THE CURSED MAN

 

By Evang. Taiye Ajayi

Earlier this week, while studying the Scriptures on who a cursed man is, the Lord led me to a passage that deeply transformed my understanding. If you do not usually read our blog, I encourage you not to miss this one. I believe it will bless you as much as it blessed me. What the Holy Spirit taught me is too important not to share.

"This is what the Lord says: 'Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.'"
— Jeremiah 17:5–6 (NIV)

God's desire is for us to live under His blessing, never under a curse. He wants us to lend to nations and not borrow. Throughout Scripture, there are only a few occasions where God Himself pronounces a curse, and this passage is one of them.

God is our loving Father. He is not pleased when we place our trust and confidence in human beings because even the best of men are limited and can fail. Human strength has limits, but God's power never does.

Many years ago, while waiting for my Senior Secondary School examination results, I was overwhelmed with fear. I believed I had failed because I had not performed well. I became desperate and began looking to people for help. I even considered visiting the WAEC office to see if something could be done.

The anxiety became so intense that I could hardly eat or sleep. I had recently received my GCE results, and they were disappointing. My mind was filled with thoughts of failure and uncertainty.

At one point, someone told me that he could help me if I brought him some money. Immediately, I became worried about where I would get the money. Then the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to a profound truth: when help comes solely from man, it often comes with conditions, expectations, or obligations. Sooner or later, the person may remind you of what they did for you and expect something in return.

What arrested my heart most in Jeremiah 17 was this statement: "They will not see prosperity when it comes."

Think about that. Prosperity may arrive, opportunities may come, doors may open, yet the person who trusts in man may completely miss them because his eyes are fixed on human help instead of God.

God is the source of every good and perfect gift. He wants us to trust His timing, depend on His wisdom, and rest in His will. Sadly, many people run to men before they run to God whenever they face difficulties.

I am reminded of a statement by Apostle Joshua Selman:

"All blessings come from God, through men, to men."

Notice the order. The source is always God. Men are only channels. The mistake many people make is to honour the channel while forgetting the Source.

God's servant, Prophet Ayuk from Cameroon, once shared an incredible testimony. A man who owed about 40 million CFA came to him for prayers. The prophet declared, "God will provide the money. The bank will call you soon."

A week later, the bank contacted the man to verify his identity. To his amazement, he received over 50 million CFA. After settling his debt, he returned to the bank to discuss repayment of the remaining funds after establishing a business.

To his greatest surprise, the bank manager denied ever knowing him or authorizing such a transaction. The manager said, "I have never met you before, let alone given you such an amount of money."

The man left overwhelmed by the undeniable wonder of God.

Dear friend, it is a tragedy to place your trust in man. It is unwise to build your confidence on what people can do for you. According to Jeremiah 17:5, the moment your confidence shifts from God to man, you step onto a dangerous path.

Trust God completely. He can use men, but never depend on men more than you depend on Him. Men may fail, change, or disappoint, but God remains faithful forever.

Prayer

Father, help me to place my complete trust in You. Deliver me from depending on human strength more than on Your power. Teach me to wait for Your timing and to recognize that You alone are my Source. Use men as channels of blessing in my life, but never let my heart depart from You. In Jesus' name, Amen.