Success can be described as an event that accomplishes its intended purpose. But what plays in the mind of men when we desire success? Ask a man: what do you understand by success? I am certain that the manner of words streaming across his thoughts would sound much like: money, riches, wealth, mansion, office, limousine, jets, travels, merchandize etc. Success is the accomplishment of events, but what event could accomplish its purpose without proper or adequate financial backing? Will you successfully put together a street “shoe shine” business and term that success? Perhaps it depends on the standard you set for your self but as for me I disagree. So, If you agree with me, there is a rich or wealthy somebody behinds every success; be it an event or individual.
I have heard people say success is not about money but what is success without riches? It is true that people build lovely and successful homes without riches but that does not necessarily mean they were poor. Good things don’t usually come around in the absence of money. Even the bible says: money answereth all things (Ecclesiastes 7:12). Poverty –the lack of money brings hunger, anger, stress, strife, fear and despair. Poverty is like a plague that breeds hatred. Poverty makes a rebel of its victims.
Some people say money can’t buy happiness, but I say it would buy every other thing at least. But when you have every other thing and lacks not, shall you not be happy? I have heard people say money can’t buy love. Oh think again about that; money does buy love in many instances. Think of it: if you come across a rich boyfriend who caters for all your needs and spoils you with flowers, gifts and outings; would you not desire to have him to yourself and dream about being the woman in his home? You may feel like saying “never”, because you are comfortably settled as we speak. But I tell you, there are so many women out there who are probably nodding to my question. Have you not heard of this mystery question: what is the different between an ugly but wealth boyfriend and a handsome but very poor one? Trust me that most ladies would go with the wealthy one for his money would compliment the way he looks. I have met people who claim they don’t like to become rich but I am sure that they equally don’t want to be identified with penury.
If my illustrations do not convince you enough, then take a look at this: why do we have more joy and love exhibited in rich and average homes? Why are majority of miscreants and dangerous criminals from poverty stricken ghettos? Happiness, joy and love itself are emotional reactions to good and pleasurable things even though I believe that love supersedes money. Nothing good comes out of poverty, but if good and pleasurable things come of money; is money not buying love?
Take another look on how the bible equates success and money: For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it (Ecclesiastes 7:12). Wisdom and money are like equal but with more knowledge –which is in terms wisdom, you can gain leverage above your competitors. The more wisdom you’ve got the better the manner by which you make use of the money to create for your self a niche.
One of my spiritual fathers, my mentor, Pastor Joseph Ajakaye gave a sermon one Sunday morning. He started this sermon with a “mind moving” scripture: (14) There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: (15) Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. (16) Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. (17) The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools (Ecclesiastes 9:14-
The summary of this scripture is: there live a very poor but wise man in a small city. This city came under siege by a great army. By the wisdom of this poor man this great army was defeated and the city was liberated. But the point in the story of this scripture is that the bravery of this wise man was not recognized because he is poor and a “nobody”. Some other people took the glory of this poor wise man because they were rich. Verse 16 is saying, even though wisdom is better strength (we have seen a group of insurgence –resistant defeat powerful army by tactics –wisdom); nevertheless, your wisdom is useless without riches. To make it simple, verse 17 is saying that there is only a little difference between a poor wise man and the biggest fool. The absence of money is like the absence of wisdom but truly, wisdom is the route to access money. The point is: shut up and quit boasting of wisdom until you make a wealth of it.
To be continued…
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