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FAVOUR OVER LABOUR: OUR RELIGIOUS EXCUSE FOR UNEXPLAINABLE SUCCESS
I had the idea of what I wanted to write last year and I thought I had it saved in my head. I will try not to bore you by belabouring the point and hopefully, deliver it as initially prepped.
I had the idea of what I wanted to write last year and I thought I had it saved in my head. I will try not to bore you by belabouring the point and hopefully, deliver it as initially prepped.
This piece in deliberately written not to offend and the writer's intention is to start a conversation. I am more interested in your views than my penmanship in addressing the topic. Please bear with me.
Nigeria reeks of a people kwashiorkored from failed political promises who have overtime become accustomed to the fine act of polished long suffering. But Nigeria also suffers from an overpopulation of the impressionables –
Impressionables who ought to know better but do not think they deserve to know the truth.
On one beautiful Sunday, following Forbe’s release of the list of the Africa’s richest pastors, in which Oyedepo came 1st with a networth of $150 million, he took to the pulpit...
On one beautiful Sunday, following Forbe’s release of the list of the Africa’s richest pastors, in which Oyedepo came 1st with a networth of $150 million, he took to the pulpit...
..... to dismiss the monetary worth attributed to him, calling it small and stated that his net worth cannot be measured because his blessing is from above.
Long term worshippers at Africa’s 2nd largest auditorium would attest to one of his popular flash back series in which God told him “My son David, even if you don’t want to be rich, it is too late.”
This piece is not about Oyedepo or Nigerian pastors who are stupendously wealthy in the name of the Lord. This is about the nocuous attribution of success to the unknown.
Shortly after his move to Manchester United, Nigerian footballer, Odion Ighalo tweeted the following – “Favour Over Labour.”
Religiously, it is easy to align with it but logically, many things were unsaid. He had EPL experience and was having a good season in China.
Religiously, it is easy to align with it but logically, many things were unsaid. He had EPL experience and was having a good season in China.
What was also unsaid was how he had to disturb club officials and his agent at midnight to let him go to Man U and infact, take a pay cut to push the move through. The problem with his tweet is not that it is untrue but it leaves much to be understood.
Generally and without much ado, Nigeria is a nation of much untraceable wealth. Maybe that is normal but the this piece focuses on the dawn of success.
We live in a country where accounts are not monitored or flagged and anyone could wake up to become a millionaire overnight. Ghost workers are the order of the day but we have managed to convince ourselves that if poverty cannot be questioned, wealth should not be questioned.
Thus, people who get government contract, having greased the palms of the elite, run to church to return glory to God. Civil servants who collect bribes before doing the job for which they are paid also ascribe all glory to God.
Nigeria being Nigeria, the above stated reality, like over 100 other survival tactics in the corruption laden nation are guiltless offences. It is as normal as a Chinese drinking tea. However, be corrupt enough to return glory to God as that is the way to the heart of the people.
Among the younger population, prostitution at different levels, kidnapping/ransome, Armed robbery, cyber crime, political thuggery prevail amidst legitimate hustle in a country that desperately seeks to frustrate you.
Like the older elites, they return glory to God. Where it gets ridiculous is when a prostitute feigns anger and act insulted when anyone insinuate the wealth is rooted in transactional sex and fires the exclamation “do you know how hard I work?” and go on to thank God for grace.
The ones involved in fraud & other illicit businesses give off responses along the line of “Baba na God ooo. We just dey do am small small.” Every answer is an answer because to press further is to be a suspect and we hate to offend the rich lest they remind us we are broke.
We no longer ask question or demand accountability. We rather grovel because you have to be happy for others so God will do your own. But how exactly is God going to do your own when you have decided to be ignorant on the success secret?
“YOU DON’T KNOW HOW HARD I WORKED”
This is second most popular excuse for unexplainable wealth. It literally means nothing because everyone works hard and hardwork doesn’t automatically translate to success. You were working hard doing what exactly? Please specify.
This is second most popular excuse for unexplainable wealth. It literally means nothing because everyone works hard and hardwork doesn’t automatically translate to success. You were working hard doing what exactly? Please specify.
I personally believe those who say these things don’t want you to succeed like them. Perhaps, they cannot make public what they did to avoid judgement but that is difficult to understand considering the cultural terrain, as you all know - Ole ni everybody.
When the disprivileged defend this folly with excuses, like “men will slut shame you” to “you did not question the source of his poverty, why are you worried about the source of his wealth” or my favourite “be happy for others , so God will do your own,” I wonder the motivation.
With the way we give glory to God for ill gotten wealth, I am convinced we hold Him in very low esteem.
The dishonesty in these defences exist because the average Nigerian hopes to get their illegitimate pay day. Why do you question politicians' wealth if source don't matter?
The dishonesty in these defences exist because the average Nigerian hopes to get their illegitimate pay day. Why do you question politicians' wealth if source don't matter?
Some kowtow to the rich because they expect to profit from give away. For some, it is about defending their gender but why aren’t you getting the same success despite putting twice more effort than them in the business they told you they are doing?
How do you earn the same salary but the account is 12 times yours? This is akin to beautiful ladies with very healthy skin care routine attributing their flawless skin to drinking water as though the rest of us drink piss.
Interestingly, people with legitimate source of wealth are also guilty of hoarding success secret. It is insulting to run a known successful business and attribute your success to sleeping only 4 hours daily. Have you heard of Lagosians? They do that by default.
This piece does not question your moral compass or slate your source of income. Life happens to everyone and the strong do what they can to survive. However, it is necessary to take responsibility for these decisions and own it.
Illegal or immoral jobs are not as easy as people claims and one has to deal with the overriding consequences that comes with it. However, in talking about your success, be honest about the real source rather than editing the aspire to perspire speeches in your own words.
“Child of Grace” is not a success secret. Don’t be like Oyedepo who owns a primary school, secondary school, University, publishing house, over 50 published books, very big on realty and runs a mega church yet claims he doesn’t take a dime from any but gets his blessing from God.
If you are into business, If you got a job, if you got contract, if you run street, If you got scholarship, if you got a promotion - tell friends/mentee how you did it, who to meet, who to bribe, who to sleep with, how to study - whatever you did or know is the way out.
I know we are religious and like to ascribe every glory to God t cover our mortal sins and short comings but don't leave people second guessing themselves by giving vain glory to God while intentionally withholding the truth from them. Better to say nothing than to mislead.
Delusion is an opium but you don’t have to take it. Believing nonsense will not bring you success. There is no secret of success – when you get successful, whatever you say is taken as a secret. One day, I will tell the world my secret is that I don’t eat breakfast.
But seriously, legitimately or illegitimately, tell others how you made it so they can fully understand your story and decide for themselves if they want to toe that part. We rise by lifting others and you won’t lift them by feeding them lies.
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
- Eccl 10 vs 15
Please show others the road to the city and stop watching them labour foolishly. Peace, Love and Spaghetti
- Eccl 10 vs 15
Please show others the road to the city and stop watching them labour foolishly. Peace, Love and Spaghetti
