The God Factor

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Often times many attribute their blessings to the "God Factor". Some believe it, others deride it and some are somewhere in-between. I believe in the God factor! It is the grace of God in the life of a person that makes that person excel. Jesus had the God Factor as mentioned in Luke 2:52 above. Favour with God and men that made him exceptional in all aspects of his life from a little child till the end of his ministry.

First, let us examine what the God Factor is not. It is not laziness, idle hands, wishful thinking, day dreaming, or plain old being a couch potato sitting around waiting for manna to fall from heaven. The bible actually is against laziness.

Proverbs 6:10-11 “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.”

Proverbs 19:15 “Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.”

It's is not cheating or stealing your way to riches and at the slightest enquiry you say "Na God do am". The God Factor does not preclude you from working hard, conscientiously and with integrity to achieve a desired purpose. It is not a fraudulent acquisition of wealth with a view to confess your sins latter and seek forgiveness. It is not a dubious attempt to reach a career position at the expense of other people through back biting or snitching and then claim you achieved it through the “grace” of God. The God factor is not one of these or any other self-serving means of making it in life.

Prophet Samuel had same God factor as Jesus did. 1 Sam. 2:26 “And the child Samuel grew on and was in favour both with the Lord and also with men.”  The God Factor is, in simple terms favour with God, that translates to favour with men. It is the grace from God that accentuates what you do to make it more awesome than it ordinarily should be. It is that thing about you that distinguishes you from the crowd. It is the hand of God on a man that makes him exceptional in the eyes of heaven and men. The God factor is a magnifying glass that makes it impossible for men not to notice and appreciate you. The God factor is simply God’s grace!

It is important to state that the God factor is not a license to mediocrity but a push to excellent work. It is when you have done your best, God does the rest through other people. Jesus said in John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. Jesus worked so hard he preached for days without stopping, he went days without eating and his family was left worried. If Jesus while on earth, needed to work hard and with integrity, why do you think all you need is prayers and the God Factor? It is the works of your hand that God will bless. Deuteronomy 28:12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

It is the seed you plant that God will multiply. Joseph's dream of being on top didn't stop him from being productive in Potiphar’s house or at the prison. The God Factor comes to play when we apply our God given talent and ability in line with God's will, then favour jumps in and makes all things work together for our good.

Stay blessed.

Bishop Sam Chidoka

April 2017