Thursday, 2nd November 2023
Bible Reading: Micah 2:1-3, 1 Timothy 6: 6-10, Ecclesiastes 1:2
Memory Verse: Money that comes easily disappears quickly, but money that is gathered little by little will grow. Proverbs 13:11 (NCV)
At the height of his fame and wealth, he was the toast of musicians and big babes because of his generosity and his large pocket. When asked about his fraud background and how he made money, he said, ‘Yahoo is not a crime; rather, he collected from those who stole from his ancestors.’ What a defence! He invested the money by starting different businesses including a romance soft-sell publication.
He founded a colour printing business that printed for some notable newspapers. He also had a security company. He was a big player in the real estate business in Lagos with over 100 buildings to his name. Just one man! He once confessed that he had 3 billion naira in a bank in 1990.
He had a retinue of babes as side chicks, as it was said that he could camp a woman at a hotel without seeing her for 3 months because they were so many camped in different guest houses and hotels, and he was taking turns sleeping with them, one after the other. He once paid a bill of 86 million naira for his guests at a prominent hotel.
He was ‘so big’ that he had a permanent room which incurs daily bills at a luxurious hotel in the 90’s. Car dealers also loved him. He drove luxury cars and was always among the first to drive a new Rolls-Royce in Nigeria whenever the manufacturer released it. He has up to 59 cars in his garage, which include Bentleys, SUVs, and Rolls-Royces.
Today, in his early 60s’ you can only reminisce of the good days, as all he has now are memories of the lavish life that he once lived and the women he once slept with. He is now a shadow of himself as he drives a taxi in Lagos to pay his bills. All his hangers-on, sycophants, girlfriends, side chicks, and even the men he raised from poverty have abandoned him to his poverty except one who rented a house for him and takes care of his bills. This was a man who used to have properties in GRA.
All his properties have been sold off at a give-away price because his family knew he was broke and leveraged on that to buy the properties at a ridiculously below-market price. Also, he had a drug addiction problem, so he was selling the properties at a ridiculous price to feed his addiction. His wife abandoned him too as she moved with the kids abroad. His “Grace to Grass” story is a lesson for my generation to ponder.
Stay away from Yahoo and fraud. Fraud does not pay. It is a short-term solution and pleasure, and all that money will end up going down the drain. It was easy for him to lose everything because he did not work hard for it; rather, he made it through fraud, which is the easy way. The only way to be wealthy is to work hard with your hands, invest and be financially smart. Building wealth is progressive, but when you succeed, it is rewarding and worthwhile. Anything more than this is a fluke and not sustainable.
N.B: Have you been involved in any fraud, repent, confess and restitute today.
Quote: Godliness with contentment is great gain – 1 Timothy 6:6
Prophetic Decree: Be free from the love of money at the detriment of your eternal soul, in Jesus name.
Prayer Focus
1. Lord, I repent of all financial misdealings, in Jesus name.
2. Holy Spirit, please kill any appetite for sin in my heart, in Jesus name.
3. I receive a heart that pants after righteousness, in Jesus mighty name.
4. I receive power to make wealth in wisdom and in patience, in Jesus name.
5. I receive financial wisdom and financial intelligence, in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 19