Poor, Yet Making People Rich

ALABA GABRIEL IDOWU
Copyright © 2023 Alaba Gabriel Idowu

All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise, without express written permission of the
publisher.
ISBN-13: 979-8-88992-599-6
Cover design by: Festus Ewansiha

Printed in the United States of America
I dedicate this book to the Almighty God, praising and thanking Him
for His loving Kindness
All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the
Bible, except otherwise stated.
Poor, Yet Making People Rich
Copyright (c) 2023 Alaba Gabriel Idowu

CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................ 1
LIFE IS ALL ABOUT IMPACT ............................................................... 2
The parable of the Shrewd Manager ......................................................... 7
CHAPTER 2 .............................................................................................. 10
YOU ARE A BLESSING ......................................................................... 11
Joseph, a Blessing Indeed. ...................................................................... 13
The Man at the Pool of Bethesda ............................................................ 15
When the Environment Becomes Unfavorable....................................... 16
Be Sensitive ............................................................................................ 19
CHAPTER 3 .............................................................................................. 21
CALLED TO SERVE ............................................................................... 22
It is the Secret of Greatness .................................................................... 23
Additional Benefits of Serving Others .................................................... 26
Make Serving Others a Habit .................................................................. 27
Humility is Important .............................................................................. 28
CHAPTER 4 .............................................................................................. 29
YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER................................................ 30
The Mystery of Littleness ....................................................................... 31
What Can You Offer? ............................................................................. 32
CHAPTER 5 .............................................................................................. 37
i
LOOK BEYOND GAINS ......................................................................... 38
You are Like a Well ................................................................................ 42
Realizing Your Full Potential ................................................................. 43
CHAPTER 6 .............................................................................................. 44
NEVER BE INSECURE .......................................................................... 45
You May Be Hindering your Progress.................................................... 47
A Test for Your Next Level .................................................................... 49
CHAPTER 7 .............................................................................................. 51
YOUR DESIRE: RICHES OR GREATNESS ....................................... 52
The Path to Greatness ............................................................................. 54
The Choice is Yours................................................................................ 58
FEEDBACK .............................................................................................. 60
BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR................................................................... 61
The Fall Of A Great Man ........................................................................ 61
Spotless In A Polluted World ................................................................. 61
Attaining The Uttermost Height ............................................................. 62
One Thing That Matters .......................................................................... 62
ABOUT THE AUTHOR .......................................................................... 63
Alaba Gabriel Idowu ............................................................................... 63
ii
LIFE IS ALL ABOUT IMPACT
CHAPTER 1
1
ALABA GABRIEL IDOWU POOR, YET MAKING PEOPLE RICH
L
ife is unimportant except for its impact on others because
accomplishments are not measured in the number of dollars you
make, houses you build, or cars in your possession but in the
number of lives you impact.
A life of impact is a priceless life the Lord expects us to live:
• A life that yields to the call of the Lord to be a blessing to others
• A life that strives to contribute to other people's success and is
willing to see others achieve their goals, even when he hasn't
achieved his.
The Apostle Paul used the phrase "poor, yet making people rich"
when writing to the church in
2
Corinth. The phrase describes the impact he and other servants of God
made in the people's lives. They were completely sold out to the work
of God and focused on living an impactful life. Apostle Paul said, "in
everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We
patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind"
(2 Corn 6:4NLT). These servants of God didn't have much, but they
gave their all. They focused on touching lives to see God's kingdom
established on earth because they knew the essence of life was to
become a blessing to others.
The Lord said to Abraham, “I will make you a great nation; I will
bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing" (Gen
12:2). Right from that moment, Abraham knew the essence of God's
blessing that would be released upon him was to be a blessing to others,
and he lived such an impactful life.
The purpose of God's investments in us is to become a channel of
blessing to others. Even though some of His investments in us are
perceived as trials. As a result, we find it difficult to see the hand of
God in our challenges. The truth is, God, in His wisdom, will take us
through different phases of life to ensure that our experience(s) bless
others. He will make us go through the fire so that when we come out
of it, we can be a testament of hope for those who are destined to have
a similar experience. He will make us walk on a lonely path so we can
be a source of encouragement to others. Therefore, nothing God does
in us or through us is for ourselves alone.
This is one of the secrets the Lord revealed to me some years back
while taking me through different phases of life. As a human, I can
boldly say the journey wasn't easy, but God helped me and made me
realize the essence of all He exposed me to. He told me never to
3
compare myself with others because our missions on earth differ, so

our training will differ.
God will expose you to what you need to be equipped for the
assignments He has for you, and the purpose of those assignments is to
impact lives. In the sight of God, His investments in your life are
unquantifiable blessings, provided they are used appropriately. So,
everyone on earth is blessed, but unfortunately, the world's definition
of blessing contradicts God's definition. The world measures blessing
in the number of dollars you make, houses you build, or cars in your
possession, but God measures blessing in the number of lives you
impact. So, to be a blessed man or woman, you have to be a blessing
to others as far as God is concerned. That ugly experience of yours will
be a blessing to the world the moment you begin to walk with God.
Most importantly, the realization of everyone's destiny hinges on
this principle of living an impactful life. The more you focus on living
such a life, the more you realize the purpose of your existence, and the
more you get connected to destiny helpers. You may not understand
how, but there are doors that will open as a result of becoming a
blessing to others.
A typical example of someone who lived such an impactful life
was King David. He was anointed to become the king of Israel but
didn't mount the throne automatically. Between the time he was
anointed and the time he became the king of Israel, he spent time
impacting lives. When he escaped to the cave of Adullam, his family
and people in distress, debt, or discontent gathered around him. He
became their commander and positively impacted their lives while he
was a fugitive. These men became warriors through David's
investments in their lives.
4
"David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of

Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father's house heard
it, they went down there to him And everyone who was in
distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was
discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them.
And there were about four hundred men with him" (1 Samuel
22:1-2).
After the death of Saul, David never struggled to become the king
of Israel. When he returned to Hebron, the people of Judah came to
anoint him king, and the entire people of Israel came to anoint him king
over them. Many of these people deemed it fit to give him the necessary
support he needed to become the king because he had, in some ways,
impacted their lives positively. That's what happens when you focus on
living an impactful life; fulfilling destiny becomes easier because you
will gain the favor of God and men, and people will come out in their
numbers to ensure God's plan for your life is established.
Failure to gain the favor of men may render your destiny stranded
because favor is an important currency needed to fulfill destiny, and
one of the surest ways of obtaining it is by showing mercy and
contributing to other people's lives. Hear what the Word of God says:
"Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your
neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor
and high esteem in the sight of God and man" (Proverbs 3:3-4).
5
Living an impactful life ensures a formidable force is built around

your destiny. When David was thirsty, the only water his soul longed
for was the water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem in the camp
of the enemy. Three men out of the men he had trained broke through
the army of the Philistines to get the water for him.
"And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give
me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by
the gate!" So the three mighty men broke through the camp of
the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was
by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless, he
would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD" (2 Samuel
23:15-16).
When your soul is thirsty for things outside your reach, the people
you have positively impacted their lives may decide to risk their lives
so that your desires may be granted. It will be best if you aren't forced
to help others because you are helping yourself by helping them. Most
of the people who complain of a lack of destiny helpers are largely
those who are apathetic to helping others. If you ask them, how many
people have you helped? They may not emphatically answer that
question because they are always on the receiving end. Such people
may not receive men's favor because they are self-centered, and their
attitudes may render their destinies stranded.
6
The parable of the Shrewd Manager
The parable of the dishonest steward is full of wisdom and

illustrates the stewardship of wealth. This parable doesn't approve of
the steward's fraud but commends his wisdom in using present
opportunities for his future welfare" (Jack W. Hayford).
The steward wasted his master's goods and was called upon to give
an account of his stewardship, for he was no longer worthy of being a
steward. So, the steward resorted to reaching out to his master's
debtors. The Bible says:
"So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said
to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' And he said, 'A
hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, 'Take your bill, and
sit down quickly and write fifty.' Then he said to another, 'And
how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A hundred measures of
wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.' So
the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt
shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their
generation than the sons of light" (Luke 16:5-8).
One of the lessons the Lord wants us to learn from this parable is
to make prudent use of our possessions for the benefit of others. Jesus
said, "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous
mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting
home" (Luke 16:9). This does not mean we can buy entrance into
7
heaven, but a reminder to us that we are stewards of earthly

possessions, not owners. Our earthly possessions should be used with
eternity in mind. According to Pastor Tony Evans' interpretation of this
verse, earthly resources should be used wisely and generously for
kingdom purposes. This way, lives will be changed, and the gospel will
save people. Believers who use earthly resources (worldly wealth) for
the kingdom's advancement will be greeted in eternity by a welcoming
committee of friends whose lives were forever transformed.
The dishonest steward knew that life would be full of struggle after
leaving his position without being kind to the people around him. He
reasoned that using one's position or opportunity to put smiles on the
faces of others would secure tomorrow's favor. It's a pity that many of
us who have the Spirit of the Lord sometimes find it difficult to use our
positions and opportunities to genuinely bless lives and advance God's
kingdom. We are so self-centered to the point of not feeling the pain of
the poor and needy. Many focus on building mansions that will
dilapidate and buying cars that will no longer be in vogue but neglect
building the lives of men and women that will sharpen and bring
innovation to our world. Unfortunately, when many people leave their
positions and perhaps when their opportunities get lost, they go back
to square one because they fail to use their positions and opportunities
wisely. But one thing is sure, the future will tell how well you use your
positions and opportunities.
The dishonest steward also understood the power of relationships.
Beloved, don't be deceived; strategic relationships are very important.
Some people will stand in the gap for you in prayers when faced with
spiritual challenges, and some will use their resources on your behalf
when resources are needed. Whether you like it or not, the key to
building strategic relationships is contributing positively to other
8
people's lives. If all you want is constantly receiving from others, it's a
question time; people will get tired of walking with you.
Having talked about the earthly benefits of living an impactful life,
we must also talk about the heavenly benefits. The Bible makes us
understand that those who refuse to prudently use earthly resources for
the benefit of others will be denied access to the kingdom of God. Jesus
made us understand that on the last day, "He will also say to those on
His left, 'Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire
which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry,
and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink; I
was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe
Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' "Then they also will
answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or
a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'
Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch
as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
(Matthew 25:41-45).
It's high time for us to sit down and examine our lives. If the life
we live is not bringing smiles to the faces of others, we are not fulfilling
the mandate of our creation. The life the Lord expects us to live is all
about impact. You brought nothing to this world; surely, you will take
nothing with you when your race is finished here on earth. So, endeavor
to use all that you have to help others. Your charitable deeds will not
go unrewarded here on earth and in heaven.
9
YOU ARE A BLESSING
CHAPTER 2
10
YOU ARE A BLESSING
YOU ARE A BLESSING
H
umans are interdependent so that everyone's needs can be met.
Sorry to say, many still lack this understanding. They often
ask, "what concerns me about other people's problems?".
Some would say I don't need anyone to survive but God. Undoubtedly,
you need God more than anyone else. However, humans are vital to
your existence because God will use humans to answer your prayers.
So, you are blessed purposely to meet people's needs, and others will
equally meet yours. Hezekiah Walker, in one of his songs titled, "I need
you to survive." says:
I need you, you need me

We're all a part of God's body
Stand with me, agree with me
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YOU ARE A BLESSING
We're all a part of God's body

It is His will that every need be supplied
You are important to me, I need you to survive
You are important to me, I need you to survive
(Hezekiah Walker).
Have you ever wondered why the Lord opens your eyes to people's
problems? Don't think God reveals other people's problems to you
without a purpose. In His infinite mercies, He reveals things to you
because He has found you worthy to be a vessel to solve other people's
problems by praying about the situation or taking practical steps to
intervene. Sadly, the failure to recognize the purpose behind many
revelations has exposed many to danger and perhaps brought curses
upon them because instead of acting wisely and seeking the face of
God on what to do, they mock and disdain those the Lord wants to use
them for.
When the Lord revealed His destructive plans concerning Sodom
and Gomorrah to Abraham, Abraham began to intercede. First,
Abraham said, would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
(Genesis 18:23). He continued the mediation until the Lord finished
speaking with him. So, God expects you to pray or take practical steps
to intervene whenever He reveals people's problems to you.
The Lord has been taking many of us to different churches and
organizations to be a blessing by making positive impacts. But
unfortunately, many of us get there and compound the existing
problems. This ought not to be so. For instance, you enter a church and
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YOU ARE A BLESSING
notice the ushers are disorganized. That may indicate the problem God
wants you to solve, especially when you can put things in order. Once
you notice a problem, stop apportioning blame. Instead, trust God to
help you become a part of the solution. All you need to do is ask
yourself, what can I do to be a part of the solution to this problem? God
is counting on you to act. Step out of your comfort zone and be the
solution they have been praying for. Many church members are a
burden to their pastors. They complain over everything until the Pastor
is tired and begin to pray for them to vacate the church.
Joseph, a Blessing Indeed.

The life of Joseph teaches us invaluable lessons about being a
blessing to the world. In spite of all that he went through, he never
stopped putting smiles on people's faces. From his story, I have
discovered that every human is a ladder to where God is taking you
once you gracefully climb through them without stepping on them. In
most cases, the people next to you are the connection you need for your
next level.
When the two prisoners had dreams, none approached Joseph for
their dreams to be interpreted, but Joseph perceived that something was
wrong with them by looking at their facial expressions. So, he
approached them and offered a helping hand.
"And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at

them, and saw that they were sad. So he asked Pharaoh's officers
who were with him in the custody of his Lord's house, saying,
13
YOU ARE A BLESSING
"Why do you look so sad today?" And they said to him, "We
each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it." So
Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell
them to me, please" (Genesis 40:6-8).
This is the kind of attitude the Lord expects of us. The ability to
perceive what others are going through and the willingness to help.
This attitude connected Joseph to an important figure and became his
transportation system from prison to the palace.
Joseph didn't know that the link between where he was and where
God promised him was the chief butler, the man he interpreted his
dream. If Joseph had missed that appointed time to be connected to a
destiny helper by interpreting his dream, only God could tell when he
would be presented with another opportunity.
I can emphatically say God caused the chief butler to dream so
that the gift of God in Joseph's life would be made known to the chief
butler because of an event programmed by God to happen in the future
that would lead to Joseph's glorification. I arrived at this conclusion
because it wasn't the interpretation of the dream that led to the chief
butler's release from prison. His release had been settled in heaven with
or without a dream, but Joseph was fortunate to be a part of the story.
Making yourself a blessing to others attracts destiny helpers that
may take you from where you are to where God wants you to be. The
people you need in your journey in life are already positioned on your
way, but you may need to be a blessing before connecting with them.
Failure to offer yourself a blessing to them may get you stranded in
life's journey. This is the main cause of the delay many people
14
YOU ARE A BLESSING
experience. They spend years praying, not knowing that their attitudes
are working against God's plans for their lives. When you close your
eyes toward helping others, you may be shutting the door of help
against yourself, unknowingly.
One of the ways God showcases the gifts of His children to the
world is by creating a problem for them to solve. So, the problem in
people's lives that you can solve but choose to ignore perhaps was
orchestrated by God purposely because of you so that your gift may be
revealed to the world for you to be elevated.
The Man at the Pool of Bethesda

The man at the pool of Bethesda had been beside the pool for
thirty-eight years. Yet, no one was willing to help him get into the pool
ahead of anyone to get healed. So, I often ask this question, what could
be wrong with him for not receiving help for solid thirty-eight years?
"When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had
been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want
to be made well?" The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no
man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but
while I am coming, another steps down before me" (John5:6-7).
If a man has been looking for such help for thirty-eight years and
no one attempts to lend him a hand, something is wrong with him. I
believe his infirmity didn't prevent him from looking for daily bread
15
YOU ARE A BLESSING
either by begging or working. This shows he had the opportunity to

show mercy or render help to others in some ways, and by so doing, he
could have gained the favor of men to receive the necessary help. The
secret to being helped is already stated in the Bible. God's Word says,
"Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem
in the sight of God and man" (Proverbs 3:3-4).
Have you been trusting God for help? Focus on helping others,
and help will come your way. You are a blessing and not a burden. God
has deposited diverse gifts inside of you to bless humanity and
yourself. I can assure you, as you go out to make yourself a blessing to
others, God will continually enlarge your coast.
When the Environment Becomes Unfavorable

Sometimes, your environments may not allow you to express
God's gift and grace upon your life to become a blessing that the Lord
intended. You may even be called all sorts of names for being willing
to solve existing problems. This is because we live in a world were
doing good threatens those who don't like you. However, regardless of
what people say, don't be discouraged, but focus your attention on God.
Your willingness to do what is right is highly commendable in God's
sight. God's Word says, "And let us not grow weary while doing good,
for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as
we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who
are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:9-10).
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YOU ARE A BLESSING
I would like to share the storyline of a skit I shared with a group

of people some years ago. The story was regarding a church trusting
God for growth. The Pastor was praying to God for growth, but he
realized God was bringing people, but, unfortunately, they were not
staying. The pattern continued for years until one day when the Lord
directed the step of a young man to his church. After the service, when
the Pastor met with all the first-timers, he asked if they enjoyed the
service and what they observed. To their surprise, as the service was
going on, the young man perceived things that needed to be addressed,
which had been why many people couldn't stay in the church after
attending one or two services. The young man felt that might be an
opportunity for him to speak up since the Pastor asked for their
feedback. He opened up and politely told the Pastor and other ministers
what he observed, but the Pastor was slightly uncomfortable to hear
such feedback from a first-timer. Indeed, as humans, we would say it
would have been wise for the young man to hold his peace until he was
comfortable with the church's leadership before sharing his
observation, but sometimes, God works mysteriously. He wants certain
things to be revealed because of the prayers of the saints. Nevertheless,
it was discovered that no one had observed what the young man
observed. But unfortunately, the Pastor shut him down and dismissed
the first-timers. As the Pastor was leaving for his office, one of the
ministers approached him and said, "this young man just made a valid
point that might have been hindering our growth for years." The Pastor
was angry and said such a comment shouldn't have come from a first-
timer and concluded that the young man was proud. The young man
also went home crying to God for mercy for how he acted and made up
his mind never to be discouraged because he felt strongly that the Lord
directed his steps to that church. He joined a group in the church and
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YOU ARE A BLESSING
was serving wholeheartedly. However, he got frustrated and decided to

leave.
The Pastor kept wondering why the church wasn't growing and
decided to embark on a series of fasting and prayer programs. During
the program, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said your
prayers were answered long ago. The Pastor responded, "but the church
is still not growing". Finally, the angel told him, the Lord sent someone
to your church and opened his eyes to see all that needed to be
corrected, but out of pride, you disdained and frustrated him out of your
church. He was sent to be a blessing, which was why he was full of
many ideas to move the church forward.
Beloved, you may be that young man God has sent to a non-
conducive environment. Don't be discouraged. All you need is
endurance and wisdom. At the appointed time, God will make room
for you. However, when you have the opportunity, never cease to do
good.
Another important lesson I want you to learn from this story is that
you need to make an effort to create a conducive environment for those
God is sending your way so that you can be a partaker of the grace of
God upon their lives. For example, Naaman created a conducive
environment for the young girl taken captive from Israel. As a result,
the young girl became instrumental in his healing. Creating a
conducive environment for people to express themselves enables you
to receive the help God has for you.
“And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back
captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on
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YOU ARE A BLESSING
Naaman’s wife. Then she said to her mistress, “If only my

master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would
heal him of his leprosy” (2Kings 5:2-3).
Be Sensitive
Finally, being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit is crucial.
As great as it is to help and be a blessing to others, one still needs to
know when to help and when to refrain from helping. At one point in
life, I got in trouble for helping someone I shouldn't have helped. A
few years before I rendered the help, I was warned by the Lord that
someone close to me would reach out for help and that I shouldn't
because that help would cause hardship. Two years after I received the
message, I was emotional when I saw a relative of mine in need.
Without praying to know whether the Lord wanted me to assist, I
rendered the necessary help. Little did I know, almost everything
turned upside down after rendering the assistance. While I was praying,
I remembered the warning the Lord gave me a few years before that
time. Beloved, it was painful because I battled this affliction for almost
two years before I recovered after a series of prayers and fasting.
A word of caution, this does not mean you should be afraid of
helping people. I shared this experience to encourage you to take
everything to God in prayers. Besides, God is training some people to
depend on Him, and your willingness to help them may alter God's
plans for their lives and get you in trouble. Some people have not
mastered the act of looking up to God for their needs. Once they have
any need, they will reach out to everyone but God. God's way of
helping them is to frustrate the help of men so they can learn how to
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YOU ARE A BLESSING
depend on Him. But if you, out of feelings, decide to help, you may be
standing in the way of the Lord. So, you must be sensitive to know
when to help and when not to help.
Beloved, what is important is having a heart that loves God and
His people so that you will be willing to do the Lord's bidding when
the time comes for you to be a blessing.
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CALLED TO SERVE
CHAPTER 3
21
CALLED TO SERVE
CALLED TO SERVE
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to

serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various
forms” (1 Peter 4:10).
W
e are called to serve one another with our gifts and whatever
God has given us so that praises and honor will return to
our father in heaven. Jesus, our role model, demonstrated
this to us. He came to this world not to be served but to serve others.
He used everything deposited in Him to serve the world and eventually
gave His life as a ransom for us.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve
others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew
20:28).
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CALLED TO SERVE
As believers, our watchword should be “we are called to serve.”

This should be ringing in our minds every day of our lives. The world
should see Christ in us by serving others wherever we go. This way,
we will proclaim the praises of Him, who called us out of darkness into
His marvelous light. Don’t forget the Bible tells us, “Let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your
Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). This light will shine through the
love will display, and the good works will be seen through our services.
It is the Secret of Greatness

The most potent secret to greatness lies in the act of serving others.
You can have the desire to be great and embark on a series of prayers
and fasting for your name to be enlisted in the register of greatness.
However, until you cultivate the act of serving others, true greatness
will become a mirage.
Jesus revealed this secret when James and John, the sons of
Zebedee, asked for permission for them to sit on His left and right hand
in glory.
“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him,

saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”
And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
They said to Him, “Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right
hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.” (Mark 10:35-
37).
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CALLED TO SERVE
They had the desire to be great. It was also their mother's desire
(Matthew 20:20). It's one thing to have the desire to be great; it's
another thing to walk on the path of greatness. Like James and John,
many of us often don't understand the price of our requests. When we
see people that God has blessed, we quickly pray for the grace of God
upon them, probably because we don't know what they have been
through. If many people should tell you about their challenges, you will
never covet the grace of God upon them.
Sincerely, it's okay to have similar desires to that of James and
John. However, the secret to greatness is far beyond having the desire.
Regarding James and John, hear what Jesus told them:
“But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are
you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the
baptism that I am baptized with? (Mark 10:38).
They told Jesus, we are able (Verse 39a). Jesus assured them,
"You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am
baptized with you will be baptized, but to sit on My right hand and on
My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.
(Mark 10:39-40).
Their request got the other ten disciples displeased. Finally,
however, Jesus made them understand the secret to greatness. Hear
what Jesus says:
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CALLED TO SERVE
“But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know
that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over
them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it
shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great
among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to
be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for
many” (Mark 10:42-45).
So, it's crystal clear that the secret to greatness lies in serving
others, not exercising authority or coveting God's grace in other
people's lives. You may be put in a place to exercise authority, but if
you fail to serve others, your name cannot be registered in the school
of greatness. Likewise, you may wish and pray that the grace of
greatness on the people you know should come upon you; if you fail to
serve, your wishes will amount to nothing.
I would like to use Africa as a continent to illustrate this concept
because I'm from Africa. Africa has produced many leaders, but only
quite a few are great leaders because when most African leaders
assume an office of authority, they refuse to serve their citizens and
followers but use their positions, authority, and influence to amass
wealth and defend themselves while in office. Once they eventually
leave the office, the people never have a good memory of them. In most
cases, young and old curse them instead of blessing and thanking God
for their existence.
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CALLED TO SERVE
I heard the story of a politician who was awarded a contract to fix

a major road in his constituency. He failed to fix the road and diverted
the money to take care of himself and his family. It was discovered that
he sent his children abroad with part of the money while the people he
needed to serve continued to suffer. It was evident to everyone in his
constituency that he diverted the money. Not too long, he was afflicted
with a stroke and eventually died.
Many of us desire to become leaders, but let me tell you, if you
are not willing to serve, never pray to lead because there is a high
tendency that you will take advantage of your followers and act
contrary to God's will. And as a result, the end of your reign might be
indeed horrible. Leaders who fail to serve often invite the wrath of God
upon themselves.
Serving others brings out and nurtures the spirit of compassion to
enable a leader to serve effectively. When you see a leader who is
committed to serving his followers, the first thing you will notice in
such a person is compassion. Such a leader is filled with the love of his
people. On the contrary, leaders who are apathetic to serving their
followers are often mean and never feel the pain of their followers. The
question is, are you willing to serve if you find yourself in a position
of authority?
Additional Benefits of Serving Others

The benefits of serving others are endless. These benefits include
the following:
• Serving others brings a sense of destiny fulfillment.
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CALLED TO SERVE
• Serving others brings unspeakable joy.

• Serving others releases the favor of God.
• Serving others brings the favor of men.
• Serving others teaches humility.
• Serving others connects you to great people.
• Serving others leads to the discovery of hidden gifts and
potential.
• Serving others opens great and effectual doors.
• Serving others advances God’s kingdom.
Make Serving Others a Habit

While serving others comes with endless benefits and blessings,
our focus shouldn't be on those benefits and blessings but on offering
genuine and unbiased service. God, a rewarder, will reward our labor
of love in due season if we do not faint. Therefore, every genuine child
of God should serve others without ceasing and ensure such an act
becomes their trademark. Do not be like politicians who only serve
before elections and refuse to serve after the elections. In addition, don't
serve because you intend to obtain favor. Rather, serve with all your
heart as unto the Lord. Remember, the Bible tells us, "Whatever you
do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for
human masters" (Colossians 3:23). Thus, wherever you find yourself,
always make it a point of duty to serve without expecting recognition
from others. For instance, you find yourself in an organization or a
church, and certain things are left undone; if you have the grace to
handle those things, don't wait to be called before you render the
necessary assistance. I practically found myself in every short-staffed
department in all the churches I have served. I can't be in a church as a
27
CALLED TO SERVE
member, regardless of whatever title they ascribe to me, and notice

ushers are needed during the service without me standing up and
joining the ushering department. Beloved, once you see a need that you
can fix, stand up and fix it. Stop apportioning blames over what is left
undone. Since the Lord has opened your eyes to it, He's counting on
you to fix it if you can, and don't compound the problem if you don't
have what it takes to solve it. Instead, look for those who can fix it.
When God sees this character in you, He will elevate you beyond your
imagination.
Humility is Important
Serving others requires a high level of humility. Otherwise, you
will get frustrated very easily when you are being taken for granted.
You are called to serve everyone- young and old, men and women, and
the poor and the rich. Some people will not appreciate what you do,
and some will get offended because of that lifestyle. However, with
humility, you will acknowledge that your service is unto the Lord, not
humans. Humility will fuel your passion for serving wholeheartedly
without minding positive and negative comments from people.
Therefore, you must daily cry to God for the grace of humility. As you
do so, the Lord will lift you up daily.
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YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER
CHAPTER 4
29
"And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to

another one, to each according to his own ability; and
immediately he went on a journey" (Matthew 25:15).
T
he question that often arises in people's minds is, what do I have
to offer? They think a life of impact is impossible without some
level of affluence. We need to understand that money is the
least of what you can give. You are blessed with innumerable blessings
far beyond what humans can comprehend. All you need do is sit down
and prayerfully discover what God has deposited in you that the world
is longing for.
The parable of the talents reveals that the Lord has endowed us
with different potentials according to our abilities. He leaves no man
without something to offer his generation. Although yours may be
little, don't bury it. The little you have can make a huge difference if
you use it appropriately to bless your generation. You don't want to be
30
like the man who buried his talent. Make God happy by using what has
been given to you to bless others. Then, He will acknowledge you as a
faithful servant because you have been faithful in the little He has
endowed you with.
The Mystery of Littleness

Whatever seems little is not to be consumed but sown. This
sowing means investing it in people's lives. So, do you have a gift or
ability that looks little in your sight? Bless people with it, and you will
see how such a gift or ability will increase.
The little boy who gave Jesus five loaves of bread and two small
fish never knew what he had in his hands could feed thousands of
people. But, after he willingly released them, the Lord multiplied them.
You, too, have something the Lord can use to feed the multitude. Don't
believe the devil's lies that what you have is insignificant. You are
loaded with what the world is hungry for. Through you, the Lord can
transform the world. The little you have will be blessed and multiplied
to feed your generation once you release it for the Lord's use.
"Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude

coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy
bread, that these may eat?" But this He said to test him, for He
Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, "Two
hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that
every one of them may have a little." One of His disciples,
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him, "There is a lad here
31
who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they
among so many?" (John 6:5-9).
This is one of the secrets of growth. That is, utilizing your gifts,
resources, and all that the Lord has given you to bless the world. It's in
using what God has endowed you with to bless the world that you
grow. You become like the man who buried his gift when you fail to
use it. So, look inward and think of what God has blessed you with to
impact your generation positively.
Don't consider your age. Whether young or old, you are loaded
with potential readily available for the Lord's use to bless your
generation. David was a young man who was used mightily by the
Lord. Moses was old and was also used mightily by the Lord. Once
you make yourself available and what he has deposited inside you, God
sees you as an instrument of impact.
What Can You Offer?

What you can offer your generation is endless. You can offer your
time, resources, ideas, etc. The key is to look for what you have that
others don't have and be willing to offer it.
Let me share my personal story. From my childhood, I discovered
I have a passion for teaching. Whatever I know, whether I'm an expert
at it or not, I'm willing to teach others. Several years ago, after
graduating from an aviation business school, I realized my juniors
needed to be informed beyond what they were being taught in the
classroom. So, in the evening, while returning from work, I would go
32
to their school and organize a tutorial class for them without collecting
a penny. The students came out and enjoyed each tutorial session. The
tutorials continued until one of their teachers felt intimidated and asked
us to discontinue the tutorial sessions. I didn't have money to give the
students, but all I had was to impart knowledge. Honestly, if I had
enough money, I would have helped those of them struggling
financially, but I realized the only thing I could offer then was
knowledge.
When these students graduated, many came to my office to learn
the software we were using in the travel industry so that they could
easily secure profitable jobs. Amazingly, right after the training, almost
every one of them secured a profitable job.
I wasn't expecting anything from anyone of them. Teaching was
just my passion. But, to my surprise, when the Lord told me to start my
own business, and I didn't have enough money to buy a laptop, one of
them collected a laptop from her friend and handed it over to me and
said, whenever you have the money that is when you should pay. I was
surprised because I wouldn't have known her if not because I went to
their school to give them free tutorials.
There's something inside of you that will bless others. You will be
surprised that the opportunity you are looking for is wrapped in
blessing others with what is inside of you.
I once shared the story of a woman who completely lost interest in
working for a secondary school. She didn't know what to do, but she
loved cooking. One day, she baked beans pudding for her sister-in-law
since she loved cooking. A friend of her sister-in-law ate part of the
bean pudding and requested the services of the person who made it. To
her surprise, different people began to order beans pudding from her.
33
Through the act of blessing others with what she had, she found a
career. Amazingly, she had traveled to different parts of the world
through the cooking business. She's doing so many exploits that she
couldn't do while working in a secondary school.
At every point in time, you have something to offer. If the Lord
has blessed you with the Spirit of Wisdom, what you have might be
good counsel the ability to guide and solve people's problems. Use that
gift to bless others. That may be the gift the Lord has prepared to draw
the gentiles to your light. Many have been praying for gentiles to come
to their light and kings to the brightness of their rising for years without
knowing that they have to make the light shine for the gentiles to see.
The light the Bible is talking about is not electricity but the gift of God
in you that you must be showcased to the world. Listen, the surest way
to showcase your gift to the world is by using it to bless the world. Feed
the world with what is inside of you, and you will be blessed in return.
Moreover, gentiles will see your gift(s) and be drawn closer to you;
kings will come to the brightness of your rising and honor you.
Whatever you have that can benefit the lives of others is what God
has given to you to offer your generation. For instance, you are in the
music industry and good at playing musical instruments. How beautiful
will it be for you to impact the lives of the younger ones in your church
by training them how to play musical instruments? Invest your time in
their lives. You don't know the difference that will make in their lives.
You might be training world-best musicians, and tomorrow when they
look back, they will glorify God for the life of impact you chose to live.
Are you a young graduate trusting God for a profitable job? Why
can you invest in the lives of those struggling academically in your
environment? God has helped you to cross some hurdles academically.
34
Helping others to cross similar hurdles is a form of impact the Lord

expects of you. God has helped you so that you can help others.
Through this, you may be favored by their parents and get connected
to secure a profitable job. So, be generous enough to invest your time
in other people's lives. That is one of the things you can offer.
You can impact lives by giving out material resources. Many
unused materials in your house can make a difference in other people's
lives. Stop hoarding them. Make them available to those who need
them. God is not pleased when we hoard what can bless others because
of our selfishness.
Do you feel you have nothing, but you have the grace to pray?
Your prayers can make a difference if you think you have nothing to
offer. Engage in the ministry of intercession. Some people's
intercession birthed the revival we are experiencing today. There is a
lot of wickedness in our society, like in the days of Ezekiel. Mass
shootings, extortion, robbery, oppression of the poor, and the like can
be brought to an end if people are willing to stand in the gap. The Lord
told Ezekiel, "So I sought for a man among them who would make a
wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should
not destroy it; but I found no one" (Ezekiel 22:30). The Lord is looking
for those who will stand in the gap for others. If you have the time, why
can't you make yourself available?
Intercessions are a form of impact the Lord expects every believer
to make. Anytime He reveals someone's problem(s) or weakness(es) to
you, He expects you to stand in the gap. Some people are stranded in
life's journey because you failed to intercede for them. At a point in my
life, I was stranded. I didn't know how I would come out of the difficult
situation I was in. Even though my church members knew what I was
35
going through, and some said they were praying for me, unfortunately,
out of them all, only one woman and her family interceded for me.
After I came out of that situation, I dreamt that my car had broken down
on the road. In the dream, I kept beckoning all my church members
driving by to stop and help, but sadly, none stopped. Instead, they
looked at me and drove away. Then, to the glory of God, this woman
saw me and stopped. She gave me a lift to my destination. When I woke
up, the Lord said to me, that was the woman who had been interceding
for you. She didn't give me anything physically, but through her
prayers and the help of God, the Lord delivered me from all my
difficulties. The truth is, interceding for others has greater rewards than
material blessings.
You, too, have something to offer. So, make up your mind to live
an impactful life. It's a life worthy of emulation and highly rewarding
by the Lord. I pray that as you use your talents and abilities to bless
others, you will experience a bountiful increase in Jesus' name.
36
LOOK BEYOND GAINS
CHAPTER 5
37
LOOK BEYOND GAINS
LOOK BEYOND GAINS
"His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all
dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to
slumber. Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough.
And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look
to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own
territory" (Isaiah 56:10-11).
T
he above texts refer to the spiritual leaders of Israel, who should
have been alert watchmen and loving shepherds but failed in
their responsibilities and were referred to as dumb dogs,
ignorant and blind watchmen. To fully understand these texts, let's
define who a shepherd is and who a watchman is.
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LOOK BEYOND GAINS
A Shepherd is a person given the responsibility of tending,

herding, feeding, or guarding flocks of sheep, and a watchman is a
person who keeps watch. In the Christian context, a watchman could
be someone called by God to keep watch and warn God's people of
impending dangers. The responsibilities of a shepherd and watchman
were God's expectations from Israel's spiritual leaders. However, these
leaders utterly failed in their responsibilities. They lacked the strength
to defend the flock. When they were supposed to stay awake and watch
the flock, they were fast asleep simply because they were greedy and
exploitative leaders who never had enough. They fell short of their
responsibilities because of greed, lack of understanding, and the quest
for gains.
Looking forward to gains is not a sin. However, the danger of the
quest for gain due to greed is the inability to perform the assigned
responsibilities and the possibility of neglecting the purpose of one's
assignments. That was the case with the spiritual leaders of Israel, who
were meant to live an impactful life. Rather, they focused on gains and
became uninterested in tending, herding, feeding, and guarding flocks
of sheep that God committed into their hands.
The quest for gains deprives humans of understanding the purpose
of their gifts, influence, wealth, and God's grace upon their lives.
Evangelist Mike Bamiloye once said, your gift is not meant to put food
on your table, but to feed the world, and while you feed the world with
your gift(s), you cannot go hungry. This statement is loaded with
meanings. Unfortunately, many haven't understood this truth. As a
result, they constantly chase the shadow and find it difficult to live an
impactful life. They want every investment in people to yield
immediate and personal gains, and in the process, they invite the wrath
of God. Gehazi couldn't last in ministry because of greed and a quest
39
LOOK BEYOND GAINS
for gain. God rightly positioned him, but the cancer of greed terminated
his ministry and brought leprosy upon him. Elisha told him, ".. Is it
time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and
vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? (2 Kings 5:26).
A time will come when money and other things you repudiate because
of the desire to impact lives will begin to pursue you. If you fail to wait
for that time, you may invite the wrath of God and eventually miss out
on all the promises of God.
Indeed, your gift(s), skills, and potential will bring you wealth, but
the focus shouldn't be on wealth. For instance, in most companies, once
they have a new product, the first thing they do is to create awareness
of such a product. In most cases, they give the product out freely. Once
the masses love the product, they place a demand and pay for it.
Likewise, the Lord expects you to showcase your gift(s), skills, and
potential to the world without monetizing them. This will make the
world see your self-worth, place a demand on the grace of God upon
you and be willing to reward you accordingly. This way, nations will
come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Whereas
if you put money first, you will deprive yourself of meeting with people
that will connect you to kings for you to be rewarded appropriately. If
Joseph had placed a price tag on the gift of interpretation of dreams
while in prison, he wouldn't have been able to interpret the dreams of
his fellow prisoners, and no one would have been able to connect him
to the king of Egypt.
It's so sad that the love of money has engulfed the hearts of men
to the point that everything they do is centered on money. In one of my
formal churches, a prophet was invited for ministration. Astonishingly,
he started demanding prophet offerings before ministering to people
individually. The presiding Pastor was disappointed because that
40
LOOK BEYOND GAINS
wasn't the principle of the church. Nevertheless, some people paid, and
those who didn't have money went back home. He turned his ministry
into a money-making venture. The sad thing is, since then, the prophet
is no longer relevant, and no one knows his whereabouts. That was the
behavior of the spiritual leaders of Israel. Their hearts concentrated on
money, and they couldn't perform their duties. Apparently, the devil
was in charge of their hearts. I often say this, until you deal with the
love of money in your heart, you are not free from the devil's shackles.
The devil is smart and shrewd. He uses the love of money to get
people's attention and change their focus.
Everything God has given you is for the benefit of others. The day
you focus on monetizing them, you begin to drive away God's presence
from your life. You might still be receiving the applause of men, but as
far as God is concerned, you are nowhere to be found. For this reason,
Apostle Paul warned Timothy against those who think a show of
godliness is a way to become wealthy. He made him realize that
godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). So, anyone
who wants to go far and be used mightily by the Lord should repudiate
the love of money.
What is it that God is calling you to do? Don't focus on gains.
Instead, focus on doing the assignment wholeheartedly, how it will
bless others, and see if God will not open the windows of heaven and
bless you beyond your expectations.
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LOOK BEYOND GAINS
You are Like a Well

You are like a well full of potential to make a difference in your
generation; many are divinely programmed to draw from that well. You
can't afford to deny them the opportunity to drink from the well God
has blessed you with just because they lack the financial power.
Scripture says, Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and
you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost (Isaiah 55:1 NIV). This generation is
thirsty for what God has deposited inside you. Men and women, young
and old, are looking forward to drinking from the well God has
deposited in you. They won't forgive you if you deny them access to
what you carry. Remember, God's Word says, "The people will curse
him who withholds grain, But blessing will be on the head of him who
sells it" (Proverbs 11:26). When you focus on gains, you deprive
yourself of the opportunity to contribute to the lives of the less
privileged and those who cannot pay you back. But you must
constantly remind yourself that the poor are part of the people God has
ordained to draw from your well of blessings. When you look beyond
gains and impact their lives, God opens the windows of the heavens
and showers His blessings upon you. Scripture says, "he who has pity
on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has
given" (Proverbs 19:17). Your greatest reward comes when you bless
those who cannot pay you back. As I said earlier, whenever God
blesses a man, He does so because such a man is expected to be a
blessing unto others. The Lord told Abraham I would bless you and
make your name great; and you **shall be a blessing** (Gen 12:2).
The blessing of Abraham is upon you. Make every effort to bless others
with it.
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LOOK BEYOND GAINS
Realizing Your Full Potential
Your full potential will be realized when you begin to serve the
world with your talents, skills, and potential without focusing on gains.
The first set of people the Lord will bring your way might be people in
distress who have no financial capability to reward your investment in
their lives. However, in the process of impacting their lives, you will
begin to discover other hidden abilities. For instance, you may not
know you have the gift of teaching until you start to teach people the
little you know, perhaps those who will not reward you financially. One
thing is sure when you start from there, you will begin to gain
confidence to teach a large audience who will see beyond what you
perceive about yourself and possibly reward you financially. However,
suppose you fail to start with those who have nothing to give. In that
case, you may not discover other abilities that God has deposited inside
you and eventually not attract those with something to offer. But I can
assure you when you become faithful in the little things, God will put
you in charge of many great things, and your glory will be made
manifest for the world to see. Faithfulness in this context is serving the
purpose of God through your gifts.
In conclusion, never allow the quest for gains to deprive you of
the opportunity to impact lives. God has blessed you with many
blessings for the benefit of others, and as you focus on impacting lives
through the gifts and blessings of God, you will enter the realm of
fulfillment.
43
NEVER BE INSECURE
CHAPTER 6
44
NEVER BE INSECURE
NEVER BE INSECURE
"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in

lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let
each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for
the interests of others" (Phil 2:3-4).
O
ne of the obstacles to living a life of impact is becoming
insecure. Several people understand the importance of making
positive impacts. However, their hearts are yet to be worked
on by the Holy Spirit, not to become insecure when they have the
opportunity to go all out and make a positive impact.
To be insecure means to exhibit fears when we have the
opportunity to help or contribute positively to the lives of others for the
betterment of their lives. This fear often comes from the feeling of not
wanting others to be better, or perhaps wanting to be the best, and never
supporting whatever enhances the self-worth of others than oneself.
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NEVER BE INSECURE
It's an evil spirit, and unfortunately, it has eaten up the lives of

many so-called believers. Whoever allows this spirit in their life will
be used by the devil to hinder other people's progress. I saw this spirit
at work in the life of a man that the devil used to hinder the progress of
a sister. This man was the first graduate and the only one doing well
financially in their family. His sister had just finished her higher
education and decided to move to his place so that she could secure a
profitable job. She was praying and sending out applications.
Surprisingly, one of the places she sent her application mailed out a job
offer to her brother's address. Her brother refused to deliver the job
offer because he was insecure about seeing his sister working in a
reputable organization better than where he was working. Cases like
this are rampant, even in the church of God.
If you genuinely believe the Lord has a plan for you and He's
taking you somewhere, you will not be afraid of helping others to
become what God wants them to become. Instead, you will delight in
the Lord, who is using you to lift others because His plans for your life
cannot be altered regardless of those rising through you.
Abraham was an epitome of a man who was not insecure when the
time came for him to be separated from Lot. He allowed Lot to choose
the best place without thinking Lot would outshine him. In the end, the
decision favored Abraham.
"And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it
was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed
Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the
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NEVER BE INSECURE
land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself
all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they
separated from each other. Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan,
and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even
as far as Sodom" (Gen 13: 10-12).
You May Be Hindering your Progress.

One of the dangers of becoming insecure is the tendency for one's
progress to be hindered because we often forget that in the process of
helping others achieve their goals, we receive the grace to achieve ours.
That's why people with the spirit of "poor, yet making people rich"
never become insecure. Instead, they look for every opportunity to be
a blessing to others, knowing fully well that such an act is a seed, and
they will reap it in due season.
Here is a secret I would like you to hold on to. Don't be perturbed
if it seems the devil is hindering your progress. Instead, focus on
helping others in whatever capacity you can. As you keep sowing the
seed of help into people's lives, God will raise helpers on your behalf
because God's Word cannot be broken. His Word says, "do not be
deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will
also reap. (Gal 6:7). If the battles confronting you are spiritual, God
will stir the hearts of men to intercede on your behalf so that you can
overcome all spiritual battles hindering your progress. Then, those
insurmountable mountains will become plain in the twinkle of an eye.
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NEVER BE INSECURE
Before I fully settled in the United States, I waited for quite a

while. While waiting on the Lord to answer my prayers, I kept guiding
people on the right path to get their papers, but the devil kept blocking
my way from getting mine. I can certainly say great and eventual doors
were open unto me, but there were many adversaries. Despite all the
challenges that came my way, I focused on helping others to get what
I was trusting God for. The title of this book came to me after I supplied
a man with all the information he needed, and to God's glory, the Lord
answered his prayers. That day I looked up to God and prayed to Him
to please help me. Beloved, it is challenging when you are not getting
the results others are getting, but you need to trust God to help and
strengthen you. While praying to God for help, I heard a still, small
voice saying, "poor, yet making people rich." That day, my orientation
about life changed completely. Thankfully, the Lord assured me that I
would get mine in a way that would give Him all the glory. Some
people the Lord used me for went into prayers without me knowing.
To my amazement, the Lord heard their cry, fought for me, cleared
away all obstacles, and made it possible for me to get mine.
Beloved by the mercies of the Lord, I have discovered that one of
the keys to progress is helping others get what you are trusting God for.
So don't allow the devil to get in your way and make you feel
discouraged and insecure about investing in others when it seems as if
life is unfair to you. If you have any information that will benefit others,
share it. We rise by lifting others. You might need to get on your knees
to intercede for those trusting God for what you have been waiting on
God for. It's called kingdom advancement prayers. This is a sign that
you have matured to the point of placing your burden on Christ. You
will be amazed at what God will do when you do this.
48
NEVER BE INSECURE
A Test for Your Next Level

One of the tests you will experience when the Lord decides to
elevate you is to bring your way the opportunity to help others achieve
what you have been waiting and trusting Him for. This test may result
in a delay concerning what you have been praying for, and the delay
may last for years. Don't worry; God is only trying to prove your heart.
While you are experiencing this delay, the key to other people's next
level will be handed over to you, and God will be watching your
reaction very closely. The Lord does this to make sure that when He
blesses you, you will become a blessing to others. The Lord knows that
an insecure man or woman cannot be a true channel of blessing. God
is looking for people with whom He can entrust true riches.
Unfortunately, several people cannot be trusted with the little
unrighteous mammon (money) in their hands because of their
insecurity and a lack of liberal heart. Many people in our congregations
fail this test daily. They are insecure and bittered when others succeed.
As a result, God cannot work through them and fulfill His promises in
their lives.
Some years back, after I moved to Lagos, Nigeria, I invited one of
my stepbrothers to live with me so that he could continue his education
and have a better life. I wasn't earning so much, but I was comfortable
with the little I was earning, and at the same time, I was praying to God
to take me to the next level. When my brother joined me in Lagos, I
was so happy and believed God for a profitable job for him.
Amazingly, he secured a job and earned way above what I was earning.
I was so happy for him, and no envy or bitterness was found in me.
After a few months, the Lord made me realize I had passed the test for
my next level. The Lord changed my status, and I started earning over
ten times what I used to earn. It was a huge surprise to me. I never knew
49
NEVER BE INSECURE
my next level hinges on having a good heart toward others. So many

people need to cry to God to work on their hearts to be happy when
others are making progress. They are yet to realize that the key to their
next level heavily hinges on their good hearts toward others.
God will weigh your heart and determine your next level based on
the status of your heart. Therefore, if you wish others well and make
every effort to help them achieve their goals, your labor of love will
not go unrewarded. It's a question of time; God will raise men and
women to help you accomplish your goals.
In contrast, I met a young man who was embittered because his
brother, who had just joined him in the United States, secured a more
decent and lucrative job. In anger, he went to God in prayers and started
praying for a better job. Finally, he got another job better than the
previous one but not as lucrative as his brother's. Sadly, after a few
months, he was fired. Only God could tell what happened, but I
believed the Lord was testing him, and he failed the test. As a result,
the devil used his weakness (bitterness) to push him out of his place of
covering (former place of work) to finally render him jobless.
In conclusion, maintain a good heart toward people and never be

insecure. Where God is taking you is far, and no one can take your
place.
50
YOUR DESIRE: RICHES OR GREATNESS
CHAPTER 7
51
“And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of

covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance
of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).
T
he quest for wealth is on the rise in our societies simply because
many are unaware of the definition of true riches. As stated in
the Bible, a man's life doesn't consist in the abundance of his
possessions. Jesus made this statement because of a man who called on
Him to tell his brother to divide inheritance that he might have his share
(Luke 12:13). Many indeed put their trust in inheritances and material
possessions, but the abundance of earthly possessions cannot
determine the life the Lord expects of you. What determines the life the
Lord expects of you is an indelible mark you leave in people's lives
through which you will be remembered and celebrated once you leave
52
this sinful world. This is called greatness. There is a clear distinction

between riches and greatness. The difference is as clear as day and
night. The pursuit of riches does not necessarily make a man great, but
the pursuit of greatness leads to riches that last from generation to
generation. The choice is yours. You can choose to run after riches or
greatness. The truth is that if your focus is on riches, you cannot serve
the Lord wholeheartedly.
The pursuit of riches definitely is the beginning of sorrow, For
"whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is
never satisfied with their income. (Ecc 5:10). Don't get me wrong, God
takes pleasure in the prosperity of His people while their hearts fully
rest on Him, but the task of gathering and storing up wealth has been
handed over to sinners.
“For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is
good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of
gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good
before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind” (Ecc
2:26).
Men who pursue riches have no clear understanding of greatness,

so they spend precious time running after mammon. Unfortunately,
they don't know who will spend the money when the owner of life
decides to claim it.
53
The Path to Greatness

Living a Purpose-Driven Life: The first thing you must make up your
mind to do if you desire to walk on the path of greatness is to live a
purpose-driven life. This means you give no room to distractions but
channel all your energy toward fulfilling your purpose.
Show me a man who is making a positive impact in his field of
endeavor, and I will show you a man who has turned deaf ears to the
riches of this world. In a secular world, I have studied the lives of those
who have positively impacted science, technology, engineering, arts,
mathematics, and other fields; none seems driven by money. Many of
them spend years searching for solutions to human problems. As a
result, riches have become an added advantage to them due to their
focus on the things that matter to God.
The same principle is applicable to those who are called into the
ministry. Attaining greatness hinges on seeking God and doing all that
matters to the fulfillment of the call of God upon your life. For instance,
many of our fathers in the Lord who had slept in the Lord sought God
with all their hearts and served Him wholeheartedly. As a result, their
footprints are there for us to follow to attain greatness. While their
hearts were yearning after God, some of their counterparts focused on
making money in ministry and could not be remembered for
exceptional services in God's vineyard. Some people are like that
today; they are unenthusiastic about fulfilling their calling but choose
to pursue mammon. The time they should have allocated for studying
the Word of God and praying very earnestly is sometimes used to look
for people that will bless them financially.
54
If you fail to live a purpose-driven life, the devil will use the love of
money to distract you and ensure you do not fulfill your destiny. Many
couldn't succeed in their careers because the love of money has drained
the perseverance to succeed. When they are faced with challenges that
God has orchestrated to enlist their names in the book of greatness, the
devil also presents a temporary opportunity to make them give up
quickly on destiny projects. But if you live a purpose-driven life, you
will understand that any opportunity that will take your eyes off your
pursuit is a distraction, no matter how glamorous it may be or look.
Trailblazers don't give up but persevere until success is achieved.
Thomas Edison, who played a critical role in introducing modern-age
electricity, was responsible for 1,000 different patents. History records
that he failed to refine the light bulb so many times that it took 10,000
attempts to perfect it. Nevertheless, instead of accepting defeat 9,999
times, he is quoted answering questions on his failures as 'I have not
failed. I have just found 9,999 ways that do not work. He remained
focused and achieved extraordinary feats in his career. The reverse is
the case today. Many change their career paths very quickly once they
are not making enough money.
Making Meaningful Contributions: While living a purpose-driven

life is the foundation of walking on the path to greatness, making
meaningful contributions to the world's ecosystem will boldly write
your name in the book of greatness.
I looked around and discovered that many rich men and women
had passed through the earth's surface. Still, only quite a few of them
could be remembered for greatness because it takes leaving a positive
indelible mark on the surface of the earth that many generations will
55
see and thank God for your existence. The world cannot forget all the
contributions of people like Thomas Edison, Michael Faraday, and
many other scientists. In religious settings, the world cannot forget
people Kenneth Hagin, Smith Wigglesworth, Kathryn Kuhlman, and
many other fathers and mothers of faith.
What contribution are you making in your field of endeavor? Are
you part of those talking about the problem or part of those looking for
solutions? The truth is, once you make up your mind to live a purpose-
driven life, making meaningful contributions and finding solutions to
problems in your field of endeavor become a burden that God will
place on your heart.
When making meaningful contributions and finding solutions to
problems become your burden, you will be surprised that your circle of
influence will exceed your field of endeavor because everywhere you
go, the Lord will begin to open your eyes to solutions to various
problems and the wealth that others are running after will begin to run
after you. Beloved, the choice is yours. You can choose to set your gaze
on money and continuously labor for it or focus on providing solutions
and have money run after you.
The richest man in the world in the year 2022 is Elon Musk. When
I studied his life, I discovered that his entire focus has been making
meaningful contributions and solving problems. He continuously
embarks on impossible tasks in the sight of men. When he eventually
finds solutions, the world makes him richer. But unfortunately, many
so-called believers who have the capacity to do what he's doing are
nowhere to be found.
56
For the sake of emphasis, I'm challenging you. What contribution are
you making in your field of endeavor? Are you part of those talking
about the problem or part of those looking for solutions? You can't
afford to fold your hands if you want your name written in the book of
greatness. So, you must make meaningful contributions. Once you set
your mind on this, I can assure you, you will stop looking for
opportunities and start creating opportunities for others.
Faith and Perseverance: Great men are successful men whose

footprints can be followed by others who aspire to be great. They are
often called trailblazers because of the impact they have made.
Anytime the devil sees such men, he strives to frustrate them, but
through perseverance and faith in God, they break through barriers and
pave the way for others. Such were the men apostle Paul mentioned.
Men who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong,
became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight" (Heb 11:33-34).
The pursuits of these men weren't money. Otherwise, the devil would
have taken over their hearts, and their names wouldn't have been
enlisted in the hall of fame of faith.
Once you decide to tread the path of greatness, the devil may come
after you to frustrate and discourage you. He hates those who set their
minds on fulfilling their purpose and making meaningful contributions.
That is the main reason he uses money as bait to get people distracted
and ensure their missions on earth remain unfulfilled. However, with
faith and perseverance, you will put the devil to shame and ride on your
high places.
57
The Choice is Yours

No one can force you to follow the path of riches or greatness. The
choice is completely yours. Many people claim to focus on what God
called them to do, but their hearts center on money. If you are in that
shoe, I will encourage you to get rid of the love of money and serve the
purpose of God wholeheartedly. The Bible tells us, "No one can serve
two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else
he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God
and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). There's no way the love of money will
engulf your heart without walking in error with respect to your purpose.
Judas Iscariot missed destiny because of his love for money. Suppose
you desire to fulfill destiny and get enlisted in the register of greatness,
desist from running after riches and focus on living a purpose-driven
life, make meaningful contributions to the world, and hold on to the
principles of faith and perseverance. In that case, everything others are
running after will run after you. That is the reason the Bible says, But
seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). The kingdom of God is
your purpose; once you seek it wholeheartedly, riches and honor will
be added to you.
58
59
FEEDBACK
If you have gotten this far with this book, it would be a great pleasure
to hear from you. You may kindly send me your comments, feedback,
suggestions, criticism, or request for further explanation on any part
of this book that may seem grey to you.
Feel free to write me

info@gabrielidowu.com
or visit:
https://gabrielidowu.com
60
BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR
The Fall Of A Great Man

Here's a book that teaches you the fundamentals of having an enduring
walk with God. Scripturally, it's God's desire to have a lasting
relationship with His children. However, having an enduring walk with
God hinges on avoiding certain errors.
In this book, the author reveals imperceptible errors capable of leading
to the fall of every child of God. With profound insight, he uses Moses
as a case study and reveals imperceptible errors that led to his inability
to make it to the promised land.
Spotless In A Polluted World

This book reveals the secret to living a spotless life in this polluted
world. God's standards might seem unattainable, but by His grace, they
are attainable.
Living a spotless life is becoming increasingly difficult because the
practices of the world are gradually becoming acceptable among
believers. Though we are in the world, we are not of the world. The
expectation of God is for us to remain unpolluted. The Word of God
says, "therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is
perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
61
Attaining The Uttermost Height
Attaining the Uttermost Height is a book written by the inspiration of
God, specifically for those who desire to reach the peak of their
endeavors. It addresses issues that can prevent humans from fully
maximizing potentials, and fundamental principles of greatness are
extensively discussed. Undoubtedly, this book will bless you richly
One Thing That Matters

The secret to a stress-free life is embracing "one thing that matters." It's
not in the best interest of God for His children to suffer endlessly, but
prolonged suffering is inevitable when one lacks "one thing that
matters." The Bible makes us understand that if the ax is dull and one
does not sharpen its edge, then one must exert more strength; however,
the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success (Ecclesiastes 10:10
CSB). This book is written by the inspiration of the Lord to liberate
believers and unbelievers from the shackles of darkness and ignorance
to live a struggle-free life. By the grace of God, you cannot regret
reading this book.
62
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alaba Gabriel Idowu
About The Author instructor, master
CFI, and aviation safety and human
factors specialist. He graduated summa
cum laude with a master's degree in
aeronautics (human factors
specialization) from Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University.
He is a Teacher, Evangelist, and
Preacher of the gospel with a passion for
touching lives through God's Word. His life is a living testimony that
all power belongs to God.
63

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Poor, Yet Making People Rich

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ALABA GABRIEL IDOWU

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No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a

Cover design by: Festus Ewansiha

Poor, Yet Making People Rich

Copyright (c) 2023 Alaba Gabriel Idowu

LIFE IS ALL ABOUT IMPACT

compare myself with others because our missions on earth differ, so

"David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of

Living an impactful life ensures a formidable force is built around

The parable of the Shrewd Manager

The parable of the dishonest steward is full of wisdom and

heaven, but a reminder to us that we are stewards of earthly

YOU ARE A BLESSING

I need you, you need me

We're all a part of God's body

Joseph, a Blessing Indeed.

"And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at

The Man at the Pool of Bethesda

either by begging or working. This shows he had the opportunity to

When the Environment Becomes Unfavorable

I would like to share the storyline of a skit I shared with a group

was serving wholeheartedly. However, he got frustrated and decided to

Naaman’s wife. Then she said to her mistress, “If only my

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to

As believers, our watchword should be “we are called to serve.”

It is the Secret of Greatness

“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him,

I heard the story of a politician who was awarded a contract to fix

Additional Benefits of Serving Others

• Serving others brings unspeakable joy.

Make Serving Others a Habit

member, regardless of whatever title they ascribe to me, and notice

YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER

"And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to

The Mystery of Littleness

"Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude

What Can You Offer?

Helping others to cross similar hurdles is a form of impact the Lord

LOOK BEYOND GAINS

A Shepherd is a person given the responsibility of tending,

You are Like a Well

Realizing Your Full Potential

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in

It's an evil spirit, and unfortunately, it has eaten up the lives of

You May Be Hindering your Progress.

Before I fully settled in the United States, I waited for quite a

A Test for Your Next Level

my next level hinges on having a good heart toward others. So many

In conclusion, maintain a good heart toward people and never be

YOUR DESIRE: RICHES OR GREATNESS

“And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of

this sinful world. This is called greatness. There is a clear distinction

Men who pursue riches have no clear understanding of greatness,

The Path to Greatness

Making Meaningful Contributions: While living a purpose-driven

Faith and Perseverance: Great men are successful men whose

The Choice is Yours

Feel free to write me

The Fall Of A Great Man

Spotless In A Polluted World

One Thing That Matters

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