Christian Living

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Some years ago, in the late 1990s, a seventy-year old man went back to the university for a post graduate course leading to the award of a PhD. He was a retired permanent secretary in the civil service of a state in Nigeria. In an interview with a man of the pen profession, he said that he was pursuing the course for the sole purpose of having “Dr” going with his name after his demise.
This is a reason why a title is chassed.
This is not the only reason why people pursue one course of study or the other. There are various reasons. The purpose of this piece is not to comment on whether a reason is good or not. But to consider which, to my mind, is the best of all the titles.
The race and craze for titles is not limited to the secular alone. It is not peculiar to the unbelievers only. The saints of God are sometimes involved. The annoying thing about the mental attitude of many title chasers is that they are easily provoked anytime somebody fails to add the titles during an introduction in a gathering.
A man flared up publicly during a wedding ceremony when the master of ceremony failed to mention all his four titles, especially “Dr…” He retorted,
“That title is my life. Don’t you known that I spent a junk of money and time to acquire it? Never reduce me to an ordinary man again.”
This is just one of such responses or reactions.
Beloved reader, do you have some titles that are part of you life? What will happen to you if you are not recognized anytime or anywhere with such titles? Will you be sad? Will anger possess you immediately? Will you be empty in your own eyes?
A guest minister refused to mount the pulpit on the simple fact that he was introduced as “Pastor…” and not “Pastor, Doctor and Reverend…”. Of all the titles available for acquisition, which one is the best? Let us read about this best title in 2kings 4:8-10 (King James Version):
“And it fell on a day, that Elisah passed to Shunem, where was a great woman and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
And she said unto her husband, ‘Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passes by us continually. Let us make a little chamber. I pray thee, on the wall, and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be when cometh to us that he shall turn in thither’ “
As can be see in verse nine, the woman was fully convinced that Elisah was “. A Holy Man of God”. Dear reader, can you think of a better title than this? A Holy Man of God!
Let me call your attention to what this title brought Elisah and can bring anyone bearing it.
a} Provision of food from a willing heart of a rich woman.
b} Availability of accommodation from a submissive woman and her husband.
c} Provision of moderately furnished guest chalets.
d} Hon our and respect from an affluent family.
Note that Elisah did not fight the woman because she did not call him “Prophet Elisah”. She narrowed him down to “….My Lord, thou man of God”. Yet, this brought on Elisah and his servant “all care”. (Verse thirteen).
Can you see that no better title can bring such rewards voluntarily from a loving heart? Let us all race and craze for this best title: An Holy Man (Woman) of God!

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