The subject
matter is not a debate
It is neither a
show of strength
It is not a show
of shame
It is a mental
upgrade and alertness
It is a self
assessment and evaluation of wisdom status
It is a wakeup
call to what wisdom has to offer
I sincerely hope
you will embrace wisdom more in your daily life ©John Alabi
Think about
it
1.
Can one really be wise and be poor?
If
yes, the question would be; what then
is the essence of wisdom?
2.
Can the life of the wise be miserable? If yes, then why
not remain a Fool for life?
Meet the casts
1. The Poor
Being poor is relative
Being poor is inability to fly; fly you, your
dream, project and desire
Being poor is to be helpless, despised, frustrated
and incapacitated
Being poor is to be financially stranded and
stagnated
Being poor is inability to meet financial
obligations, needs and necessities as at when due
Being poor is not being okay
Being poor is to be uncomfortable
Being poor is to be imbalanced
2. The Rich
Riches here does not mean being materialistic
Wealth is the ability to have all your needs met
per time
Ability, capacity endowment, financial power to
make things happen to fulfill and execute your life assignment
Riches mean you are okay and comfortable
Riches mean
ability to have all your needs met per time. ©John Alabi
The acidic test
question
I like you to
understand that, one fundamental, acidic and litmus test question which most
often degenerates to endless debate is, ‘can
one be wise and be poor? I will not attempt to provide a seemingly perfect ‘answer’, but I will try to ‘respond’ to
it in the light of the scriptures. Perhaps this will settle some dusts, and if
possible, nail it. In your opinion – can
one be wise and be poor? ©John Alabi
Let’s
roll;
A.
Can one be wise and be poor? NO!
B.
Can one be poor and be wise? Yes!
Ponder on the
above assertions again, please.
Do you still
agree to this point? Are we on same page? In other words:
Lack, scarcity
and poverty are the evidential proof of foolishness in display.
Why did I say
this?
No
reference in the scriptures to justify ‘Wise but Poor’ but,
Two (2) references in the scriptures justify ‘Poor
but Wise’
In other words;
One CANNOT be wise and be poor, but
One CAN be poor
and be wise!
Note that the
simple but profound wisdom here is that:
i. Wisdom comes
first as a priority in ‘Wise but Poor’
ii. Wisdom comes
after as a posterior in ‘Poor but Wise’!
Let’s
roll…
‘Poor but Wise’ Versus ‘Wise but
Poor’!
It is possible
to be poor but wise. One may be tempted to say, ‘Poor but Wise and Vice Versa’.
No reference however in the scriptures to back up 'wise but poor'. In other
words, where wisdom comes first, prioritized, pursued, embraced, acquired and
applied early in life, you seldom see the wise that will end up being poor
materially. Consequently, you may find the ‘poor but wise’, but difficult, if
not impossible to find the ‘wise but poor’. Little wonder the Psalmist, in the
fourth and verses seven to nine summed it up thus: Wisdom should be given priority and proper place early in life and in
all your acquisitions, acquire understanding and discretion. For in doing this,
you will always have everything you need to live a good and joyful life.
(my paraphrase). The major problem with the larger society is 'putting the cart
before the horse' – A disconnect with wisdom early in life. To this end, rather
than the blessing pursuing and overtaking you, the reverse becomes the order of
the day. Truth be told, the pursuit today, of what ordinarily you would have
acquired long ago with little or no stress is a deficiency of wisdom in time
past. But, be encouraged to forge ahead with the pursuit and actualization of
your dream and aspiration. Time and age should not be a barrier. ©John Alabi
The case study
Poor Youth, Poor Man!
The two (2)
references that confirms ‘poor but wise’
are;
Eccl 4:13 says, Better a poor but wise YOUTH than an old but foolish king who no
longer knows how to take warning.
Eccl 9:15 says; Now there lived in that city a MAN poor but wise and he saved the city by
his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.
In Eccl. 4:13 he
was a Youth, poor but wise;
ascribed to be ‘better’ than old but
foolish king. Presumably, the same Youth became a Man in Eccl. 9:15,
still poor but wise! Although, he
conquered kingdom and delivered city by his wisdom at this point. Yet, he was
‘poor but wise’. Let’s pulse and ponder on this, why was he ‘poor but wise as a
youth and remain poor as a man?’ ©John Alabi
A recap,
please;
1.
There is nothing like – wise but poor! At least in the
light of the scripture!
2.
One CANNOT be wise and be poor – absolutely impossible!
Because, there is no scenario/case study to justify or reference this even in
the scriptures. However,
3.
There are two (2) scenarios to establish and justify ‘Poor
but Wise’. Notably and categorically:
One CANNOT
be wise and be poor, but,
One CAN
be poor and be wise!
4.
Thus being ‘Poor
but wise’ is practically applicable to 85% of world population today,
because very many were born ‘Poor!’
Broadly speaking,
four categories of people partake in the global and world economy and finance;
1. The Wise i.e.
The born rich that acquires wisdom = riches + wisdom
2. The Fool i.e.
The born rich that refuses wisdom = riches – wisdom
3. The Lazy i.e.
The born poor that acquires wisdom without Monetization Skill=Poverty+wisdom–ms
4. The Wiser
i.e. The born poor that acquires wisdom with Monetization Skill =Poverty+wisdom+ms
The
four categories of people operating the world economy and finance
Listed above are
the four categories of people operating in the world market and global economy.
You may simply identify where you fall.
1. The born rich that acquires wisdom
becomes Wise!
The essence of wisdom here is to maintain,
sustain, retain and multiply the wealth.
2. The born rich that refuses wisdom is
considered a Fool! Eg. Nabal, 1 Sam. 25:2-30.
If a
foolish person has money, it is
wasted. Why? Because that foolish person does not use the money to become wise. Prov. 17:16
May my lord pay no attention to
that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name — his name is Fool, and folly
goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master
sent. 1 Sam 25:25 NIV.
It is only a Fool that waste money and other
resources eg. Nabal and Prov. 17:16; 19:3 & 10.
He did not use his money to become wise – money
is a tool to become wise!
3. The born poor that acquires wisdom
without trading/marketing skill is called lazy
They are born poor but acquire wisdom, but
failed, or lacked the mechanism, modus operandi and skills to translate wisdom
to wealth.
It is only the ‘lazy’ that left his field
uncultivated. Proverbs 24:30-34.
It is only the ‘lazy’ that refused to trade his
talent by hiding it in the ground. In Matt. 25:24 His Master described him as
wicked and slothful. Lazy bone.
He believes in the future but do nothing to
program his desires and aspirations into the future
He has a vision statement but not mission
statement
4. The born poor that acquires wisdom plus
marketing/trading skill become wiser and wealthy
Poor but wise mean born poor, but acquire wisdom
to get out of poverty by translating it to wealth.
Just as being fat and potbelly are not signs of
healthy living; riches, prosperity, and wealth may not be signs that one is
wise or possess wisdom.
A fool can have or possess wealth or have it
bestowed on him. That’s why the Bible says use your money become wise. Proverbs
17:16; 19:3 & 10
The essence of wisdom here is to translate it to
wealth. Simple!
Going beyond surface
dressing ‘can one be wise and be poor?’
It is noteworthy that generally;
1.
The poor are somewhat always wise.
2.
The rich leverage on their wealth to become wise and
possibly wiser. Prov.17:16; 19:3 & 10
3.
How can one translate his wisdom to wealth?
Generally; the poor are somewhat always wise!
Perhaps for the hard knocks of poverty.
Nothing teaches you wisdom like poverty!
Nothing makes you rugged, dogged and desperate
like poverty
Because they always have enough to learn and
experiment with from their background.
The knowledge and wisdom gleaned and gained from
the experience of poverty can be invaluable and cannot be undermined
You suddenly become a philosopher –
philosophizing with everything
The best of talents, gifts, skills, potential,
deposit of abundance, natural and spiritual resources are always lock up in the
ghetto, and in the custody of the poor, the least expected places and
people.
Without any established statistics and survey;
i.
Many rich and wealthy
today decided to get out of poverty
ii.
Gather the rich and the poor together whether as
children or adults – the most likely serious, smart, intelligent, clever and
brilliant are most likely to be the poor!
iii.
The poor have a lot to fire them up to be the very best
in their chosen career or endeavor
iv.
One thing you cannot take away from the poor as
leverage out of poverty are their talents, gifting, potentials, skills,
experience, resources, knowledge and wisdom etc
Wealth may be bestowed … poverty is become
Wealth may be
sudden … poverty is a process
Wealth may be
natural … poverty is gradual
Yes I know wealth
as well is a process and is gradual. But I said that to nail a point;
You may be born
poor but that does not make you called ‘poor’
Kindly note the
following;
1.
The Bible never addressed the guy as ‘poor’ at birth up
to teenage years. There was no stigma on him as poor. Nobody stigmatized him
‘poor’ until he became a youth.
Not called ‘poor’ at birth
Not called ‘poor’ as teen or teenager (between age
0 - 19)
In other words,
you are expected to have changed your status by the time you become a youth.
You are expected to have taken responsibility for your change of status by the
time you become a youth. Prov 10:4 nails it ‘He becomes poor who works with a slack and idle hand, but the hand of
the diligent makes rich’. AMP. Thus the Proverbs justify the fact that
being ‘poor’ is become, not even inherited.
2.
Yet, the guy became ‘poor’ as a youth. Hence, called
‘poor’ as a sign that he was responsible for his ‘poverty’ status. It wasn’t
anybody’s fault but his. He became it himself. He blew the last chance he had
when he was consulted by the nation on security, defense and warfare. Yet, he
did not know how to key-in like Joseph did in Egypt. Worst still; he migrated
into becoming a man, poor! Still poor! Pity! Even with the heavy load of
wisdom!
He was not a Fool – he had wisdom needed by a
city or a nation as the case may be
He was not immature – he was once a youth, and this
time, a man. What then was his problem?
Laziness! It was
only a lazy man that left his field uncultivated. Only the Lazy knew what to do
but refused to do it. Only the Lazy knows so much (academically, educationally
and knowledge wise) but does so little or nothing with what he knows. Ugochukwu
of Joseph consulting Ltd nails it when he said, ‘until what you know becomes
what you do – you don’t know anything’.
He had wisdom, yet did not leverage on it
He had opportunity to showcase himself to global
limelight, but didn’t explore it
He had wisdom yet did not trade or market it.
He lacked the courage to monetize his potentials
He lacked courage to discuss money matter
He lacked the courage to talk business
He lacked courage to network, socialize and
enter into MOU, partnership and relationship How can the poor but wise translate his wisdom into wealth?
Translating wisdom to wealth
Have you ever
sat down to ask why the Youth who became a Man remained Poor even with the
heavy-load of wisdom resources in his custody? Many reasons but principally; I
can authoritatively say;
He simply lacked money making ability and
courage.
He is always shy, timid and ashamed to discuss
money matters.
He simply lacked the initiative to
negotiate business deals. If you don’t believe, ask yourself – what would it
cost him to negotiate or enter into
MOU with the king and the citizenries of the city? What would it cost him to
demand royalty annually from the City and the King for consultation service he
rendered? Do you think he would remain poor, be despised and forgotten if these
were done? I don’t think so. Learn to sell and market you and all yours.
He simply didn’t know how to commercialize,
trade, exchange, and market the heavy deposit of resources in him. So many
degree holders in marketing cannot even market themselves and they want to
market a product. Moneymaking ability is evidential to how foolish or wise you
are. Before prospecting a client, they buy into YOU first.
You must learn to commercialize, trade, market and exchange everything you have:
talents, gifts, skills and resources for monetary value and reward.
This is the juncture where most
intelligence, education and certificates are defeated. So many are so wise, educated
and so intelligent to be poor! Wealth does not answer to education,
intelligence or whatever but to trading. That is why those with little or no
former education or certificates seems to have upper hands. Selah! ©John
Alabi
The takeaway
1.
Wisdom does not automatically translate to wealth until
it is exchanged for financial reward
2.
It is crystal clear that ‘Wisdom’ is not enough to make
you rich/wealthy except you were born into wealth. This we saw from our case
study Eccl. 4:13 & 9:15
3.
It is also crystal clear ‘Foolishness’ does not mean
you cannot be wealthy. You can find money in the hands of Fools by the act of
providence, begging or hard work. If the Fool ‘Works’ for it he would have
money, Prov. 30:22. And the ‘Wise’ may remain poor if he doesn’t learn to
monetize, commercialize, trade and market the heavy load of wisdom resources in
him. Little wonder the acclaimed Fools can make money without wisdom in them.
Why? Because, they did what the wise are not doing. What? Yes you heard me
right.
4.
Wealth and possession may not be signs of wisdom but they
are expression, manifestation, demonstration and reflection of how wise you are.
5.
Wealth is the mirror of wisdom; poverty is a shadow of
foolishness
6.
The acidic test question for wisdom is what have you
done and achieved with it?
7.
Don’t tell how wise you are – show how wisdom has
better your lot.
8.
There is need to translate wisdom into wealth.
9.
Those who will not pay for your service (even when they
can afford it) cannot appreciate, celebrate and acknowledge your worth, wisdom
and value. Hence cannot reference you even where and when it worked for them.
De-emphasize such.
10. From
the above submission, the problem of the youth and the man in Eccl. 4:13 &
9:15 was simply not a deficiency of wisdom or resources to make wealth but
laziness. Interestingly, even the scriptures did not accuse him of being
foolish. Only the lazy had/have all the resources available at his/her finger
tips but do nothing, as in absolutely nothing with it to make wealth. ©John Alabi
