HAPPY WITH CHURCH TONIGHT
“She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night
She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night
She senses the worth of her work, is in no hurry to call it quits for the day” (PV 31:13-18)
Our women’ fellowship was very good. We praised God and prayed to Him. Then the word came: The godly woman described in Proverbs 31 is the ideal woman. She is our example, hero and mentor. She is successful as a wife, mother and a business woman. In the verses quoted above you see her as a hard working woman. In the course of her labor she is seen as prayerful, strong, disciplined, organized, prudent, observant, perseverant and faithful. She prays that God blesses the work of her hands. Even in dark times and difficulties, when she does not know what to do, she remains focused, she perseveres until there is profit. ‘She perceives that her merchandize is good’. In Hebrew, the word ‘merchandise’ means things bought from traveling and profit made from trade. ‘Even in the night her candle keeps burning’. When her children and servants are sleeping, she is planning for the days ahead.
The word ‘night’ means a time of adversity or recession. You can see that this woman is not easily discouraged by a fallen economy. Her trust is in God and not in man. She does not wait for people to encourage her to so her duty. She encourages herself in the Lord. Depression comes from failure. Depressed people over-eat or over-sleep. This woman prays and plans when people sleep from sorrow or weep from defeat. She is sure that her business is good. She is confident of her merchandise. The things she sells are things she can use herself. She does not cheat her clients. She has no inferiority complex about the quality of her products. She knows that ‘weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning’ (Ps 30:5). She has faith in God that her business will prosper. Prayerfully she perseveres thru the night seasons of low sales. She does not give up what she has started. It is the effort of doing something until the end, the determination to see results, to be fruitful or to make profit even if it is hard. She is not a coward or easily deceived, not lazy or weak willed. She believes the Word: “In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty” (PV 14:23) She is not just talking about business but she is a woman of action! This woman has inspired me to be a woman of God! May God bless the work of your hands! May your work and ministry be profitable! In Jesus name, amen!
MY TESTIMONY
I grew up in a communist country. Every citizen was employed by the state. We were told that having a private business, making a profit or being wealthy was a sinful thing. I took pride in being a poor unbeliever. I came with my husband to Nigeria in 1980. We worked as medical doctors for three years at the Specialist Hospital Benin City. I was very happy because it reminded me of my country. I was employed and I know that with that salary I can never be rich. But then, in 1983, my husband has an idea that we should relocate to Warri and start a private clinic. We called it “Lily Clinic”. God chose to bless us financially. I got scared. For many years I struggled with the idea of making financial profit. As our finances increased so my inferiority complex about being ‘rich’ increased. I apologized all the time for my ‘luck’ in being ‘blessed’. This negative mind set was a stronghold that defined me. My freedom came after I gave my life to Christ and became saved. It was a process, to learn to be who God wants me to be’ to speak Bible words and to behave like a free person. Slowly I had to learn to be grateful to God in riches or poverty. I am now free from wicked doubts, caging fears and false humility. My husband and I we are now in full time ministry. I now work for God. I confidently declare that the Word of God in my mouth is the best ‘merchandise’ in the universe. I perceive that my ‘merchandise’ is good! It is not weak and it is not fake! It is good, sweet, strong and wonderful. The Lord speaks to me especially in the night. That is why even when I sleep, my heart is awake. I boast in the Lord! God blesses the words of my mouth and the work of my hands! The devil is a liar! Let the weak say: “I am strong!” Let the poor say: “I am rich!” This is my prayer for you: “May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Ps 115:14, 15)! In Jesus name’ amen!
Green Pastures 