The Consequences of Idleness

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Wandering – In 1^st Timothy Chapter 5 verses 1 to 15, the widows are described as gossips and busybodies, tell tales interfering in people’s lives, sowing discord among brethren, creating problems among people, constituting themselves into authors of strife and contention, accusing people. Please read 1^st Thessalonians Chapter 4 verses 11 to 12 and 2^nd Thessalonians Chapter 3 verses 6 to 12. Though the devil and his cohorts accuse the children of God daily, there are ways to overcome them daily – the blood of Jesus Christ, the word of God and your testimony of victory in Christ Who gives you the victory at all times as well as putting God first. Please read Revelation Chapter 12 verses 9 to 11 and Job Chapter 1 verses 6 to 7.

Covetousness – in the book of 1^st Kings Chapter 21, the Bible records that King Ahab for want of nothing to do coveted the property of one of his subjects, Naboth. Additionally, Ahab took a step further to acquire the property by approaching the subject to sell the property to him. When the subject refused to sell, he was upset and sulked all day. How idle can a person be! A King did not think of improving the quality of lives of the people he ruled over; he did not care about development projects that would benefit the people; he did not reflect on issues of equity and justice in the land and did not bother to learn from the successes of Kings like David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah as well as others who impacted the lives of the people positively. Rather, King Ahab immersed himself in coveting after other people’s properties; and pathetically, the property of his subject.

Idleness was also the reason King David saw Bathsheba. While other kings and warriors were busy at the battle lines, David idled time away on the roof top not thinking about the weightier issues of state but focused his attention and desires on a naked woman bathing. Rather than tame whatever desires were stirred in him particularly so when he discovered that the beautiful woman he could not wait to devour was the wife of one of his subjects who was busy at the battle lines; he proceeded to the sin of adultery and as if that was not bad enough, he attempted to cover his sin the moment he discovered that the woman was pregnant. But when his attempts at cover up failed, David, the man greatly beloved by God and many people resorted to murder. How unfortunate that a person like David who always invested time fell into the trap of the enemy simply because he chose a moment of idleness. Unfortunately, the consequences of David’s action were dire – he lost the child from the sinful liaison and but for the mercy of God, he would have lost the throne. Please read 1^st Samuel Chapters 11 to 19.

The Truth about Money

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

One of the truths about money is that money always has to be earned. The widow of the indebted prophet trading oil in packed vessels to earn the money which was required to pay off the family debt as well as earn additional money to live on for the rest of their lives. Please read 2^nd Kings Chapter 4 verses 1 to 7. Also, please take note of the command from Elisha to the widow in verse 7 “Go and sell the oil and pay off your debts; you and your sons live on the rest”. Selling the oil implies trading a much required resource useful in majority of homes for the urgently required money to free her sons from debt bondage. It is also instructive to note that the prophet commanded her to sell and not to do free distribution – SELL and make the money urgently required to pay off the debts and have money to live on. This is very very instructive and significant. SELL! SEEL!! SELL!!!

The virtuous woman of Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 10 to 31 made linen garments which she sold. She also supplied sashes to the merchants. Please read verse 24. The Bible also records that she bought a field and planted a vineyard from the profits she made. The vineyard was planted to earn and make additional money. This implies that a virtuous woman earns and makes money to augment the payment of the family bills.

Lydia in the Bible is described as a seller of purple – the expensive clothes of her day. The Bible also records that she sold them. She did not give them away for free. Rather, she accommodated and hosted the ministers of God with money earned from her trade that gave her a decent accommodation and good feeding money. Please read Acts Chapter 16 verses 14 to 14.

Aquila and Priscilla made tents and sold them to earn and make money for their upkeep. The Apostle Paul who was also skilled at tent making joined them or became their partner and also earned his upkeep from tent making. Please read Acts Chapter 18 verses 1 to 3. It is therefore not surprising that the Apostle Paul did not permit idleness in the Church. He instructed everyone to work and earn money for their upkeep. Please read 1^st Thessalonians Chapter 2 verses 11 to 12.

Something of value always has to be traded for money. It could be physical such as brute physical strength in working the land, lifting weights, participating in sporting activities and anything that requires physical strength. It could also be intellectual prowess where a person’s intellectual prowess is traded for money. It could be military prowess or expertise, or any great talent such as acting, singing, drawing, sculpting, painting, drawing, dancing, sewing, designing, etc.

From Obscurity to Limelight

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them. 1^st Samuel Chapter 2 verses 7 to .

God is the one who makes a person great. God has control of the universe in his hands. Please see Romans Chapter 6 verse 14. He is also still in the business of raising the poor out of the dust and sitting them among princes 1^st Samuel Chapter 2 verse 8. God promises to take His children from one level of glory to another. God sometimes takes people out of obscurity into limelight by shedding His glory on them. God in His infinite mercy and great love sheds His glory on as many people who honor Him irrespective of their ages. Samuel was a youth yet He received the glory of God and was used by God to speak to Eli and his family and later the nation of Israel. You can also be used of God today and beyond and become globally famous, relevant and significant to humanity. Therefore, seek and revere His glory.

The favor of God always takes people from the dust and ash heap positions of life to royalty, wealth, significance and honor in life. When God favors you, He is giving you springboards and leverages to become who He designed you to be from the foundation of the world. It is my prayer that God in His infinite wisdom of election and purpose will favor you on all sides in Jesus mighty. God Who ordered your steps to this blogpost will certainly favor you with the dew of heaven and the treasures hidden in the sands.

Beloved, it is wonderful to be young, desirous of greatness and limelight especially when you are full of life, great ideas, strength and friends as well as a loving family. However, you need the favor of God to accomplish divine purpose so that you can soar to God’s heights for your life. Therefore, press for the favor of God.

God raised David to become King in Israel, Joseph to become Prime Minister in Egypt, Esther as Queen in the land of captivity and Daniel as a respected and high ranking official in Babylon on account of the favor of God upon their lives. You are destined for the top. Therefore give God quality praise with your youth and strength and talents and trust Him to orchestrate the move from obscurity and poverty to limelight and wealth. The Bible says that the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut short. My prayer is that God will grant your expectations in Jesus mighty name.