THE CHAIRMAN'S CORNER - January Edition

Which would you rather: having it All NOW, and losing much more in the twinkling of an eye; or awaiting it for a LOOONG while, then lasting much more than a lifetime?

As simple and obvious as the above dichotomy may be, it is sad and shocking to see that many of us often choose the former in our day-to-day lives.

Yes! We embrace death over life.

In a world filled with instant gratification, where we expect immediate results and swift rewards, the concept of delayed gratification often seems counterintuitive. However, as we explore the wisdom of Scriptures and the reality of life, we will discover that delayed gratification is not only virtuous but also profoundly meaningful.

Is your dream worth the wait?

While waiting for our hopes and dreams to materialize can be challenging, the ultimate fulfillment is compared to a tree of life – a source of enduring and abundant joy. It teaches us that the rewards of patience far exceed the fleeting pleasures of instant satisfaction.

Like many notorious Nigerian lingos: "Enjoy your life ooo, this life is too short," or “Jaiyé orí e, kò s’ení t’ó m’òla,” the modern world bombards us with messages that encourage immediate indulgence and spontaneous satiation of our wants and desires. But as Christians, we have been called to embrace the virtue of endurance; we have been chosen to embody the principle of patience. Just as God's promises may not be realized instantly, we are encouraged to endure and wait with faith. So the aforementioned infamous Yoruba rhetoric: “Jaiyé orí e, kò s’ení t’ó m’òla,” is not completely accurate because it sometimes breeds the temptation of instant gratification and a wayward approach to life.

As we have examined “hard work” in previous editions, we should remember that delayed gratification must be a coveted virtue if we are to have good and lasting success.

Which is smarter/sweeter (eating your seed or planting and waiting?)

"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains." James 5:7 NIV

This verse compares patience to the farmer's anticipation of a bountiful harvest. The farmer invests time and effort into planting, nurturing, and waiting for the right conditions, knowing that the delayed reward will be worth the wait.

Don't break that piggybank just yet.

In our lives, we often sow the seeds of our dreams and aspirations. Delayed gratification is the key to reaping the abundant fruits of our labour. It reminds us that not everything can be obtained instantly, and that the journey towards our goals can be as enriching as the destination. We must understand that we are not mass produced by GOD but we are created unique and different from each other, i.e., we have different maturation, just like yam and coconut have different dates and seasons.

FOLÁJÌMÍ OR OLÚWAJÀRE?

Who would you rather be? Folajimi, the happening guy, who in junior secondary school was the “ladies' man”, bedding girls indiscriminately and clubbing without a care in the world, then dying slowly of AIDS and cancer of lungs as at 24; or Oluwajare, the SU, who in the university fought relentlessly against having any sexual or romantic relationship while forging accountable fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and ending up with a loving and doting wife at the same age of 24?

In a world where shortcuts and quick fixes abound, the virtue of delayed gratification is a reminder of the enduring principles of faith and patience. It doesn't mean we should never enjoy immediate pleasures, but it calls us to prioritize long-term fulfillment over momentary satisfaction.

“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.”

Deuteronomy, 30:15/19NIV.

As we navigate the fast-paced world around us, let's remember the wisdom of the Bible and the virtue of patience. And as in chapter 19 of the above chapter;“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live,”it is only by nurturing the ability to delay the gratification of our God-given desires can we truly choose the sweetness of life's most significant rewards over the putrid entrails of death and its fleeting entrapments; just as God admonishes.

REMEMBER THIS: Choose life!

The next time you have the opportunity to cherrypick between the ungodly and untimely instant gratification of your desires or the other unceremonious delayed gratification of such desires; CHOOSE LIFE!

God bless you!