Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash
Months ago, I listened to a talk given by Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It was a talk to young people, which he probably gave before he became the Vice President. In it, he was counselling them to cease being restless in pursuit of ‘making it in life.’ In his speech, he repeatedly used the Yoruba phrase, ‘fi ara e bale,’ (fara bale), which means ‘you should calm down’ or ‘take it easy.’
Explaining that older generations took their time in the diligent and patient building of their lives and fortunes, the Vice President admonished them on different aspects of life, particularly the pursuit of success.
Their desire to make it in life and get-rich-quick should not drive them into unwholesome habits and activities that could be detrimental to their well-being in the present and particularly in the future. They should calm down!
While he directly admonished young people, the troubles of our world tend to put most people on edge – young and old. Financially, socially, in our relationships, especially in marriages and family relationships, it seems we are perpetually in either fight or flight mode. We cannot live well like this.
If one is not struggling to bring their head above the waters because they seem to be sinking deep, others are struggling to keep their head above the waters. Those with their boats still afloat are anxious that turbulent waves could flood their vessels and put their position in jeopardy.
So while they have their champagne feasts and sleep on beds fit for kings, the anxiety of loss does not allow them to sleep with their minds rested and both eyes closed.
The propensity for anxiety in the pursuit of the Golden Fleece is deeply rooted in the heart of all men.
There are many ways we can interpret fi ara e bale. One is, ‘do not be in a hurry.’ Another is, ‘Relax!’ We can even extend it to, ‘Take life one step at a time.’ I just discovered The Passion Translation reading of Psalm 90:12. It says:
Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well.
The New King James reads,
So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Someone says, “Time is running out on me. I must be in a hurry.” How long is your time, do you know that? What is the number of your days, do you know? The Lord desires that we live wisely and well.
I have lived in a few cities in Nigeria, and at one time or the other, I have had to relocate. When expressing the desire to move to another area of town or another state entirely, like when I relocated from Rumubiakani to Igwuruta on the way to the airport in Port Harcourt, someone would exclaim, “The place is too far!” I would reply, “Too far from where?”
Sometimes we hold things in relativities in our minds that are not objective but which end up putting our hearts in anxiety mode. And because our minds are not calm, we end up stressed. This malady affects everyone.
Remember The Passion Translation how it puts Psalm 90:12, Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well. This is a prayer we need to pray often, so that always, “we may apply our hearts to wisdom” (KJV).
The Lord wants us to live in the constant experience of His presence and His kingdom. Paul says,
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit -Romans 14:17, NIV.
Haste makes people not live wisely and well. The Bible says, “He that believes shall not make haste.” This does not mean we should not commit to doing the right things at the right time and in the right way.
When we are in haste, we often find ourselves thinking, speaking and acting foolishly. Doing the right thing in the right way and at the right time is what wisdom is.
Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily -Isaiah 28:16, NKJV.
If your faith is in the Lord, He is your sure foundation. He is the rock upon which your life is built. Paul quotes Isaiah 28:16 in Romans 9:33 and 10:11. In both instances, he uses the phrase “shall not be ashamed.”
Friend, if you sincerely believe in Jesus, you will not be put to shame! Your righteousness is of the Lord, and the Just shall live by faith. Free your heart and mind of the anxiety ‘to make it in life or to “get rich quick.” Fi ara e bale!
In our morning devotion recently, my wife and I read Matthew 6:33-34:
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble (NKJV).
The context of this scripture is about prioritizing our lives. Prioritizing our lives is vital for living “wisely and well.”
During that devotional time, we also read the Message Translation, which reads,
If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.
Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.
Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion — do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen colour and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.
If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers — most of which are never even seen — don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving.
People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes -Matthew 6:25-34, MESSAGE.
Friend, it is a fact that things may be difficult, and some may not be going as you planned or may have even crashed completely. God has not dozed off. He has not died. Do not fall into the temptation to run in the wrong direction or follow the wrong path.
Fi ara e bale! Calm down!
Until we meet again, do not forget to keep living, loving and learning.
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