The solution to all our problems in South Africa (and the world, for that matter) is when we start doing things for God and not for ourselves anymore. When we start to honour His name in all we do and stop seeking honour or advantage for ourselves when we do things. 

When all privileged South Africans (those with talents, skills, money, health or whatever blessing God gave you) start to do their best and anything they are paid more than what is necessary to make a living off, they rather invest in the country for the benefit of all. So if I have this special skill that others are prepared to pay a very healthy premium for, or I have a factory that builds a product that is popular and my company makes a lot of money from it, my priority is to take only the money I need to make a reasonable living from my profits, and I invest the remainder. I invest it back into my (or some other) business to create more jobs and wealth for all involved. Or I invest it in my community. My incentive should be to honour God by doing my best; it should not be the money. Naturally, you will still become rich but that is a by-product of doing your best – not the main driver. I honour God in the way I apply my skills that He gave me.

Also, when all challenged South Africans (those who are poor, without training or skills or left behind in whichever way) start to do their best, trusting that God will look after them. That He takes pride in those that make the best of what He has given them, in spite of their circumstances. Because they love and honour Him. 

And you can find these exemplary South Africans already today. Who doesn’t know about the Ndlovu Youth Choir from Limpopo? Here we have youngsters from a very poor community who have risen, through sheer dedication and hard work, to perform in Hollywood, USA, at the finals of the America’s Got Talent show. They did this despite their challenging background. And Ralf Schmitt, their brilliant conductor, who was prepared to share his talents and time with these children in a distant, rural village.

And, Ralf adds, if you can find such talent in one rural village in South Africa, can you imagine what talent our country harbours! We all need to follow their example – to do our best in spite of the hurdles we may encounter in life. Because our Father deserves to be honoured.

Theft, corruption, laziness, greed, dishonesty and pride is not honouring God. We honour Him by admitting, in our day to day activities, that He has given us everything we have by His grace and that we owe it to Him to do our best with what He has given us. When we remember that we are here on earth to love and honour Him first and foremost, then we will start to be really blessed. 

An exercise, one can regularly do to help you focus on this, is to ask if what you are planning to do will make God proud. In order to help my readers to do this simple exercise on a regular basis, I can send you a Whatsapp message at random intervals (but not more than once a day) to remind you to ask this important question to yourself. Just leave your telephone number by clicking the button below.

I have also created a logo you can use to promote honouring God in your everyday life.

Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others. For we know that we will receive a reward, an inheritance from the Lord, as we serve the Lord Yahweh, the Anointed One!

Colossians 3:23‭-‬24 TPT

Be enthusiastic to serve the Lord, keeping your passion toward him boiling hot! Radiate with the glow of the Holy Spirit and let him fill you with excitement as you serve him.

Romans 12:11 TPT

When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 CEV