THE HUMAN WILL – Dr. Wisdom Okotie

The human will is the engine that drives everything we want to become. If we fail to apply our wills, chances are we may not maximize our potential. We may have all the energy in the world resident in us, but if our wills and desires aren’t activated, we may not achieve our goals. Our faith may be strong, but it takes our wills to act and exercise a corresponding action. Before reading this entire book, it is paramount to address the role of the human will. How can we get things done in spite of challenges? Or why is it that some people are resilient, and others give up easily? Some people are constantly winning, and some are constantly complaining? Some people are optimists while others are pessimists? What is the main difference between super achievers and non-achievers? I believe the best way to address this hidden but devastating problem is to be encouraged by this very powerful parable as told by Christ himself. It was a case where the Master gave his servants different talents and asked them to trade with them.

Let’s read the story:

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.” His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” The man with the two talents also came. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.” His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” 24 “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘ Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25: 14-30 (NIV)

The rationale of this parable is that everyone is responsible to act on what they know. It is also our responsibility to make the best use of the talent God has deposited in us. Each of us is gifted by God in a unique way. Life is a big gift from God and what we do with our lives is our gift back to God and humanity. Everyone is under a divine mandate to perform and to be productive by virtue of the fact that all humans are created in the likeness and the image of God. Therefore, the problem is not in the stars; it is not with God, nature, or nurture. It is in our ability to act. The will and the soul force to act on what we know is the master key to divine health. To acquire information without acting on it is like buying something and not using it. Nothing else can replace our will or actions.

Scripture is very clear on that. Isaiah 1: 19–20 says, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”