The Caleb Mentality

While reading the Open Heavens devotional for 18^th August, which talked about the letter to the Philadelphian Church, two things that stood out to me were what I would call the Caleb mentality and the Solomon mentality. When we look at life, challenges are a part and parcel of it. Even Jesus in John 16:33, said we would have challenges but then caveated it by saying “I have overcome the world”.

Looking back, I have experience both the highs and the lows as I’m sure everyone else has. But something I noticed was that there were certain times I got to those high moments in life and relaxed spiritually. The decision to relax were not always taken intentionally but they happened. And when I relaxed, I began to drift away from my relationship with God and engage in activities that I shouldn’t have. When this happens, this is what I would refer to as the Solomon mentality. Solomon was a man that had everything any person could ever dream of. But a point came when he relaxed and as time passed, became an idol worshipper and a polygamist (I Kings 11). As Daddy G.O. pointed out, after building the temple, Solomon relaxed and in doing so forgot about God.

On the other hand, is what I refer to as the Caleb mentality. Caleb was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses into Canaan to obtain a report of the land and assess the Israelites chances of victory. Of the twelve, only he and Joshua gave a good report (Num. 13:30; 14:5-9). This same Caleb at the age of 85 decided to go and take a mountain that was filled with “great and fortified” cities (Joshua 14:11-12). He even went as far as saying that he still had the strength for war! I don’t know about you but when I picture myself at 85, I don’t imagine myself gearing up to go and fight a battle. But this is the mentality we ought to have. One in which we are constantly on the alert for opportunities, for new mountains to conquer. This is the sort of mentality Daddy G.O has. According to our 21^st century encyclopaedia (Wikipedia), RCCG has over 14,000 parishes all around the world. Despite this, at the age of 80 he is still looking for new mountains to conquer all over the world. That is the Caleb mentality!

As children of God, we were given one mission after the resurrection of Jesus: And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). When you have the Caleb mentality, even when you get to the top, you will still be on the lookout for new opportunities. Because if you don’t, it is easy to go the way of Solomon or his father David, who stayed back in his palace instead of going to war and ended up committing murder and adultery (II Sam. 11). You may say that is extreme but as we dey say, na from clap dance dey start (meaning big things don’t happen suddenly). The charge I have for you is to develop the Caleb mentality! Don’t ever think you have arrived like the rich fool Jesus spoke about (Luke 12:16-20). As G.O said in the devotional “remain busy for God, asking for new mountains to conquer all the time”.

Photo cred: Mountain