NB. If the following article was true of Zimbabwe, led by Robert Mugabe in October 2016, it is still true today—concerning Zimbabwe led by Emerson Mnangagwa in March 2019.
Zimbabweans and Christians have answers to their problems; all entangled on one misunderstood scripture in the entire Bible (Matthew 6:33-34):
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (ESV).
If Zimbabweans had understood the concept of this scripture, at the point of attaining independence in 1980, we would not be having over three million people in the Diaspora. Actually, we would have had the reverse, being immigrants into Zimbabwe—the majority being boarder-jumpers.
The quoted scripture is a concept, intended to guide those desiring to attain their actual dreams in life. Note that the scripture is not saying, “Seek ye first the kingdom of Zimbabwe.” What followed ululations and jubilations, characterizing the assumption that Zimbabwe had attained independence and self-dignity was, actually, an illusion.
How does one explain the reality in that today we have people risking their lives, boarder-jumping into neighboring countries? Thousands of them have had to change their identities to be citizens in foreign lands. Britain and America are the most favorable countries for seeking citizenship, according to most Zimbabweans.
My analysis is that most Zimbabweans have viewed their country’s independence through the eyes of their leader, since 1980. They project President Mugabe as representing Zimbabwe, so that Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe are synonymous, among most people. The common phrase among those ordinary people is that “Mugabe has failed us all in Zimbabwe.”
I disagree. Before chiding Mugabe, one should first ask him/herself the question; “What did I do or not do for Mugabe to have had the power to reduce the country to its current state?” Christ said whatever one needed would have been attainable, as long as one sought God’s Kingdom ahead of everything else.
Before showing what God’s Kingdom entails, let us also address the deception among the majority of Christians, even across the world. Matthew 6:33-34 is an enigma to most Christians. Have you ever tried to digest the following few questions?
-
Why did Christ not say “Seek me first and all these things will be added unto you?”
-
Why is it that, even the most respectable Christian church leaders ignore what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33-34, thereby, projecting the name of Jesus, instead of what He said?
-
Why do they feel comfortable ignoring the words of Jesus, and yet Jesus said doing so would be like building on sand? (Matthew 7:26-27).
-
Why does it feel secure and comfortable for most Christians to go with the majority, yet Jesus said: “Narrow is the gate that leads to life and only a few find it?” (Matthew 7:14).