One of the greatest threats to wealth is the habit of consuming everything we earn.
Many people work hard, earn good salaries, and acquire valuable properties. Yet their wealth disappears because they never develop the discipline of delayed gratification.
Worse still, they sometimes raise children who inherit their appetite for consumption but not their ability to generate income.
👨👩👧👦 Are We Raising Children Who Will Consume Our Wealth?
We send our children to expensive schools, buy them expensive things, and give them lifestyles they may not be able to afford when they graduate.
We say, “I don’t want my children to suffer!”
But if we don’t teach them financial responsibility, what happens when they cannot maintain that lifestyle?
They may begin selling the properties we worked so hard to acquire.
I have observed this problem in the Niger Delta, where family wealth sometimes fails to survive from one generation to another.
Don’t just leave wealth for your children. Teach them how to preserve and multiply it.
🍲 Don’t Have the Spirit of Esau!
Esau sold his birthright for a meal because he was hungry.
He exchanged something of lasting value for immediate satisfaction.
That is what happens when we allow our appetites to control our decisions.
We buy things we cannot afford, spend money we haven’t earned, and accumulate debt to maintain appearances.
I call this the spirit of Esau: consuming today without adequate consideration for tomorrow.
The world is full of businesses competing for your money. Fashion, entertainment, automobiles and consumer credit constantly offer opportunities to spend.
You must learn to distinguish between what you want and what you genuinely need.
🐜 The ant prepares for tomorrow. Learn from the ant!
🙏 Miracles Should Not Replace Responsibility
When Jesus multiplied bread and fish, it did not prevent people from going fishing the next day.
Neither did it eliminate the need for bakeries!
We will always need bakeries! 😂
I believe in miracles, but we should not use our expectation of divine intervention as an excuse to neglect planning, hard work and financial discipline.
Pray, but also prepare.
Believe, but also work.
Trust God, but don’t consume everything He has enabled you to earn.
📚 Small Beginnings Can Produce Lasting Wealth
I published my first book with just ₦35,000 that a company owed me.
That money helped me turn material from our family devotion into a published book.
What began with a relatively small amount eventually became a meaningful source of income.
I also generate income from everyday products such as garri.
During one of my messages, I received an alert of ₦18,000 from garri sales.
That money can help me meet expenses or reinvest in farming.
Nothing is too small in your hands if you recognize its potential and develop it.
You don’t always need millions to begin creating wealth.
Sometimes you need patience, consistency, hard work, determination and intentionality.
🔥 Final Word: Don’t Eat Your Future!
Your income should not exist only to satisfy today’s appetite.
Set something aside. Build reserves. Develop assets. Reinvest where appropriate.
And teach your children the value of earning, saving and managing money.
Don’t consume everything you earn today and leave yourself with nothing tomorrow.
Remember Esau. Remember the ant.
🐜 Build for tomorrow while you still have something in your hands today!
💬 Let’s Discuss
Do you think parents are doing enough to teach their children financial discipline and delayed gratification?
Share your thoughts in the comments!
