New Year’s Message 2025

Ernest Godfrey

Throne of Grace Bible Church International (New York, USA)

But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 

Welcome to 2025. The topic before us today being the first day of the year, 2025 is “The Power to Make Wealth.” In Deuteronomy 8:17, God said, “And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.” The Lord was reminding His people not to get puffed up when they begin to see the abundance that God is enabling them to have and enjoy. This warning is very crucial. After all, it is quite tempting and easy to forget that, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring” (Acts 17:28).

Having examined this important warning not to forget our source of wealth, let’s first consider the meaning of wealth. According to the dictionary, wealth means “a great quantity or store of money, valuables, possessions, property, or other riches, an abundance or profusion of anything, plentiful amount…the state of being rich, prosperity, affluence.” In Matthew 6:33 Jesus says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Here we can see that God is ready to add “all these things” to us as long as we seek Him, His kingdom and His righteousness first. Never relegate God, the giver, to the background or forget him entirely.

Beloved, the truth is that God wants to bless you and change the trajectory of your life, northward. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” (2 Peter 1:3). And remember that there is no sorrow in the blessings of God. “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). Our God is Jehovah Jireh! It is in His nature to bless. “Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever” (Psalm 112:3).

Therefore, in the year 2025, I want you to strive to create generational wealth. Wealth is not going to fall down from the sky. We are going to individually create wealth godly. I want to encourage everybody in our church to get into entrepreneurship, manufacturing, business ventures, stock market investments, education, medicine, technology, science, law, space exploration, robotic engineering, artificial intelligence in the right way, computer science, pharmaceuticals, etc. Investment in real estate is a good thing. Land acquisition is a good thing. The field of academia is welcomed. The field of sports is also a good way to stay physically fit and create wealth at the same time. Politics should not be left in the hands of unbelievers. Christians should take part in politics and vie for political offices. We should make sure that non-believers are not the ones making and implementing policies that not only create poverty and corruption, but also work against the interest of Christian believers and the free exercise of our faith. Education is very important. In so many ways, it can level the playing field. Prayer alone is not going to cut it. We should stop ceding ground to kleptocrats who have continued to plunder our common wealth.

Moreover, our Lord Jesus Christ tells us not to bury our talents in Mathew 25:14-30:

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And when it comes to politics, the scripture tells us that, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2). Are we surprised that there’s a lot of mourning in the land? The reason is not hidden from us. When most of the people who are in charge politically and economically are crooks, what do you expect? I’m not in any way here saying that you should engage in politics to make wealth for yourself. No! That would be wrong and ungodly. But through your godly leadership in one capacity or another, you  can create an enabling environment that will help so many people to thrive in different fields of human endeavors. We, Christians, should not sit idly by, complain, while we allow the society around us to continue to deteriorate. We should contribute our own quota with the view to bringing positive change and human development wherever we are domiciling.

Moreso, I would not end this message without reminding us of the words of Jesus in Luke 19:13, “And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.” Christ wants everyone to occupy his or her domain until He comes. You can make a difference. Those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord must occupy until He comes. Your space is waiting for you. We should be in charge. God is ready to use you more than you think. May the good Lord open doors for you. May He protect you and bless all your endeavors.

Lastly, in the year 2025, may “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:14). May the Lord give you the power to make wealth. You can do it! Happy New Year! 

Yours in His Vineyard,