The Richest Man In Babylon

Deep down I always knew there was some sizeable good sense in the admonition: “Do not judge a book by its cover.” But stubbornly, I have either neglected or ignored such goodly advice for the sake of my insistence on “excellent quality and branding”. 

For how do you get people interested in your book if you pay little attention to how it’s presented and packaged? Surely, every man does love a beautiful thing, as all that glisters is not gold; or so I thought, until recently, that upon a particularly boring day I decided, against my worse judgement, to steal a peek of what might lie within the pages of a poorly reprinted version of the book, The Richest Man in Babylon.

 

The Actual Copy In Question

Quite unsightly was the paperback, and to look within was to behold prints not fitting for my delicate eyes, but what great fortune, that on that day my impetuously judgemental tendencies were nowhere to be found. For by God's favour I fell upon the glorious opportunity to learn from one of the greatest and wisest manuals of finance.

Never have I seen in stark simplicity the blessed path to monetary success. And above all, the most beautiful impression made on the reader was that it's all “just” common sense. As in proffering one of seven cures for a lean purse, the author states quite reasonably: “...put each coin to labouring that it may reproduce its kind even as the flocks of the field and help bring to thee income, a stream of wealth that shall flow constantly into thy purse”.

Yet the gems contained in this little volume aren’t really common as they ought to be. For man is complicated. For if he weren’t so, his purse would lack every reason to be empty. He would have his coffers filled with enough gold to provide for his needs and that of his family and the world around him.

Anyhow, however it is that just a few men have stumbled upon these insights and used them and have become rich, the rest all stand the chance to be counted rich and prosperous by doing as this few have done.

So, I have always believed that upon a certain stage in a man’s maturity there is that familiar wisdom that settles upon his senses, telling him that being one of great means is essentially necessary. It is in this view that I have shared with you my encounter with The Richest Man In Babylon, with the hope that your may read as I have read, to become enlightened as I have become, in this very important matter of our finance. 

Hence, let’s get rich and do it well.

“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” –2Corinthians 8:9

A Well Packaged Version. You see what I mean? Lol

Thinking Temptation

11:46pm

In this, it’s only God. There is no other way. Even the option, “I can handle it”, is nowhere near a possible solution. As an idea it’s far flung from me already; so far that I can no longer hear its counsel. It just doesn’t work. Never did, never will. It only puffed me up into thinking I am the “Main Man” in charge.

11: 50am

And I’d say, it pretty well settled on my senses, touched my mind, deep, deep inside, that self-control was, on my own, futile. It’s only God, only Him that can save me.

12:26am

For when it felt sweet to do, when all that mattered was the moment’s pleasure, I was almost always completely stripped of whatever willpower I had. Yup, before temptation came with all her charm and allure, I thought I was invincible, but soon enough I realized I wasn’t. Not even close. 

3:06am

While I thirst for growth and seek to be better, strong and firm; and while I long to live a life progressively pleasing to my God and Maker, I always did find myself in this vortex that draws me again and again to an ill center – a familiar place of woe, a vomit, a bloody addiction that tempts me at every turn, mocking my redemption and my faith.

6:31am

God will help me through it. I believe. And I will overcome. But this time I fight and stand with God. His Word in my heart, my dependence on His strength, and trust in His promises, I know I will overcome.

 

In One Verse: The Recipe For Success

Let's search no longer, for here lies the recipe for success, the eighth verse of the very first chapter of the Book of Joshua:

"This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth [1], but you shall meditate on it day and night [2], that you may observe [3] and do according to all that is written in it [4]. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success  [5]."

1. Your Continuous Confessions Of The Word Of God

2. Your Continuous Study & Contemplation Of The Word Of God

3. Your Knowing Of The Word Of God 

4. Your Doing Of The Word Of God

5. And In Your Doing Of The Word, Achieve, Prosper & Have Good Success.

 

*Scripture: Joshua 1:8 Amplified Version

*Photo from Google Images 

Here Is My Heart - A Thousand Times

Since 2am, today, I have been hooked on this particular song, Here Is My Heart, by the band Jesus Culture. I have played it incessantly and sung along more than I can count - most of the time with my hands raised up to the heavens.

I can’t explain why, except that this song ignites the desperate longing to give all of my heart, my soul, my strength, and my mind to my Father and God who loved me first.

Though it is a very simple, short song, it is very true to the heart. I hope you enjoy listening, and I hope it means something to you too:

Artist: Jesus Culture
Album: Your Love Never Fails
Song: Here Is My Heart by Kim Walker

*Video, Courtesy Youtube.

Trials, As We Face Them

It’s been said to the brink of definite belief that God has an awful sense of humour. And unsurprisingly, it is hard to argue when you see God and his ways through the eyes of logic. More so, if you try to reason out the sense in seemingly undeserved trials that He allows to happen to us - trials that we’d all be more than happy to do without. 

However, the truth is, difficulties come to everyone of us, in different shades, for different reasons. Still, I think for many of us it isn’t just a matter of life not being a bed of roses; I believe that more than that, there is a purpose and a reason why God would permit trials in our lives. 

And it is God’s will that we rejoice in the face of those varying challenges by no other way but by the way of faith. For it is only through faith – not logic – that we can truly see His wisdom in the whole scheme of things.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who have been called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28

*Image from www.Heartlight.org

Jealosi

From the beginning, it was quite clear where I was heading with my life. Like my mother, everyone thought I was sweet. I was the most lovable kid in Church, or so our Pastor would say. I guess he said so in a way to woo my widowed mother; but nonetheless, I think he was right, for my lovability abounded for all to see. For though I was the youngest choir member, and though learning the drums proved forever difficult, I was always the one who would come first to church to set up for rehearsals. I was that committed, I was that much of a Church Boy.

Happily, I was showered with much attention for being the last and only son. And for that, I was the envy of my three elder sisters. Particularly, Comfort, the eldest, would knock my head at any given chance, as if to remind me of my place. But mother would always come to the rescue, lessening the sting of my sister's abuse. She'd explain that my sister was suffering from a disease called jealosi. She reminded me that I was the one with a bright future and it was only natural for others to be green with envy. She said I had greatness inside of me, waiting to come out. “Just keep living your life to the glory of the good Lord”, she'd often say. I believed her, and I was truly inspired.

 As a result, I talked a great deal about how I wanted to become a chemical engineer and a doctor all at the same time. Chemical Engineering was going to be my passport into one of the oil companies in Nigeria – where the salaries were fat. As for becoming a doctor, I just wanted to be like Ben Carson, the world famous neurosurgeon who was black and successful. How I was going to achieve both feats was not my problem. I was just simply young and vibrant, and of course, mama's boy.

Unveiled

The Word of God is not just the Truth and Will and Wisdom of God, but the mirror of our identity. It is the mirror that reflects who we are as individuals and as a people. And nothing else, in the whole wide world, can give us the complete meaning and definition of ourselves. For being all that we need for life and godliness, the Word is ultimately applicable to how, in full self-awareness, we take on the world. So, in “knowing thyself” the Word is most definitely our best bet. 

However, only in continued fixation on the realities of the Word, can we draw to the full realization of who we are – like realizing the powers and graces that we possess by inheritance as Kings and Queens.

Yes, we are of royalty, of a magnitude that far exceeds earthly crowns and sceptres. We are a light and a blessing of glorious influence to the world. We are God’s battle axe – a force of nature with limitless and incomparable power. And even most importantly, we are God’s instrument and expression of love.

That’s who we are. And of course, that’s just naming a few. Thus, *Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at  his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently in the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.

*Scriptural Verse: James 1:23-25 (NIV)

How We Go Up, Up

Our ascension in life is principally dependent on what we know. By stark human experiences, I have come to terms with this old truth and realized that indeed, knowledge is power. For the weak, poor or worthless man is the way he is for lack of knowledge. He is destitute merely because he doesn’t know his way out of ignorance. So, whatever shackles that may hold him down, be it spells of witchcraft spawned from his village or the misfortune of being ruled by corrupt leaders, his only way out is to face squarely the “How?” of the matter, and then spend his time finding out the answer. And in finding the answer, would he, by his own hands, create the footholds for his climb out of the darkness, into the light.

Making Certain Our Dreams

Somewhere on the Lagos Island, near Race Course, you find a billboard with the message, “Make your dreams come true”. It is so big and bold in a way that no bystander with eyes can avoid seeing it.

It’s in ways such as this that this very message, so urgent and pressing, has been drummed repeatedly into our heads. It is the clarion call that says to us, “You cannot give up now, but make certain your dreams come true”.

For our own sakes, let’s not act as though we are deaf to this reasoning! For life, to every one of us, is but a short time between eternities. The time to rise to the occasion is now, not tomorrow. This time is when we stop letting dreams be nothing more than dreams.

Let a great measure of curiosity possess our minds. Let’s seek to know what latent power lies within us. Let’s bring to bear all that we are, so the world will have no doubt of having met us.

By will, by faith, by our heart and sinew and nerve, by all that is in us we must make it against all odds. Excuses must not and never be our defense.

And be it that when the years have well come upon us, our children should brim with pride when we tell of our journey’s tale. A tale of dreams accomplished.

IN THIS ONE, CURIOUSITY SAVED THE CAT

Much like a scientist, I once had a deep interest in  practical experiments. In my case, my test subjects were never other humans (or animals) but my very dear self. It is I, so to speak, you'd find sprawled on the dissecting table, at the mercy of my own poking and scrutiny. Curiosity was essentially my middle name, and I did seek experience with the singular purpose of taking the ride for myself -  experimenting on everything that tickled my fancy. 

So in light of this, I'd like to beg the reader's indulgence in regarding me, even if for just this moment, as an authority on the subject of “Trying It Out For Yourself”.

You know, firsthand knowledge is always the best, far much better than any other means of getting to know about a thing. For instance, I wouldn't have fully grasped the high-marijuana­- induced-feeling expressed by the nameless protagonist in the book, The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born, if I hadn't tried it out for myself. Though his arguments were quite convincing about the benefits of smoking weed, I still had to get high to know exactly what he meant…as intimately as possible. 

In like manner, I have tested and explored the flagrant life of a Casanova. With exuberance and with much, much alacrity I have dated many different girls, particularly based on their geographical representation - all in the name of sampling. And the reason was simply that I wanted to know: like, how does the Tiv girl differ from the Calabar, the Hausa from the Yoruba? Bad, bad I know, but wait... I didn't stop there, for  against my better judgment, I have even tried out what it would feel like to be a drunkard within a testing period of six months. Even the thrill of gambling didn't fall below my radar; for all the betting joints knew me very well. And at the end of all my shenanigans, I genuinely could say that “I had been there and done it all”.

However, in spite of my debauched tendencies, the goodness in me also cried out for some adventure. I wanted to take the trip to know God for myself. And although my interest was inspired by the words of the preacher, I wasn't - as usual - contented in just being told how it's like. Instead, I wanted to prove with my own eyes and mind all that the pastors claimed in their Sunday sermons. Was it truly possible for me to live a life of liberty – a life free from the corruption of this world? Could I really possess powers qualified as incomparable? And most tantalizing of all, is there a chance under heaven I'd actually get to know a spirit God on a personal level? Such were the questions that rambled in my head. But they all remained bull (of course, without the “shit”) as long as it all ended with what the pastors said.

The Big Madams of Lagos

Just out of the blue, a strange incident happened as I waited at the bus stop for the usual Danfo ride. I was heading home, it was after work, and I was standing under the glare of the afternoon sun when the sight of eight Yoruba women swaggering toward the road caught my eyes.

Their dresses suggested they were on their way to a Friday party. But quite noticeably, they had a particular air about them. It was of a blaring sort I believe - a mix of self-worth, audacity and pride.

The way they strolled, talked and gestured made them a spectacle worthy of interest. And by looking at them, even the least suspecting man could predict an ensuing incident in the making. So with rapt attention I joined fellow spectators hoping and waiting to be entertained.

Surely, it happened our prayers were answered. We witnessed as these women literally laid claim to the major road, Queens Street, as if it were their own. And at that moment, even though it was just for a few minutes, Lagos undeniably lost one of its streets to the madams.

Yes, these women were familiar Lagosian who strutted in peculiar confidence. Yes, the eight of them, stout and plump, were regal, for they were attired in rich colourful aso e bi and crowned with huge headdresses – the gele. However, it wasn’t necessarily how they looked that intrigued me the most. It was their deeds, which spelt in bold letters: “I KNOW WHO I AM, AND YOU BETTER SHOW ME SOME RESPECT”.

It was with assertive force that they arrested all attention when traffic on Queens Street was completely brought to a stop on their account. Not for just a minute or two or even for five but for a whole ten minutes, and it was all because the big madams demanded that they must cross the street in style, and that was exactly what they did.

First, the biggest of the lot walked to the centre of the road, then, with the abruptness and firmness of a military officer, she raised her hand and commanded the coming vehicles to “Stop there!” Imagine that. All the motorists did stop, and they did so without any complaints at all. Oh how dazed I was! As if in awe of a spectacular performance, I stood with a gaping mouth.  I couldn’t believe the sight.

As the women traversed the street, not more than one went at a time. It was a typical fashion parade as they each carried along with calculated grace and elegance. It was a procession of mirth and positive enjoyment for them – all at the expense of the buses and cars waiting to be on their way.

Not in Lagos do you find things like these happen everyday. On the streets this was an offence warranting the usual expletives, “Your papa, Na you get road?” or “Abegi comot for road jare, you done craze for head abi?” In the Lagos I know, insults like that would very much be in order. But as I said, to my shock, all the drivers just sat in their cars and obeyed the stop-command like little docile kids. Not even a word did they utter.

Did the madams cast a spell or juju as we call it here in Africa? I cannot say, but when I think about it, apart from the kick I got from the whole excitement, I can’t help but note a viable lesson: These women walked in the reality of who they believed themselves to be. They weren’t ready to be taken for granted. The common thing would have been to run across the road in fear of the impatient Lagos drivers. But they did the uncommon. They stood their ground with dignity and exerted themselves as the big madams that they were, in every way true and authentic.

  

  

To Be Free Of Guilt

Have you ever seen a man ridden by guilt? Well, you may likely find him wallowing in self-loathing, a very nasty predicament. Also, you may find him driven by the pangs of shame into hoping that the passage or perhaps the reversal of time would save him from his sense of regret.

But, of course, time won’t help. For with every passing second his mind suffers in woeful contemplation. And as a result, he may end up declaring himself unworthy and a sinner with no right to forgiveness.

For many of us, we needn’t look far for an example of a man in guilt. Our own lives have in one time or another suffered guilt, sometimes very severe. In fact, I’d dare say that the feeling of reproach is universal - at least to every normal person.

Nonetheless, in whatever way these experiences are common to us, we shouldn’t let them suffer us unnecessarily. We must not be ignorant of the fact that we can be free of guilt, no matter how grievous the transgressions that might have led to it.

Evidently, guilt is a typical trickster, seeking to convince its victims that they have no right to a second chance. Around us, we see its work: stark, helpless, riddled lives of those who had fallen from not only grace, but from every prospect of a good life.

Against this misery, we must fight, and the mind is where we fight. It’s where the guilt emotions try to take control and steal our peace of mind. In counter, it is where we must resist by maintaining a sound mental state.

Besides, when it comes down to freeing the mind of guilt, it is all about what we accept as truth. Would we think ourselves deserving of shame or of life? It is up to us, for in reality we can only prevail if we have the right mindset.

And what better way to build the correct frame of mind than meditation on God’s Word. In it, we are shown the love of the Father that says to us, “Come now, and let us reason together... though you sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow...” Surely, in these words, we can’t help but discern the richness of God’s mercy and grace.

Just like the story of the prodigal son, God as Father waits eagerly for our homecoming. Not minding our erring ways, He is ready to forgive us over and over, all because he loves us unconditionally. Beating ourselves down is not what He desires; rather, it is the pleasure of reinstating us to a life of liberty and delight.

In view of such love shown by the Father, do we think any of us should spend any more time floundering in guilt? Certainly not. Instead, let’s avail ourselves of the liberating truths of God’s love and forgiveness. For it is only in the knowing of the truth – as stated by our Lord Jesus – can we truly be set free.

By accepting the mercies of God, we can answer the voice of accusation that ever tries to put a guilt trip on us. We could say something like this, “hey you, hush! I recognize am guilt free for God my loving Papa has forgiven me my sins”. This is simply the veracity of our lives.

Yes, our imperfection may never desist in this life and time; however, it is not an excuse for us to agonize and suffer whenever we make a mistake. Let us not be ill with guilt but accept the cure of forgiveness that God so willingly wants to give. Remember, because of the work done on the cross, “there is therefore no condemnation” for us. We are absolutely free.

Two Reasons

My writing was set off by two very personal reasons: the love for literature and the zeal for positive influence. These reasons, simple but meaningfully relevant, are the passions that have driven me onward in my journey to become nothing less than a proficient and competent writer.

First, it was my fondness for literature that ignited my interest to write. I held a special fascination for the works crafted by the Masters. It was by their woven pieces of art that the writer in me was inspired. Thus, in light of their creations, sublime and brilliant, I couldn’t, even if I wanted to, fight the lure to write.

Soon enough, my writing found a second purpose in my desire to influence my world. I came to believe that as a writer I had a duty to enable my fellow man endure and prevail. And in lifting the heart of my fellows, I saw the opportunity to divulge the truths and insights I have come to know. This, above all, has come to be my greatest motivation for writing. 

However, in other to justify these reasons I have done nothing short of pursuing my dreams. I have voraciously devoured books and texts pertaining to the art and style of writing. I have joined writing circles where my works have been constructively critiqued. And of course, to learn even more, I have critically read the literature of many exemplary writers.

Additionally, in an effort to attain a professional status, I decided it wise to seek the guidance that only experienced tutors can provide. This decision has brought me to the Writers Bureau; an institution I hope would help me in achieving my goals to become an established journalist and ultimately, a fiction writer.

Surely, not too long from now, through my toil and persistence, I would have made giant strides in my writer’s journey and I would have become the writer I’d aimed to become, with my aspirations fully met and realized.