Hone Problem Solving Skills

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Problems have always existed and will always be part of life. There are two reasons for this. Problems either make or mar a person, institutions, family, nation, religious organization.  Also, problems are as diverse as people and ethnic groups are diverse. This implies that about everyone, family, community, institution and nation experience problems. 

However, there is a problem experienced by the vast majority of people globally. It is the problem of insufficient to absolutely no money. This is a global problem which prompted multilateral agencies and governments of different nations to adopt poverty mitigation measures, some of which were successfully implemented and are success stories as well as global best practices. Yet the problem of financial poverty still stares a good number of people in the face.

It is also ironic that money stands in front of people, besides people, stares at them, smiles at them, beckons to them;  and sometimes literally pulls them, tugs at them, even begs them to come grab him; yet the vast majority of people spend a lifetime looking for money who is patiently knocking at their doors and waiting for them to just open the door; even slightly so that he can come in; take up residence and settle down with them permanently.

The biblical case of the widow of the indebted prophet is a classic example. She always had jars of oil in the house; and her husband probably also had other skills besides being a prophet and the son of a prophet. Yet they lived what I dare to call a financially irresponsible life. The man borrowed and kept borrowing until eventually he died leaving behind an undesirable inheritance of a huge pile of debts which had mortgaged the lives and destinies of his two sons to debt bondage or slavery. That is to say his two sons would serve their father’s creditor until the creditor decided that the debts were fully paid for. What a life!

The Dynamics of Divine Wealth Transfer

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

One of the dynamics of divine wealth transfer is wisdom as in the case of King Solomon whose wisdom was a source of wealth. Kings, queens, and a number of people from diverse backgrounds brought treasures of gold, silver, and other resources to King Solomon as gifts as they came from far and wide to hear his God given wisdom.

Yet another dynamic is divine favor as in the case of the Israelites in Egypt. They requested gold and silver items as well as clothing from the Egyptians and received. Please read Exodus Chapters 3 verses 21 to 22, 11 verses 2 to 3, 12 verses 35 to 36, and Psalm 105 verses 43 to 45. God made the Israelites inherit the land and labor of the nations, the original inhabitants of Canaan. Please read Genesis Chapter 15 verses 13 to 14.

Divine intervention, for instance when Jehovah the Man of war, the Lord Who is strong and mighty in battle, Who does not lose any battle intervenes in battles and defeats and destroys the enemy so that the wealth of the enemy is transferred to the people of God whom the enemy rose against. The Syrian army besieged Samaria to the point that the Bible records that there was a great famine in Samaria. As a result, cannibalism became the order of the day as some foolish women resorted to trading in their children for food at the advice of other wicked and ungodly women. When the king heard about this from the victim, a mother whose son had been boiled and eaten, the king tore his robes and threatened to kill the prophet Elisha.

Rather than react to the death threat, Elisha prophesied abundant supply of food that would put an end to the famine. Though a high ranking official of the king attempted to create doubt, wondering how on earth the prevailing famine would come to an abrupt end the following day, Elisha prophesied doom against the official. Significantly, the doubts expressed by the official did not stop God’s intervention because God works in mysterious ways. He did not rain food supplies from heaven. Rather, He used the same people who caused the famine to bring the famine to an end. How?

Divine Wealth Transfer

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’  I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” John Chapter 4 verses 37 to 38.

He brought forth His people with rejoicing, His chosen with shouts of joy. He gave them the lands of the nations, that they might inherit the fruit of others’ labor,  that they might keep His statutes and observe His laws. Hallelujah!…Psalm 105 verse 43 to 45.

Divine wealth transfer is as old as humanity. Wealthy parents have always transferred wealth to their children either by way of inheritance when they leave this world or apportioning each child his or her share of the wealth while they are still alive. Wealthy relations are also known to bequeath their wealth to either blood relations or loved ones. Whichever be the case, the fact is that wealth always gets transferred as it is never static.

God always transfers wealth to His own; not by might nor by power but by His Spirit and usually at His appointed time. A number of biblical case studies attest to this fact. The Israelites for instance labored in Egypt for a long time, were treated badly but at God’s appointed time, the same people who despised them and used them for slave labor gladly gave them their articles of silver and gold and clothing thereby enriching the Israelites on the eve of their departure from Egypt. Please see Exodus Chapters 3 verses 21 to 22; 11 verses 2 to 3; 12 verses 35 to 36. This wealth which was divinely transferred to them came in handy and served the great divine purpose of giving offerings to the Lord for the building of the tabernacle when the need arose to build the Tabernacle of God in the wilderness. Please read Exodus Chapters 25 verses 1 to 8; 34 verses 4 to 10, 21 to 29. Additionally, some of the skills they had acquired in Egypt such as spinning yarn for fabrics, dyeing them in brilliant colors were also offered to the Lord as offerings.

Give it Expression

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

What do you do with pearls? You showcase them. You do not hide them under your pillow, bed or a hidden case as a good luck charm. It is when you showcase the pearl or pearls to the world that you get the true value for the pearl or pearls and enjoy the divine blessing.

Please, do not be like the man in the Philippines who found the current most expensive pearl in the world. It was only after his tiny home got burnt down and the pearl was found that the actual value of what he found and owned; a divine gift from God dawned on him. The man lived in penury for ten years while he had great wealth on him or with him. Significantly, he did not even labor for the wealth he was not aware of and which belonged to him. He found the pearl in a large clam as he went fishing. But unfortunately had no inkling of the value of the pearl of great worth except that it would make a great good luck charm which explains why he kept it under his pillow as a good luck charm. https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertanaas/2016/08/23/100-million-pearl-hidden-

Beloved, pearls are divine gifts from God to you to uplift you in life. If the man who found that great pearl knew the worth of the pearl, he would have traded it in for the money he had been working for all his life as a fisherman. But he was unaware which unfortunately is the case with a large number of people blessed with great divine gifts for actualizing purpose and making money. While the divine gifts may be latent or active, the agonizing truth is that a great number of people never actually get to know the value of the gifts and so they spend their lives in penury lamenting their poverty when actually great wealth resides in them. All they need is to come to an awareness of the value of the great deposit of God in their lives so that they can be prosperous and be forever free of poverty.

But awareness is not enough as a person laden with divine gifts also has to showcase the gifts as the Biblical Joseph did. If Joseph had not offered to interpret the dreams of the butler and the baker, he would not have had the opportunity of standing before Pharaoh. This is because the butler would not have known that Joseph could interpret dreams and therefore recommend him to Pharaoh. The Biblical Daniel also went to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to offer his services – he would tell the King his dream alongside the interpretation. After successfully interpreting the dream and of course getting handsome remuneration, Daniel became the official dream interpreter of not only the Babylonian court but also that of the Persians and Medes when they dethroned the Babylonians and took over the ruler ship of the empire.

How to Correct Negative Financial Behaviors 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Make God your source. The Bible records in Psalm 23 that God is your faithful Shepherd. As your faithful Shepherd, He will always provide for you; in point of fact meet all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus as stated in Philippians Chapter 4 verse 19. Additionally, if God is your source, you will always ask Him for what you need and desire; as well as trust Him to make them available to you through His chosen channels and not who you think should meet the needs. For all you care, the person you are looking up to; putting your trust in may not have the resources you require to either give to you or share with you. But God Who always uses unlikely channels so that His name is always glorified will always send the resources you require.

The widow of Zarephath accommodated and fed Elijah throughout the period of the famine. Please read 1^st Kings Chapter 17. Lydia the seller of purple in Thyatira provide for the Apostle Paul and his team. Some notable women in the Bible made ample provision for Jesus’ ministry. Please read John Chapter 8. The priest of Midian accommodated and fed Moses until Moses took on the job of shepherding the family flock. 

A good number of biblical characters made God their source and they did not lack whatever resources were required for their sustenance and advancement in life. You can do same and you will never be put to shame because God does not fail and those who trust in God are never put to shame.