POLOKWANE – In a spectacular fashion, aerial roots emanating from its branches descend and take root in the soil to become new trunks.
Thus the Banyan tree, native to tropical Asia, reaches tremendous proportions. One tree may in time assume the appearance of a very dense thicket as a result of the tangling of stems and trunks.
But here is the problem. Even though the Banyan tree may appear to be very successful in its development, it has one serious flaw – it never allows anything else to grow under its shadow. It kills anything in its way to protect its own interests.
This is the same problem with the leadership and how people live in this country – “Me, Myself and I.” People want to grow, be successful and rich alone. They want to shine and be glorified alone, especially at the expense of the poor.
A person wouldn’t permit others to be promoted under him or her. This was King Saul’s problem and this questionable attitude led to his downfall. In Genesis 47, Joseph made sure that his brothers enjoyed the fruits of his success; I repeat, “the fruit of his success.”
In his exaltation and prosperity, Joseph did not only remember his brothers but he provided for them even though they had persecuted him in a very severe way. His sudden exaltation to a position of supreme power wouldn’t make him irresponsible and ruthless, forgetting where he came from.
Others, like we see today, could have easily became arrogant, power-drunk, corrupt and looking down on everybody but Joseph refused all these. Instead, keeping his feet on the ground, he went on to become an extraordinary statesman influenced by the heart of lifting others up.
Please don’t forget that even when he was eventually thrown into the darkest pit in Dothan, the reason was, “to take care of and provide for his brothers.” Wow! Awesome.
South Africans, what’s your motive in the environment you find yourself? Is it to uplift others or to be like a Bayan tree?
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others,” (Philippians 2: 3-4.)
Rev John Mokoena
