Odita Sunday 
By Ewere Okonta
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eobnewsmedia@gmail.com
eob.org.ng
There is a dangerous disease spreading across our society today. It is not malaria. It is not cancer. It is not even poverty. It is the disease of human arrogance, the madness of men who suddenly begin to behave as if they are God.
A governor enters office and begins to talk like he owns the destiny of millions. A pastor mounts the altar and starts behaving as though heaven cannot function without him. A billionaire acquires wealth and suddenly treats fellow human beings like insects. A husband behaves as if his wife’s life depends entirely on his permission. A lecturer frustrates students because he thinks he controls their future. A politician believes the people must worship him because he shared rice during election season.
And somewhere in the middle of all this drama, God is watching silently.
This Sunday sermon is a simple reminder to all mortals: calm down. No man is God.
The problem with power is that it intoxicates. Give a man small authority and you may discover the monster hiding inside him. Give some people a microphone, a title, uniform, office, money, or influence, and suddenly humility disappears from their vocabulary. They start talking carelessly. They start insulting people publicly. They begin to imagine themselves as untouchable.
But history is filled with the carcasses of powerful men who once thought they were immortal.
Where are the emperors that terrified nations?
Where are the military dictators that silenced citizens?
Where are the business moguls who thought money could buy eternity?
Where are the fake prophets who manipulated innocent worshippers?
Where are the proud politicians who believed power would never leave them?
Some died quietly. Some died painfully. Some died shamefully. Some died forgotten. Life moved on without them.
That is the irony of existence. The world always continues.
The chair you are killing yourself to protect today will eventually have another occupant. The office you are using to oppress people today will someday belong to someone else. The mansion you are building with wickedness may eventually house strangers who never knew you. The same people clapping for you today may move on tomorrow without remembering your name.
No man is God.
One of the greatest deceptions of life is temporary power. Human beings forget too quickly that everything they possess is borrowed. Beauty fades. Wealth fluctuates. Fame disappears. Influence weakens. Strength reduces. Connections fail. Even the healthiest bodies eventually surrender to death.
The graveyard is full of people who once believed they were indispensable.
That is why humility is not weakness. Humility is wisdom.
Any man who understands death cannot worship himself.
Any woman who understands life cannot become intoxicated by temporary success.
The richest man still sleeps with his eyes closed.
The most feared president still falls sick.
The most respected bishop still grows old.
The most powerful king still breathes ordinary air.
Life has a way of humbling everybody.
Sometimes, we behave as though tomorrow is guaranteed. We insult people recklessly. We destroy relationships carelessly. We cheat others shamelessly. We oppress the weak confidently. We manipulate systems mercilessly. We frustrate innocent people without conscience.
Yet, we forget one frightening truth: there is God oo.
That statement may sound simple, but it carries terrifying depth.
There is God oo.
Meaning: your power has limits.
Meaning: somebody greater than you exist.
Meaning: even if nobody questions you, heaven is recording everything.
Meaning: you can deceive men, but you cannot deceive eternity.
This is why society becomes dangerous anytime humans begin to replace God with themselves. Once leaders begin to see themselves as untouchable, oppression begins. Once pastors start demanding worship from members, spiritual slavery begins. Once politicians believe they own the people, democracy dies. Once parents become dictators instead of nurturers, children become emotionally wounded.
Nobody should assume the place of God in another person’s life.
Advise people, yes.
Lead people, yes.
Guide people, yes.
Help people, yes.
But never behave as though their destiny begins and ends with you.
Some employers behave as if workers should worship them because they pay salaries. Some rich relatives use money to enslave poorer family members emotionally. Some religious leaders instill fear instead of faith. Some politicians expect citizens to kneel because of temporary empowerment programmes.
Calm down.
No man is God.
And let us say something uncomfortable this morning: many people worship human beings more than they worship God. That is why they lose themselves trying to please powerful men. They become afraid of speaking truth. They defend evil because their “big man” is involved. They abandon morality because of political loyalty. They surrender their conscience because of financial dependence.
This is how societies collapse.
Any society that worships men eventually suffers.
Because men are imperfect.
Men are emotional.
Men are selfish.
Men are weak.
Men are temporary.
Only God is constant.
Only God is infallible.
Only God sees tomorrow completely.
That is why it is foolish to surrender your soul entirely to another human being.
Even your favorite preacher can disappoint you.
Even your political hero can fail you.
Even your mentor can betray you.
Even your closest friend can change.
Human beings are flawed by nature.
That is why wisdom demands balance. Respect people, but do not worship them. Honour leaders, but do not idolize them. Appreciate helpers, but remember they are only vessels, not God Himself.
Because the same man you are worshipping today may need help tomorrow.
Life is unpredictable.
A healthy man can become bedridden overnight.
A wealthy man can become bankrupt suddenly.
A famous celebrity can become forgotten within years.
A feared politician can become politically irrelevant after one election.
The same crowd shouting your name today can disappear tomorrow.
Vanity upon vanity.
This sermon is not designed to insult success, leadership, or influence. No. Society needs strong leaders. Society needs successful people. Society needs wealthy investors. Society needs spiritual fathers and mentors.
But everybody must remember the boundary line between influence and divinity.
You are not God.
That title belongs to only one Being.
And perhaps the greatest proof that no man is God is death itself.
Death is the final equalizer.
It silences the rich and the poor.
It humbles kings and servants.
It closes the mouths of the proud.
It ends arguments permanently.
At death, your convoy stops.
Your security details step aside.
Your titles become useless.
Your social status disappears.
What remains is your humanity and your record before God.
So, before you insult that poor man, remember there is God oo.
Before you use power to oppress people, remember there is God oo.
Before you frustrate innocent people because of pride, remember there is God oo.
Before you treat fellow humans like trash because of temporary success, remember there is God oo.
And before you begin to imagine yourself as untouchable, remember one thing clearly: all mortals fall.
No man is God.
Not the politician.
Not the pastor.
Not the billionaire.
Not the celebrity.
Not the traditional ruler.
Not even you.
Be humble.
Be kind.
Be compassionate.
Be careful how you treat people.
Because at the end of this short and unpredictable journey called life, every man will bow before the same God.
This is the Sunday sermon from my holy pulpit!
Ewere Okonta is the CEO of EOB Media. He is a family values advocate. He writes from the Department of Business Administration, University of Delta, Agbor
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