by someone else (be it employee or master) is in actual fact a slave.

There is a great difference between deliverance and freedom as we see in the story of the journey of the Israelite from Egypt to Canaan. Moses delivered while Joshua led them to freedom. While under Moses they were delivered physically free but were still mentally enslaved and back in Egypt. By the time the baton was handed to Joshua it was time for accountability and responsibility.

The difference between deliverance and freedom are:
1. when you are been delivered you are still fed and catered for. You still have someone that is still responsible for you. It’s just that he is not a master while freedom means you are responsible accountable, no more manna

2. Freedom means you get to fight but deliverance means someone else fights your battles

3. freedom means you make your own wealth (with help from God) but deliverance you get paid (wages or otherwise)

4.Deliverance means you shift blame when things go wrong or someone bears the blame for your mistakes but freedom means you get the blame when things go wrong

it is quiet unfortunate that a lot of people have been delivered from illiteracy, poverty, bad relationships, financial crisis, and lots more and yet they are not free. Why? They enjoy the satisfaction and irresponsibility that slavery gives to them. That way they don't have to worry about, where the next meal comes from (they get paid end of the month) or who carries the blame.

This is the reason why people in place of power in Nigeria have refused to live the comfort they derive from it. They can act irresponsibly and like the slave master or the prisoner they get to control the slave who does not know his right. Most Nigerians are in a place of slavery one way or the other because most of your do not know our right and those who know have been so blinded by the comfort of enslavement that we do not seek change

Some are slaves to bad habits, they get delivered but are not free. Why? Because they enjoy the pleasure, false security and fleeting joy that slavery gives. The idea that they would have to let go of all the pleasure (no matter how bad) and do what is right serves as a thorn which they do not want to bear. I must tell you first hand the immediate pleasure that slavery gives or the false security would cloud the pain that would come afterward. However, the ability to be free and accept freedom is the first step that makes deliverance different from freedom.

It is high time that we rise above slavery and move from been delivered from colonization to been a free nation. This would start with a change in individual mindset. We must have a mindset that does not push the blame for our backwardness and challenges to the government, society or even our past colonial masters. Let us take our own destiny into our own hands and be accountable for what our future will be. THEN WE CAN SAY WE ARE FREE INDEED!!