LIVE YOUR SIZE PER TIME

Years back, when I wanted to marry, I needed a good accommodation. Having lived in my parents house, it never occured to me that getting a good accommodation would be stressful and expensive. Though my parents offered me a two-bedroom apartment in their house, I rejected it. Singles, it is not advisable you marry into thesame house your parents&siblings reside.

Most houses I saw then had something strange about them. All I needed was a decent room and parlour in my area but I couldn't afford it then. The total cost was over half a million. Two bedroom flat was a no go area because only millionaires could afford it.

I told someone that I needed a room and parlour in her area. I tried engaging her to search for me. Her response was "You are bigger than that. A room and parlour doesn't befit your status"( paraphrasing).

Thank God I didn't listen to her counsel. In a bid to keep up with the Joneses, I would have become indebted because of rent If I wanted to live up to a "status" I don't have. Eventually, I got what I wanted but in a different location where rent is less expensive. Today, I am not where I use to be by God's grace.

The point I am trying to drive at is this, live your size per time. There is a pidgin mantra here in Nigeria that says "No do pass yourself", meaning do nothing beyond your capacity. Some persons are living for "status". They are living for public opinion.

When you're young, you'll be tempted to think people are looking at you. You'll be tempted to live for those who do not exist only to realize at old age that no one was looking at you in the first place.

It is shameful that some believers are indebted to their landlords, children school and the grocer down the street. They live in houses they cannot afford and send their children to schools whose fees they can't pay conveniently.

In fact, some are wearing clothes they should have worn in their future today. Some sisters have on their heads wigs that can buy a plot of land. In a bid to look good, some men are wearing suits and shoes today that can secure their financial life.

The indiscretion of some believers in financial matters is tagged "Living by faith" whereas they are living in delusion. Trying to live "big" when you are not big is foolishness. In life, we grow in phases and increase in size per time.

A wise man said, "Life is in phases, men are in sizes". Learn to live your size per time while trusting God for increase. That is faith. I noticed a number of persons are living for public opinion. That is why they are indebted.

If you always have to take loan to pay rent, that house is beyond your income. You'll be working for landlords and making them rich while impoverishing yourself. That makes no sense financially. It is better to take loan to build your own house( because it is an asset whose value will increase over time) than to take loan to pay rent. To own is better than to rent.

This is not to say you cannot trust God for a better life. As people of faith, we should. However, while trusting God to increase us, we should avoid living for public opinion and stay within the confines of what we can afford.

Apostle Paul says, "I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little" ( Philippians 4:12 NLT).

Anyone who want you to live a luxurious life should fund it. If you're planning your wedding, don't let friends and families push you into debt. If they want it big, let them fund it. Life after wedding is longer and more demanding financially than just that day we call wedding day.

Stop living for today alone. Start living for tomorrow.