LIFE-STYLE: Being Broke: Not All Bad – By Adebisi Benjamin Temidayo

 

“Nevertheless, today, I want to make illustration to a very important aspect of every man’s life, when things are hard, when there is no money as it used to be, which most people do not want to experience and by the time they are caught up in the storm of financial hardships, they do all they could, prayers, rituals, whatever means to escape the situation”

PEGASUS REPORTERS, LAGOS | NOVEMBER 25, 2022

One fact we never accept in life is that there is a purpose for everything; quite right, we agreed that time and seasons come to man; however, many a times we do not focus on the lessons to be learned at a given time or the other.

Meaning, the times of our inconveniences is not paid attention to, rather positive anticipation of liberation ahead.

Thus, anytime we are in situations of hardships, we mostly pray for the time to pass and for the storm to be over instead of paying attention to the lessons of the Present time.

The Bible clearly states, “Time and Chance happen to all”, howbeit, there are different reasons and lessons to be learn at any given time, either good or bad.

Conversely, contrary to the general opinion that God brings good, while the Devil brings Evil; the Holy Scriptures in Isaiah 45 :7 says….

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.”

Now, it is apparent that God is the architect of all situations, and this opinion is buttressed in the Holy Qur’an, Surah Al- Hadid 57: 22-23

وَلَا فِىۡۤ اَنۡفُسِكُمۡ اِلَّا فِىۡ كِتٰبٍ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِ اَنۡ نَّبۡـرَاَهَا ؕ اِنَّ ذٰ لِكَ عَلَى اللّٰهِ يَسِيۡرٌۚ ۖ‏ ﴿57:22﴾ لِّـكَيۡلَا تَاۡسَوۡا عَلٰى مَا فَاتَكُمۡ وَلَا تَفۡرَحُوۡا بِمَاۤ اٰتٰٮكُمۡ​ؕ وَاللّٰهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخۡتَالٍ فَخُوۡرِۙ‏ ﴿57:23﴾

“No misfortune ever befalls on earth, nor on yourselves but We have inscribed it in the Book before We make it manifest. Surely that is easy for Allah; that you may not grieve over the loss you suffer, nor exult over what He gave you. Allah does not love the vainglorious, the boastful.

Now, it is apparent the the Books attested to the fact that fate and destiny meet man and since it is documented, there is little or nothing anyone could do about it.

Nevertheless, today, I want to make illustration to a very important aspect of every man’s life, when things are hard, when there is no money as it used to be, which most people do not want to experience and by the time they are caught up in the storm of financial hardships, they do all they could, prayers, rituals, whatever means to escape the situation.

Howbeit, rather than getting apprehensive over nothing or engaging in stuff, which could land you in troubles or terminate your life abruptly, in the bid to escape financial hardships; there are many lessons to learn.

Apostle Paul said …

“Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”…. Philippians 4:11-13.

Here we have an individual who is unperturbed by the situations he is facing at a particular time or the other and most importantly he learned from his situations.

And if we have to look at the forefathers in faith, they didn’t have everything in their disposal, as a matter of fact, some of them were in abject poverty, however, they weren’t perturbed by their situation, neither did they allow their inadequacies to erode their Dignity, who they were and what they stood for.

Unarguably, we, as humans, always hypothesize basic principles in life and most importantly believe if we follow such paths, things will work in the desired direction, we anticipate.

Take for example, we believe if we are talented, hardworking, focus, prudent and disciplined, we will always make it in life and be rich; however, the Bible doesn’t necessarily support that idea.

In Ecclesiastes 9: 11

“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”

Therefore, it is stated that they are no straight forward answers to the questions of how much we get or how poor we will be.

Well, even if we were rich, it doesn’t mean that the riches will be sustained as the Bible said in Proverbs 23:5…

“Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven”.

In all these, there are life lessons poverty brings and if perhaps, God could lift an individual from his broke state he will realize more and have God to thank.

Nevertheless, during poverty:

1. You learn what is most important for survival.

You see, a lot of us are found of acquiring what we actually do not need, perhaps, for public validation, show off, or to feel among, however, when the storm of poverty strikes, many of these unnecessary materials are sold off and at the time we will realize life is about living and not acquisition of material possessions.

2. You know who really appreciates you as a person and not for what you are.

Are you such the talk of the town? Do you think your characters and attitudes are so exquisite to have earned you much fame? Wait till you don’t have money, then, you will realize, that it is your money that actually matters, and people only reckoned with what they wanted to gain from you and not you as a person.

3. You will realize nobody really cares about you.

Poverty is the true test of your inner circle.

You see, life is about give and take and most people giving you today do that because what they have to gain from you.

I used to observe how people presented gifts to some Senior Members of offices and I ask myself if such gifts would have been brought to the same people, if they had not occupied the position, where those who brought the gifts, will benefit from.

Therefore, by the time you become poor and have nothing to offer people, you will be deserted; thus, the true test for those who rally around you, who you believe are supporting you is when you don’t have anything to offer and let’s see, if they will stay.

4. You need to be poor to see if your Partners are really supportive.

This is for the Male.

You know, I never believed in love because it has always been facades. Nobody loves me or could introduce their daughters to me, until I had an identity of a source of income.

That is seriously depressing to me, if what qualifies me to be loved or associated with is salaries or possessions: what of everything ends today, will my wife stay? Will she stay loyal, respectful and submissive to me, even when I had nothing to offer her as I used to.

Poverty will teach that.

5. In Poverty, you learn other aspects of life rather than buying and selling.

If you take a closer look at this life, it is all about what you have to sell or purchase and these in the real sense has taken much focus on the purpose of existence.

Unfortunately, in contemporary times, the value of one’s life or an individual is measured by the amount of money he has been able to acquire.

Now, you begin to question if that is all we have come to do in life?

Poverty can help us answer that question, when all that is available is survival and that time, you will be exposed to the real meaning of life and not about the merchandise.

6. Poverty preserves Life.

Many at times, when we make wrong decisions, it is because we have money to fund the decisions.

We often talk about addiction to drugs, alcohol, pornography, illicit sex and binge eating/drinking, without realizing these addictions are present when you have money to purchase the acts.

When you are completely broke, you cannot afford most of this stuff or be in places, where you have access to them.

When you are poor, you eat responsibly what we make you live and not junks or meals, which possess your health to danger through high cholesterol or sugar diets.

Poverty will help you to stay within your niche and not jumping around where you could be robbed or killed; so, poverty will preserve your life.

7. Poverty will draw you closer to your Maker.

You see, when you discover that your poverty has taken away your loved ones, family and friends. When your addictions could not be funded, and all your resources gone.

When you have no company to keep and all your strategies to bounce back remained futile and frustrated; you are broken and at that time, you can realize God is indispensable and willing to have you to Hod side, to teach you and liberate you from your present situation.

However, when you are set free, learn not to be back in the abyss of penury because life is filled with ups and down and “every dog has its date”.

Adebisi Benjamin Temidayo, Osun State University, Nigeria.

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