QUICK FIX
One afternoon, as I feebled through my computer, I came across the phrase –“quick fix.” It got my attention and I pondered over it again and again. Quick care and quick fix seem to be where the world is heading to in many ways. I could not imagine the range of things human beings want quick fix or easy out solutions for. That was a quick reminder that we live now in the instant age, where people want quick fix, short cut, and easy way out; instant milk, instant coffee, instant marriage and instant relationship without considering the consequences. Again, can quick fix devices offer solution to all human problems? For example: instant marriage or instant relationship; and some instant moral issues? I doubt it. Funny enough, most work supervisors warn against short cuts and easy way out, but when faced with similar situation, they do same. Is it doing as I say syndrome?
Quick fix is described as an easy way out or short cut. It reflects lack of patience and unwillingness to follow the routines and take to directions anymore. Daily, the technology industries produce devices and equipments that quicken the ways human beings do things. Early in the 1960’s manufacturers produced calculators to help solved mathematical problems such as: additions, subtraction, multiplication and division. Then its usage was not allowed in most schools. Students were challenged to task their brains. Today, if you ask a child any mathematical question, he/she quickly reaches out to his/her calculator and produces instant answers; without it they appear cut off in problem solving ability. In this century and era, more complicated technological equipments have been produced. They are one-step-multiple piece that quicken how to store, retrieve and process information. For example: a cell phone can reach the world via internet, do texts, phones, calendar, time, and calculator, assess internet, etc.
People have developed microwave mentality; put it in and touch a button; a couple of minutes it is ready. Others plant seeds by their patio and harvest fruits in a couple of days. We choose careers that take short time to complete but fetch a reasonable amount of money. Some students no longer study but hire impersonator to take their examinations. Recently it was in the news that a pastor engaged hired killers/murderer to kill his wife. Politicians lie, manipulate and shed blood for fetish gain and retain power as well as boost their egos. They get initiated into cults using family members as bet for rituals or sacrificial lambs for money and power. Quick fixes bring a do or die approach to life; manipulations, greed and selfishness.
New age Church leaders/pastors preach prosperity and wealth but ignore holiness and righteousness; commend paying tithes but ignore the weightier things – mercy and justice. They talk about church and membership but ignore the kingdom and her people and message. As long as people pay tithes, they take care of and look after themselves and families; neglecting the least of God’s children that God has put in their way; even the less privileged and have-nots. They intervene in problems not by the truth but by despising the less money giver and align front with and uphold the high money givers; it does not matter how the so called ill-gotten wealth is obtained. Believers no longer walk out their salvation and obtain blessings but want instant intervention (or miracles). We even seek miracles in fundamental things God had availed us in Christ Jesus. We are simply required to step boldly into and obtain them.
Quick fix brings complacent, lying, stealing and deceit. It leads to competition and impatient. Short cut makes you invest in a business that does not endure or last. Many visit evil altars to seek wealth; ‘get rich quick today and die tomorrow.’ They want easy way out, quick result and no delay; but delay is not denial. They lack wisdom, knowledge and understanding as well as inward strengths to do what is right. Quick fix shows inability to follow laid down rules, obedience to God’s instructions and do not understand the signs of the times. They lack love for self and other people and trust/confidence in God’ promises; always in a hurry (run red lights, send text while driving, give patients wrong drugs, and lie to cover another lies, etc).
People generally do not plan to fail but always fail to plan. To cover their lapses, they get hurry and make mistakes or run into avoidable dangers. The earlier we start to do things the right way, the better for us and the society. Quick fix is one of those negative human behaviors that we need to repent of this lenting period. Prayers without positive physical redressing actions are waste. Also fasting without prayers and meditations is starvation. Let’s not forget that there is a price to pay for a prize.
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill@weefreeministries.org or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.