Text: Numbers 14:14
The riddle of Samson to the Philistines.
OUT OF THE EATER CAME FORTH MEAT AND OUT OF THE STRONG CAME FORTH SWEETNESS
Samson was referring to a personal experience were a lion that was meant to devour him became the source of meat and honey. Simply put he was able to turn the situation around by the help of God.
Just as the Covid-19 pandemic can be likened to a Lion that came to devour humanity, businesses and careers, through the wisdom of Samson we can learn precious lessons that will make us look back and say like Samson “OUT OF THE EATER CAME FORTH MEAT AND OUT OF THE STRONG CAME FORTH SWEETNESS”
The COVID-19 Pandemic took everybody by surprise and for a whole lot of people it has not been the greatest of times.
We have all witnessed disruptions in our personal and business plans. Some people lost jobs not because they did anything wrong but because Covid -19 happened.
We have witnessed all projections fly out of the window. Even the national budget had to be revised all because of the impact of the pandemic on the world economy. This for a lot of people has been the worst of times.
As I began to meditate on what are the personal lessons I must take from these period and pray about today’s message, the best way to maximize this season is to ask myself what are the key and important life lessons to take from this season. The more I meditated the more the Holy Spirit gave me insights.
I PRAY THAT THIS EXPERIENCE WILL NOT BE WASTED IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU WILL LOOK BACK AND SAY LIKE SAMSON
OUT OF THE EATER CAME FORTH MEAT AND OUT OF THE STRONG CAME FORTH SWEETNESS.
These lessons will serve as important ROADMAP as we navigate the rest of this year.
This precious life lessons we’ve learnt will help us for the rest of our lives?
Today, allow me to look at the positive side of things. If not for anything the past three months, gave us the opportunity to rethink our priorities, what is really really important in this Life?
I ended up with 7 major life lessons. I pray God will bless you as I share with you some of my insights about this season.
- FAMILY IS EVERYTHING.-If you are married and have a family the lockdown gave all of us time extended time to be with the immediate family. Jesus Christ many times spoke of the importance of building upon the right foundations. So that when the storms of life come as they usually do, then our firm foundation will stand strong in the face of the storms of life.
Luke 6:48 we believe as a ministry in building strong family.
This lockdown gave us enough time to enjoy whatever kind of family you have built. If the lockdown has been wonderful for you then you built well. If the lockdown was the opposite, THE LORD IS YOUR HELPER.
As you make your bed so you lie on it. This was so true in this pandemic.
The Lock down allowed all of us to have an intense time for family bonding. Some of us never knew our kids have really grown until we settled down and had meaningful conversations with them this lockdown.
The lockdown provided the opportunity to mentor our children and spend quality time with the family.
Just as some people were enjoying quality time with their family, sadly for others the lockdown was a time to endure. The lockdown only revealed there was a lot of cracks in some families.
It’s time to mend those cracks. Whatever cracks identified must be mended going forward.
A lot of people use work as an escape route but during the lockdown there was nowhere to escape to.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of building a career or building a business that we end up neglecting taking time to do the things that will bring true wealth. The pandemic has provided the much-needed break from our busy schedules to sit back and reflect on life and career or business choices. Living a rich fulfilling life includes a rich family life that involves meaningful connection, and love.
Post Covid-19 we must all prioritize building a healthy family culture.
- Infodemic is worse than the pandemic. All sorts of information was flying around on WhatsApp and social media. Some of the information only stirred up greater fear and misinformation.
The Bible in Prov 4:23 teaches that we should guard our heart with all diligence for out of it proceed the issues of life. The experiences of a man’s life will eventually proceed from his heart. Garbage in will eventually produce garbage out.
The scriptures has been my comfort. No matter what I hear, I made a decision to anchor my heart to the promises of God. Meditating on Psalm 91 and Psalm 121 has been a rich and uplifting experience.
At the height of the lockdown when nobody was going out and coming in my go to verse in the Bible was
Psalm 91:10 “No plague shall come near my dwelling place”
At the height of the lockdown were not leaving the house. After easing of the Lockdown we started going out little by little and the fear of getting exposed became real. I went back to the Bible and two scriptures became my comfort
Duet 28:6 “Blessed shall you be going out and blessed shall you be coming in”
Not blessed shall you be going out and infected shall you be coming back. Thank God for the comfort of scriptures.
Psalm 121:8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even for evermore”
Thank God for the comfort of scriptures.
Rom 15:4 THROUGH PATIENCE AND COMFORT OF SCRIPTURE WE MIGHT HAVE HOPE
Every time I saw the numbers soar I had to go back to scriptures for my own encouragement.
- TAKE CARE OF YOUR FINANCES AND YOUR FINANCES WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.
The pandemic initially started as a health emergency, but it also came with a disruption of the world’s economy. The economic effect of COVID -19 has taken its toll on everybody one way or the other.
A lot of people had to dig into their residual income to navigate this season.
This signifies the importance of laying something in store for the time to come.
You must have a saving culture. It’s a discipline that must be cultivated.
The purpose of emergency funds is to put aside 6-12 Months’ worth of savings to cover living expenses. This serves as a backup plan against unforeseen conditions like a sudden loss of employment or downturn in business.
Post Covid the possibility of employers owing salary, downsizing and right sizing etc. It’s what you have in wisdom put aside that will help one to navigate this season.
If you want a sneak peek into your post retirement life. You just experienced it. Where ever covid -19 meet you financially prepared or unprepared, you just got the greatest financial feedback of your life. If it meet you prepared it means you’ve been doing a lot of good things as per savings and asset allocation and your retirement income will suffer.
If it caught you unprepared it also tells you a lot about your spending habits and gives you a taste of what life can become when we don’t plan ahead for possible retirement which is inevitable.
The good news is that you can now begin again more intelligently. Begin again with more intentionality.
Pay attention to your Finances
Never spend it all and assume that somehow we will get by.
Prov 21:20 (TLB) THE WISEMAN SAVES FOR THE FUTURE THE FOOLISH MAN SPENDS WHATEVER HE GETS
- Health is also wealth. My health is something I can no longer take for granted. Take care of your health.
Eat right
Exercise
Keep Fit
Watch your weight
Once the immune system of the body is working optimally it will help to fight of the virus if you get exposed.
Also pay attention to your mental health.
- Remember the poor– This season has taught all of us the need to remember those in need. No matter how little what you have, that for someone else in dire need could be considered as abundance.
Gal 2:10
We have a greater capacity to give to others than we all thought possible.
We thank the church for the initiative of sharing food and money to church members all through this season.
I can do without as many material things in my life.
Our shared vulnerability during the pandemic must teach us to be more empathetic to the plight of others. We are not safe until all of us are safe.
- Never let a crisis go to waste in your life
What are the key learning points in your own individual life from this season? You must spend time in personal introspection. You will short change yourself if at the end of this season you carry on just as it has always been without making necessary adjustment.
This is an opportunity to begin again more intelligently.
What will you do differently going forward?
White space phenomenon. Once in a lifetime opportunity to create something out of emptiness. Never allow it waste.
We must harness the lessons and use it for our own good.
What did you do with all the time of the lockdown?
Did you educate yourself?
Did you learn any new skill?
Did you start projects you have put off for lack of time?
Did u read the books you’ve always wanted to read but never did due to I don’t have time.
Have you been able to monetize your skill on the online arena?
Many people made more money during the lockdown than before the lockdown.
Zoom and Netflix and other internet based business grow exponentially during this lockdown.
- Tough time’s don’t last but tough people do
Robert Schuler wrote a book with this title and the message is still as relevant then as its today.
The Lockdown has once again shown us that tough times don’t last but tough people do.
We are already seeing an ease of the lockdown. Gradually life will go back to a semblance of normal. We must not allow the life lessons from this season to be wasted.
I have shared 7 life lessons but there is someone out there who will review their own circumstances and come up with up to 20 life lessons peculiar to themselves. And use the wisdom of the moment to create a better future.
We all must maximize the wisdom of this season
Prov 1:5 A WISEMAN WILL HEAR AND WILL INCREASE IN LEARNING AND A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING SHALL ATTAIN UNTO WISE COUNSEL.
If we rightly apply the wisdom of this season then we can say like Samson
“OUT OF THE EATER CAME FORTH MEAT AND OUT OF THE STRONG CAME FORTH SWEETNESS”
God bless you.
