By Olubunmi Adebayo
*Please consider the following two stories :*
*A) He has always been very brilliant while in school. In fact, he made a straight 7 distinctions ie, A1 out of his 8 WAEC papers when he sat for his O/L Exams.*
*He was the most brilliant of his peers all through his 1st and 2nd Degrees in the university, before proceeding for his PhD program.*
*He was on the way towards becoming the youngest Vice Chancellor in Africa when God doubled-crossed his journey of destiny and redirected his path.*
*When he was sure God was calling him into full time ministry, he left his university lecturing job, and his vision of becoming the youngest VC to embrace the call of God.*
*Under the new situation, he left his official duplex accommodation at Ilorin for a one room apartment at Mushin in Lagos.*
*One night, while praying to God, he pleaded with God to please give him one 3-bedroom apartment for his family that would soon join him in Lagos, and God spoke to him :*
*”Don’t ask me for a 3-bedroom apartment, because I will build you a city.”*
*Today, that city is coming up at the Redemption Camp in Lagos, now called Redemption City of God.*
*The person I am talking about about here is – Pastor E A Adeboye.*
*I ask you again, would you have submitted to being taught, mentored and guided by a stark illiterate with your PhD degree?*
*B) He was the most hated of the entire sons in the palace of the king.*
*He was talked about everywhere he turned to, because of his mother who allowed the king to sleep with her, when her husband was at the warfront fighting for the nation.*
*Her husband – Urial, was eventually killed by the same king who fathered him through a letter sent to the Commander at the warfront that he should send Urial to the hottest part of the war, and withdraw support from him thereafter – what a wickedness!*
*Solomon grew up as a child who had no friends among his siblings.*
*But when he was appointed king over Israel,he asked for wisdom to govern the nation and lead the people right.*
*God responded this way :*
*1 Kings 3:[5] In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.*
*[6]And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.*
*[7]And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.*
*[8]And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.*
*[9]Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?*
*[10]And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.*
*[11]And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;*
*[12]Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.*
*In the humility and simplicity of the heart, Solomon asked for wisdom, but he got much more from God.*
*Please understand that humility is not weakness in the journey of life.*
*Rather, it is strength under control. Therefore to each of us, know that there are “battles”that pride will lose, but which humility will win.*
*Humility will easily accomplish the following life battles for you :*
*A) The Battle of Ego and Pride : your desire to always be right, always be seen, always be on top. Humility will tell you to tread softly softly.*
*Humility will open you up to learn, to listen to corrections, and growth thereby. Proud people stop growing because they can’t be taught. Humble people keep rising because they stay teachable. Remember – “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).*
To be concluded tomorrow, God willing.
Top of the day to you 👍
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
