Most Rev. Prof. Johnson Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, says godliness should not be separated from daily living but must guide how people build society and relate with one another.
Speaking on Springboard, Your Virtual University, with Rev. Albert Ocran as part of the ongoing 17th anniversary Thinkathon series on the power of ideas in Faith and Society, he said that compartmentalizing spirituality and everyday life weakens society.
“We have compartmentalized our lives. Our spirituality is here, our everyday life is there. We have not put the bridge between the two. If we want to build a good society, godliness is essential because godliness encompasses all the virtues that make you human,” he explained.
He advised young people to apply themselves fully in whatever field they are in, whether academics, apprenticeship, or agriculture. He stressed that friendships and relationships must also be chosen wisely. “If the young man in your life is asking for sexual favors or taking you away from your studies to go to a club, drop the relationship,” he cautioned.
He also emphasized the importance of self-control as a leadership quality, warning that a lack of discipline in small things often leads to bigger failures. “If you don’t control your sense of hearing, you will listen to gossips, and that is the downfall of a lot of leaders. They enjoy gossip,” he said.
On marriage, he urged couples to avoid transactional attitudes and instead invest in one another to build stronger unions. “In a good marriage, whether you are a man or a woman, you think about how to improve the relationship. You are sowing into it, and you will reap what you sow,” he said.
According to him, Christian teaching on humanity emphasizes the fallen nature of humanity, which must be redeemed to align life with God’s purpose.
About Springboard, Your Virtual University
Springboard, Your Virtual University is a weekly motivational and personal development broadcast hosted by Rev. Albert Ocran. It airs every Sunday at 7 PM on Springboardzone (YouTube) and Joy FM, and at 9 PM on Joy News TV. The ongoing Thinkathon series brings together thinkers and leaders from various fields to explore the power of ideas in shaping society.
By Faustina Yeboah