MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF GOD AND BE WISE
BE WISE AND MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF GOD
When we were much younger the yellow taxi was one of the ways to move around besides the public buses. They had no particular or organised billing system. The fares were not metered. You were at the mercy of the driver. If he liked your face you could negotiate a good fare. Otherwise you were charged exorbitantly. If you could afford it, then that was fine. If you could not you had to wait for another taxi, take a bus or walk the distance. Then came the era of the Car Hire Services; the likes of AVIS car rentals. They had a somewhat organised system where they charged by the hour regardless of how near or far you were going. They were quite expensive too.
Today we have web-based cab services like Bolt, Uber and a host of others who will locate and pick you up at the touch of a button and though they have their own problems, they improved largely on taxi services from the past.
A couple of weeks ago, I spotted a yellow taxi on the way home and I could not believe my eyes. It was a pathetic sight. The car was tattered and worn out. Bits and pieces from the car looked like they would fall off if the driver went any faster. And then I smiled as I remembered the days when they were the next best thing to having your own car. Most of the owner drivers enjoyed their monopoly for years but today it appears that most of what is left of their cars is used to transport goods rather than people.
As I was wondering about this, a scripture came to mind. “From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.” 1 Chronicles 12:32 NLT
The scriptures record that these were men of understanding. They knew what to do and when to get it done. We also learn from scripture that to have understanding is to be wise. “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.” Proverbs 14:8 KJV
The 16th President of our country Nigeria; in the person of Bola Ahmed Tinubu was inaugurated yesterday 29th May, 2023. There might be a lot of controversy as to how he got there but he is there now. This is a new beginning of sorts for the nation as a whole. How are we bracing up to face it? Are we going to be wise like the sons of Issachar and discern the signs of the times? Or are we going to be lamenting and complaining on social media? I pray that we will be wise. When the Israelites were in the wilderness, their journey was made much longer because of fear, unbelief and complaining.
Some of the old taxi drivers today are bitter and full of complaints about the new taxis but rather than upgrade their rides and move with the times they remain adamant and hostile to passengers. The result is that they are gradually becoming obsolete. I pray that we will never become irrelevant. Complaining does no good to anyone. “And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it, and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.” Numbers 11:1 KJV
The men of Issachar were mostly scholars who spent time reading the TORAH. The way to wisdom these days is to spend time in the word of God. Study it and meditate on it. There is no short cut. If we are to make good successes of our lives, our homes, our marriages, our children, our jobs, our businesses, our careers and our ministries at this time; we must make every effort to get wise.
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better results than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right had; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. “ Provers 3: 13-17 NIV
Dear friends, let us not miss the deep connection between being wise and meditating on the word of God especially now. A word; they say; is enough for the wise.
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS©