Essential Ndubuisi
By Sam Chivor
For those who may not have seen this story or for the non Nigerians, this photo was taken a few days ago at the coronation ceremony of a well-respected Nigerian traditional stool of the South-South, and the young man sitting on that throne is the newly coronated King who is only 37 years old. The elder statesman kneeling to greet him is the most respected Nigerian ex president, President Olusegun Obasanjo who is currently 84 years old.
Why kneel to greet a young man who is younger than all his own children?
To this generation, the old man doesn’t know what he is doing. Maybe he is seeking attention or looking for political connections.
He could be looking for a way to beg money or to ask for a favor from the rich dude.
But all that won’t hold anymore in the face of the fact that the man who is kneeling himself is a great man by all standing, and is not a needy.
The old man was simply paying homage to the throne, and by extension to the one who sits on the throne. It didn’t matter to him whether the young man was the age of his first grandson. It didn’t matter whether he was richer or more educated. It didn’t even matter whether he took note of the honor paid him or not, because it was not about the young man, but the throne.
And, most importantly, the old man doesn’t even come from the same tribe as the young King. Yet he crossed many waters to go and honor the throne and he that now sits on it.
“And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”
The next time you see a person, whether older or younger, richer or poorer, more famous or largely unknown bowing to a pastor (whether it is his or her pastor or not) having recognized the office of that pastor as one who sits in the office of Jesus Christ, of Aaron or of Paul, then please do not be quick to call him names. It is the wisdom of the ages to respect thrones. It is an institution; it is more than a personal thing.
I understand that there are abuses here and there today. I know that so many are so called, but are not truly so. I understand that fake men and women of God are all over the place today reaping off unsuspecting congregants, but be that as it may, God still has his own genuine servants. When you find them, whether here on Facebook or on your street, please honor them.
When people call me Papa, or Daddy, I know that they are aware that a good number of them are way older than I am. They revere me as their father because I sit in the office of Him who is their Shepherd and the Bishop of their souls as an undersheperd. It is not about my physical age or material accomplishments as a young man. (I am a very young man myself, though a few years older than the new king), I call them sons or daughters with the same understanding too, knowing that they are not necessarily my daughters or sons, but sons to the Throne, sons to the One whom I represent.
There are some who are without this simple understanding and they struggle to honor men of God. They prefer to call them “My Brother!”
“And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.”
Am I writing this so that you will start bowing to me since I am a pastor? Far from it. No!
I write to call to order many who are in Church but are acting without wisdom. For Jesus did lament about this, asking why the children of this world were in their generation wiser than the children of the Kingdom. Even politicians know how to pay homage where it is due. They follow established protocols, but to many of us, observing a simple protocol makes us feel bad. We think it is demonic to follow protocol. And we think that God is not the God of order and protocol. Going according to the leading of the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean doing things without a pattern – a pattern that is clearly written down.
No matter who you are, the throne is older and bigger than you are. Men who tap into the wisdom of the ages honor the Throne and those who are privileged by calling to sit on it.
I love you always.
Sam Chivor
24/08/2021
