Other than the fact that my name is Ijeoma Unachukwu, people seem to think that there are a lot of things not igbo about me. First, they say, "Ijeoma, how is a right handed Igbo girl like you only able to count money with her left hand?" I know right? How is that a thing sef? Apparently, my Igbo friends say it points to my grave disrespect for money. They make it look a taboo, like when you collect something from an elder with your left hand.😂😂 Is it that deep?
When I look back, maybe they were right. Maybe I didn’t value money as much as I should have. Because I almost always had enough or knew the people that did. And as long as I was able to take care of myself, that was enough for me. But something changed this year. And it would have changed for anybody who started out this with year like I did:
unemployed. All of a sudden Money had value. And this girl could miraculously count money with every part of her body including her toes sef.😂 Don’t get me wrong oo, I wasn’t hungry and begging. It was anything but that. There was just so much to do and money felt like a great obstacle to doing them. Kai, money did me strong thing. I mean I was so worried I was having sleep disorders. I did not sleep for 3 good nights. Guys, it was only in this year I knew this saying was no joke:
Them get some kind sickness wey only bank alert fit cure. Walahi, I was having a melt down.😞 So much worry, still no money. So I told myself "Ijeoma, issa wrap! I'm not doing again. I don't have the money"
But one day as I desperately flipped through scripture to steady my mind, I saw an almost archaic verse that usually meant nothing to me.
You cannot serve God and money at the same time. You will hate one and love the other.
Stay with me, stay with me, I'm not about preaching. I could see the over familiar stale words in black ink but for some reason, I could hear something more profound in my heart. It couldn’t be me he was talking to.
Abi did anybody see me pursuing money, greedily or not paying my tithe?, 👀👀 As I tried to gloss over the passage again, I realized I was stuck. Maybe, there was more to this text. Maybe I didn’t have to be greedy or stingy to serve money. Maybe, there was another group of people who still ingeniously served money: Most them products of their experiences, people who had gone through life managing money at every point. Maybe they had gone overboard and now money was managing their dreams. Worse of all, maybe they didn't know.
Now I’m sure you are saying, Ijeoma keep quiet joo, does that mean that money is somebody's god? But what makes a god a god mbok? Isn’t it the fact, that you let it dictate what you can or cannot do? Your capabilities and limitations? Ok, let me explain. Asides from my recent weight gain
,(please its not your business) the only reason I am not dressed like the flash running up and down, is because God has placed a limitation on my speed. So despite all my appeals to God, I have to walk from point A to B like every other mortal in slow motion. Why? because by God's design I don’t have the capacity to run like the flash. I just can’t do it because he says I can’t. Now when you let the presence or otherwise of money dictate whether you can start a business, go to school or amount to anything in life, no be god be that?
I know some of you are still thinking you are not a part of this group. But how many times have you let lack of money stop you from doing what you really want to do or pursuing a dream. How many business ideas have you let money kill? Dreams of furthering education massacred? Because each time you do this: let money tell you what you can or cannot have, you are no different...
drops mic
As the previous chairman of this covert money serving group,
adjusts my agbada, I feel like I still have to give you a brief profile, just in case you want to know what they really look like. For these people eh, when they have money, they worry about losing it and don’t use it to pursue their dreams, and when they don’t have it, they worry about how to get it. In other words, they are too much of a boss, that money can't win with them.
Their case is really in heaven. In my opinion, what they really serve is the presence or lack it. And for some reason, when they don’t have it they feel paralyzed, like they can't do jack.
So in reality, what they are saying is that the extent to which they can go in life is dependent on how much money they have in their wallet. Eventually, their sense of lack overwhelms them so much that they despise God.
But can I say the truth? The thing is when you let money determine your potential in life, you forget that most of the greatest people on earth used what we generally referred to as
nothing to gain
everything.
I think it shows that perhaps the currency for your dreams may not be money. And maybe, just maybe, if you had the right mindset, what you have i.e, your determination and skill set, may just be enough to get you what you need which includes, money.
Selah. Abeg pause and think about this paragraph. Its deep
I have said all these to say one thing. You may not have all the money in the world but you do have a choice. Its either you choose God or money. And if you really choose God to be your God, I’m sure you will realize that asides from being a speedster, there are really no limits. No impossibilities.
So do you know what I do now, when I hear lack yelling so loud in my heart trying to intimidate me or my dreams and I am tempted to worry about all the things I may never do or the heights I may never attain because I lack money, I remind my self of one thing, I serve God not money and then I continue on my course. Only God determines my limits and I will become every single thing he says I will become. So let me tell you the truth, Guys, we have to pursue our dreams.
Just start out, Money will never come until you do.
However, I wish to proffer you a more superior and infallible currency. A currency that defiles all money, cash and cheque, just because it can fetch you the world and a whole lot more:
Faith, for with it,
Everything is possible and that includes your dreams...
Never give up!
Thank you for reading. Please if this has helped you in any way, can you please share? Can you also comment on what money has stopped you from doing? and what you didn't let money stop you from doing. I know I would like to learn from you!
