My Learning Today – 3rd September : ONLY SACRIFICE CAN AVERT THE PLAGUE

I am not sure if King David had another war to fight, because it was not stated. But I read that God was angry with Israel, so He incited David to take a census of Judah and Israel and enrol the fighting men.

Now, this was the same David praised in Scripture, Saul killed thousands, but David tens of thousands. When did statistics (the number of fighting men) suddenly become more important than trust in God, who had been guiding them to victory irrespective of numbers?

Scripture records that David was incited to do wrong because God was angry. Please don’t ask me what David did oh 😊 but I am certain he did not take another soldier’s wife this time 😊.

Not long after, the prophet Gad visited David. David already knew he had sinned, and Gad told him to choose his punishment. Wise David chose God’s punishment over man’s. (If you think he was wrong, try remembering a time when someone decided to “deal with you.” If men were gods… hmmm 😅).

Even with mercy, the punishment was great, 70,000 people died in a plague until God decided to show compassion after David’s plea.

To avert the plague, David was told to build an altar and make sacrifices. Someone offered him free land and even the articles for the sacrifice, but David said:

“I will not offer anything to God anything that costs me nothing.”

Immediately after the offering and sacrifice, the plague stopped.

After reading this, I looked up the word sacrifice. Grok.com defined it simply:

“Sacrifice means giving up something you value—like time, money, or comfort—to help others or achieve a greater goal.”

And the truth is this: nothing worthwhile can be built without sacrifice.

While writing, I thought about my family, our business, our country Nigeria, our church choir, and associations I belong to. The answer to progress was evident: SACRIFICE.

If you do not give up some of your time, money, or comfort, you cannot raise children better than yourself. You cannot provide for your family. Our businesses won’t grow. Nigeria will continue to under-develop.

I hope this makes sense to you, even though I know you may have always known it:

Progress takes SACRIFICE. And there is no place for ME or SELF when sacrifice is truly required.

Shalom.

What sacrifice are you making today for your family, business, or country? Share in the comments or join the conversation on www.askchuka.com

👉🏾 Read my earlier reflection on The Value of Friendship and Loyalty

Comments

My Learning Today – 16th August: IF YOU DO NOT WANT IT TO GO VIRAL, DO NOT SHARE IT

Can you really keep a secret once it leaves your lips? A few years ago, a close friend of mine was fired from his job over financial misappropriation, something our firm does not tolerate. Because he had served diligently, management recalled the dismissal letter and allowed him to tender a resignation instead. (Those in HR will understand the difference.) Since he was one of the most popular staff members and close to me, colleagues kept asking about him when he suddenly stopped showing up for two weeks. Under pressure, I let slip that he had been fired, not knowing the official story was that he resigned. That was enough for the office rumour mill to catch fire. Staff began digging for details, and when they finally pieced it together, my words confirmed the truth. Some reached out to him with sympathy. Others confronted him harshly, asking why he would ever stoop to behaviour “expected only from criminals.” He didn’t bother verifying the source. He simply called me, blasted me, warn...

My Learning Today – 20th August : STOP GOING TO PARTIES AND EVENTS EMPTY HANDED. E GET WHY.

Your little gifts today may be the open doors tomorrow. My friend Musa was in my office when I got an invitation to our mutual friend Paul’s birthday party. The invite clearly stated: “Access card valid for one person only.” For over an hour, Musa quietly waited for his own IV, until he finally asked: “Paul never send my own IV oh, abi him no want make I come?” Awkward moment. Weeks earlier, Paul had told me he wanted the party to be very exclusive. When I checked his guest list, Musa’s name was missing. I assumed it was a mistake, so I asked Paul. Smiling, Paul explained: “I don’t want people who never hold parties and never bring presents. They are always the first to arrive and the first to leave, with nothing in their hands.” Let me not lie, he hyped me small. He said he couldn’t remember me ever attending his house or events without a gift, even if it was something little from Jewel Publishers (like mugs, t-shirts, sports jerseys) or gadgets from Jewel Multiservices (like laptop...

DEBT IS A VERY BAD THING

You may not know me personally, but take this from me: DEBT COULD BE A TERRIBLE THING. As long as you owe someone, you remain their servant, no matter how talented or respected you are. Yesterday, while driving to work and enjoying my heavenly sandwich, I spotted Emeka in traffic and nearly lost my appetite. Why? I remembered how badly I suffered in his hands after I was duped of the money I had borrowed from him to fund a certain business opportunity. Let me gist you. When I went back to Emeka to explain what had happened, he empathised with me and even offered a payment plan since it was clear I couldn't return the money all at once. Sometime after, we were both invited to serve as panellists at a supply chain management event. I was the first to share my thoughts on a topic, which Emeka later disagreed with. But my take must have sounded more compelling, because I was asked to expand further. Crazy me (forgetting that my oga at the top was seated beside me), I took a whiteboar...

Ask Chuka

Search This Blog