JAN 21, 2020
Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 6:6-11
Memory Verse: But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6
The story is told of a Senior Manager of a bank whose salary in Year 2002 was meagre. Some of his peers were paying rents as much as #600,000.00 per annum, but he was lucky to have a landlord who wouldn’t bother to increase rent for several years and he took advantage. When he had his last son about 20 years ago, he had the urge to move into a better environment, just because of the planned christening. He began to feel uncomfortable that the environment he lived wasn’t posh for his colleagues and friends, even though it was a comfortable and spacious three bedroom flat, although the road leading to the house wasn’t tarred and that became a major concern.
But his good wife insisted it made no sense to rent another expensive apartment just to impress when they were already developing theirs, and that the money for the rent could be channeled to their house project. He reluctantly agreed to her wise counsel. Few months down the line, they moved into their own house. Why should you impress anyone by the way you live your own life? There is so much peer pressure in our society leading to all manner of crimes and discontentment. Everyone wants to live big, everyone wants to drive the latest luxury car even when they cannot afford it. Everyone wants to live in an expensive house and throw big parties beyond their means.
Our religious houses are not helping matters as contentment is rarely preached. They say we serve a big God of miracles, and it is all about financial blessings. While God wants us to be wealthy, He passes us through various financial phases to grow us per time. He expects us to embrace each phase on our way to the top. Some have gone into debts because of just one weekend of wedding. How can you earn a salary of #4 million per annum but want to live in a high brow area paying a rent of #3 million just to belong to the class of the big boys? Now, your friends are going on vacation, why must you go borrowing in order to fit in. Be yourself. Men are in sizes and life is in phases.
You see your friends sending their children to school abroad, and you put yourself under pressure to do the same when your annual income can’t cover your child’s foreign tuition for a year. That’s no wisdom. Schooling abroad has never been a guarantee for success. There are many third class graduates who employ first class brains and pay their salary (I am not encouraging mediocrity, anyway). Stop putting yourself under unnecessary pressures. Live within your means. Happiness is a choice you make irrespective of what you have, and it has no direct correlation with what you have.
Quote: Live within your means. One day at a time.
Prophetic Decree: Hasty spirit, die, in Jesus name.
Prayer Focus
1. I refuse the mad rush of this generation, in Jesus name.
2. Spirit of contentment and godliness, envelope my life, in Jesus name.
3. I call forth my soul and I command you to stand on the principles of the Word of God, in Jesus name.
4. I rebuke quick rich mentality, in Jesus name.
5. O Lord, improve my financial status from one level of glory to another, in Jesus name.
6. Poverty mindset, die, in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 27-29