I’m Dr. Charles Apoki, and today I want to share a message about the importance of being a history maker, not just a storyteller.
In my book, I mentioned the story of Gehazi, the servant of Elisha. Gehazi was supposed to inherit a double portion of Elijah’s anointing, yet he performed no miracles. Despite his close association with Elisha, Gehazi had nothing to show for it. When a king invited him to recount the miracles of Elisha, all he could offer were stories.
This reminds me of a recent reunion I attended. One man stood up and shared his career achievements—working in high-paying jobs in prestigious countries. But, when people looked at him, they saw no evidence of those achievements. Life will ask you hard questions. What do you have to show for your years of work?
My wife often tells me not to preach about entrepreneurship unless I can show results. You see, life does not care about your excuses. It will ask: “What do you have to show for all the years spent abroad, in church, or in ministry?” The world looks for evidence, not just your words.
I remember a pastor who died without even owning a house. Despite doing great work within his ministry, he had nothing to show for it. One young man asked, “Whose fault is that?” and I learned a hard lesson: it’s important to build something for yourself, even as you help others.
A salary is just an indicator of surplus labor. As Karl Marx said, your employer profits from your work. So, ask yourself: how much of that salary can you use to create wealth for yourself? What investments do you have?
Your income is like the years of plenty in Egypt, which should be saved and invested. If you don’t save and grow your wealth, you’ll be like those who consumed everything in the years of abundance and had nothing when times got tough.
Consider the things you spend your money on—seminars, luxurious experiences, and more. They are not yours. What do you have to show for it? When you retire, the titles, the glamour, and the protocols will be gone. All you’ll have left is your story.
As I reflect on my own journey, I know that faith without results is foolishness. Don’t let your life be filled with excuses. Be wise, and start thinking about the future now.
In 2025, make sure you have something to show for your years. Don’t become a storyteller of past achievements without tangible evidence.
Remember: a word is enough for the wise.
God bless you.
