Wealth and Religion - The Way I See It
By Sam Akowe
Motivational Speaker/Life Coach
Poverty is not a derivative of a particular religion or faith. It is a product of poor education, poor economic awareness, poor economic climate, poor planning, lack of opportunity, inadequate government policy to aid citizens and individual inability to identify and pursue activities that would otherwise guarantee success. As a direct consequence of one or a combination of some of the factors mentioned above, many of us wallow in abject poverty and go through life barely surviving. Generations of those affected by this trend tend to continue the unbroken lineage of poverty stricken families. On the other hand, affluent families and their descendants with good education, commercial heritage, inherited privileges, economic and political standing in society tend to continue to grow and multiply their wealth in society.
As individuals, we are architects of our own destiny and what we become. That may sound shallow, harsh indeed unreasonable thing to say. In my opinion, the truth is that everything in life has a price. People spend years in educational institutions studying for academic qualifications or learning a trade that they intend to use in pursuit of their careers. Some end up working for organisations as employees and others use their skills to create wealth for themselves by establishing their own companies or enterprise. In all, our level of success or lack of it will certainly depend on our contribution i.e. how hard we work, the industry in which we work or what we have to do and how prudent we are with our resources and accrued income. The onion therefore is upon us to acquire the discipline, skills, education and training that will put us in good stead to do that which will ensure success in what we do and influence on the position we occupy economically.
In extension therefore, it may be right to say that we are the architect of our own fortune or misfortune. We are responsible for whom we become and the position we occupy in life. It is no illusion or act of surprise that those who waste their precious time, particularly when they are young and should be in a learning institution or not focus on what they need to do to enable them achieve greatness end up as failures in life. While on the other hand, those who toil hard enough and meticulously planned their life achieve their goals, elevate them self and occupy position of respect and affluence in society. It is therefore very important that we cultivate and nurture a life strategy that will secure our future. This we do through parental guidance, education and training and generally remaining conscious of those things that will ensure our success and good character in life. The direct opposite of this is when we choose to be disobedient as a child, lazy, void of idea of what we want, non-responsive to stimulus gestures or directives, rebellious to constructive criticism and constituted authority.
When we fail to achieve our goals in life, we are confronted with all sorts of problems ranging from poor finance, failed marriages or relationship, unruly children, ill-health, indeed every disappointment imaginable, we develop the “give up” and “blame culture” syndrome. We resort to blaming everyone and everything around us, except ourselves, as factors responsible for what we have become. We surrender all efforts as they are not good enough and just lie and wait for some kind of miracle to take place in our lives. This is the point where most religious people resort to God for salvation. At this point, nothing else matter except their faith in God in whatever faith and religion they belong and worship; and his promise of miracles and total change in the lives of all those who believe. They have accepted that there is absolutely nothing they can do to influence any change in their lives. They have given up totally on anything or anyone else, apart from God to change them and their being.
Sam Akowe