₦airaland Forum

I’ve been thinking about something that gets said a lot, especially in conversations around money, struggle, and success in Nigeria.

You often hear people say:

“God created some people to never lack.”

It sounds comforting, especially when life is hard. It gives a simple explanation for why things are unequal. But the more you look at real life closely, the more that explanation starts to fall apart.

Because when you look around in places like Nigeria, the differences we see between people are very clear. Some people are born into stability, good education, and access. Others are born into environments where just surviving is already a struggle.

Now the question is, did God deliberately assign all of that at birth?

Or is something else going on?

If we are being honest, a big part of what shapes people’s outcomes is not just divine assignment, but also foundation.

Some people are simply starting from a place where someone before them already laid something down. Maybe it’s land. Maybe it’s education. Maybe it’s a business. Maybe it’s just connections built over time and that advantage did not appear randomly. It was built by effort, decisions, and sometimes sacrifice from earlier generations.

On the other hand, there are people who are also working hard, but they are starting from weaker foundations. Fewer opportunities, less structure, challenging environment and sometimes systems that are already stacked against them. So even if the effort is there, the outcome is slower or harder to see.

In moments like that, people often shift to spiritual explanations. Things like curses, attacks, my village people or “it’s just my destiny.”
This happens especially when someone is trying repeatedly and still not seeing results, it becomes easier to believe there is something beyond the physical blocking them.

But here is where I think we need to be careful.

If we believe in a loving God and that he is faithful and just, then the idea that He deliberately created some people to permanently suffer while others automatically succeed becomes difficult to reconcile. It raises questions that don’t have easy answers.

What makes more sense when we look at reality is that outcomes are shaped more by systems, environment, access, and decisions over time, rather than fixed divine favoritism.

In Nigeria specifically, this is even more obvious because opportunity is not evenly distributed. Where you are born, who you know, and what you are exposed to often has a huge impact on where you end up.

This does not mean prayer or faith is not important and it also does not mean effort does not matter. It just means we should be careful about replacing real-world causes with simple spiritual explanations that stop us from thinking deeper and working towards success.

Because once someone believes “this is just how God made it,” they stop asking questions, stop building, and stop looking for solutions.

But when you start to see that a lot of what we call destiny is actually shaped by structure and choices, your mindset changes. You start focusing more on what can be built, improved, or changed.

At the end of the day, what we are seeing is not random assignment. It is layered outcomes built over time and understanding that changes how you see life, responsibility, and even opportunity.

Happy Sunday Nairalanders. May be love of God be with you all.

Dpsychologist:
I’ve been thinking about something that gets said a lot, especially in conversations around money, struggle, and success in Nigeria.

You often hear people say:

“God created some people to never lack.”

It sounds comforting, especially when life is hard. It gives a simple explanation for why things are unequal. But the more you look at real life closely, the more that explanation starts to fall apart.

Because when you look around in places like Nigeria, the differences we see between people are very clear. Some people are born into stability, good education, and access. Others are born into environments where just surviving is already a struggle.

Now the question is, did God deliberately assign all of that at birth?

Or is something else going on?

If we are being honest, a big part of what shapes people’s outcomes is not just divine assignment, but also foundation.

Some people are simply starting from a place where someone before them already laid something down. Maybe it’s land. Maybe it’s education. Maybe it’s a business. Maybe it’s just connections built over time and that advantage did not appear randomly. It was built by effort, decisions, and sometimes sacrifice from earlier generations.

On the other hand, there are people who are also working hard, but they are starting from weaker foundations. Fewer opportunities, less structure, challenging environment and sometimes systems that are already stacked against them. So even if the effort is there, the outcome is slower or harder to see.

In moments like that, people often shift to spiritual explanations. Things like curses, attacks, my village people or “it’s just my destiny.”
This happens especially when someone is trying repeatedly and still not seeing results, it becomes easier to believe there is something beyond the physical blocking them.

But here is where I think we need to be careful.

If we believe in a loving God and that he is faithful and just, then the idea that He deliberately created some people to permanently suffer while others automatically succeed becomes difficult to reconcile. It raises questions that don’t have easy answers.

What makes more sense when we look at reality is that outcomes are shaped more by systems, environment, access, and decisions over time, rather than fixed divine favoritism.

In Nigeria specifically, this is even more obvious because opportunity is not evenly distributed. Where you are born, who you know, and what you are exposed to often has a huge impact on where you end up.

This does not mean prayer or faith is not important and it also does not mean effort does not matter. It just means we should be careful about replacing real-world causes with simple spiritual explanations that stop us from thinking deeper and working towards success.

Because once someone believes “this is just how God made it,” they stop asking questions, stop building, and stop looking for solutions.

But when you start to see that a lot of what we call destiny is actually shaped by structure and choices, your mindset changes. You start focusing more on what can be built, improved, or changed.

At the end of the day, what we are seeing is not random assignment. It is layered outcomes built over time and understanding that changes how you see life, responsibility, and even opportunity.

Happy Sunday Nairalanders. May be love of God be with you all.

Cc nlfpmod seun myndd44 Dominique

Good write up, God has already built systems since creation, humans are created to fit into it, for example, plants has seeds that can be planted, you don't need God to plant it for you, a male and a female have to meet to get an offspring.

God has already created a perfect working system on earth that it's inhabitants just have to recognize and key into.

We have nations, and families that has recognized this facts and has been exploiting them for centuries and have handed them over from generations to generations.

Hence, you see differences among nations and families in the world.

Let me stop here...... No

Dpsychologist:
Now the question is, did God deliberately assign all of that at birth?

I think God deliberately and randomly assign that everyone should born into different background.
But it doesn't matter what background you find yourself. What matters is your personal development

paxonel:
I think God deliberately and randomly assign that everyone should be born into different background.
But it doesn't matter what background you find yourself. What matters is your personal development

You said it well. The background shouldn't be an excuse.

I have seen something further under the sun, that the swift do not always win the race, nor do the mighty win the battle, nor do the wise always have the food, nor do the intelligent always have the riches, nor do those with knowledge always have success, because time and unexpected events overtake them all. For man does not know his time. Ecclesiastes 9:11-12a

God never created anyone to be rich or poor rather it's time and unexpected events that's affecting us all because no one knows the right time to strike so when someone strikes and hit the target don't think God destined him to be rich and when someone misses his target don't say God is against him!🙂

MaxInDHouse:
I have seen something further under the sun, that the swift do not always win the race, nor do the mighty win the battle, nor do the wise always have the food, nor do the intelligent always have the riches, nor do those with knowledge always have success, because [b]time and unexpected events overtake them all. For man does not know his time. Ecclesiastes 9:11-12a[/b]

God never created anyone to be rich or poor rather it's time and unexpected events that's affecting us all because no one knows the right time to strike so when someone strikes and hit the target don't think God destined him to be rich and when someone misses his target don't say God is against him!🙂

You are making sense.

This is an excellent post.

Nlfpmod this is an interesting thread.

God ..there are so many Gods...which of them?

Please be specific

There's no such thing.

No matter how rich you are, you must always lack something.
No matter how poor you are you must always have an abundance of something.

Have you ever seen a poor man who is impotent? They are usually fertile.

Seen respected people in the society?
Look at their children. Eg Peter Obi's son.

Believe it or not, this life is a mystery. Na people wey never see things dey argue when pastors and men of God perform miracles. Everyone isn't the same - people have their unique gifts - some gifts are mysterious.

Growing up, we had a prophetess who happens to be a family friend visit my family. Our parents asked us to come out and greet her. We all marched and greeted her.

She looked at my big brother and said she could see greatness in him; she told my mother to protect him because he would be our family's pride. I think I was about 12 or so at the time. Several years later, my elder brother who lives in Nigeria is supper successful - even way richer than my siblings who live abroad and make USD.

Whenever I reflect on that experience, I often wonder - if all our lives have been predestined - then what's the essence of hard work?

Every situation you see humans experience is a concerted effort. If we don’t use all our time and abilities to cement a position, luck in the form of connections or pre-laid plans ensures it for us. Leaving your fate to hope is the dumbest decision any human can undertake — unfortunately, it is a mindset which many religions encourage.

MaxInDHouse:
I have seen something further under the sun, that the swift do not always win the race, nor do the mighty win the battle, nor do the wise always have the food, nor do the intelligent always have the riches, nor do those with knowledge always have success, because time and unexpected events overtake them all. For man does not know his time. Ecclesiastes 9:11-12a

God never created anyone to be rich or poor rather it's time and unexpected events that's affecting us all because no one knows the right time to strike so when someone strikes and hit the target don't think God destined him to be rich and when someone misses his target don't say God is against him!🙂

Thanks bro. You started in a very strong footing with that wise quote from King Solomon but your explanation thereafter defeat the very core essence the wise is passing.

God is the one that decided every matters either you will succeed or not, it is not by our power or swiftness etc. And to God both are the same, they are simply a test to see if you will act rightfully or not.

But you see, the wealth and richness we consider a lot was even more harmful to us than test of penury. That's why Jesus (as) said "it will be difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God for a camel to pass thru the eyes of a needle". Think that for a moment. When the reality of wealth is lay bare to your eyes and it potential of derailing or rubbing us of higher places in heaven, we will opt to remain on average.

All the beloveth of God on earth are his prophets none of them is rich or wealthy except just one king Solomon because wealth is nothing as we) ordinary ) take it.

In conclusion, being either in poverty and richness is not by own power or knowledge but pure grace from God especially richness, but this doesn't exclude us from striving o but we must know that everything is a test even after acquiring it. know for certain that its more difficult to pass the test of richness than poverty.

All in all everything is just a test, to see our resolve to devote to GOD either in any of those two dichotomy of events.

Okoyeeboz:
There's no such thing.

No matter how rich you are, you must always lack something.
No matter how poor you are you must always have an abundance of something.

Have you ever seen a poor man who is impotent? They are usually fertile.

Seen respected people in the society?
Look at their children. Eg Peter Obi's son.

There are impotent and childless poor people, please

Dpsychologist:
You said it well. The background shouldn't be an excuse.

You are saying this becos you were not born in the slum.

virginboy1:
God ..there are so many Gods...which of them?

Please be specific

I think it is God Almighty that created Jehovah and Allah.

Most people on earth are spiritually diverted away from their divine destinies..... that's why there is so much poverty.

Poverty was never God's plan for us... however remaining poor is a choice because we have access to God's blessings.

This is an important question.

You look at your life and the life of your age mates in other climes or from wealthy background and you ask yourself "why me?"

But then again this life is not summed up in the totality of what you can gather but the level of your impact. You can have huge impact on people without financial stability or wealth. So no matter where you find yourself in life, live as God's tool/vessel for mankind. This is the essence of life.

Dpsychologist:
I’ve been thinking about something that gets said a lot, especially in conversations around money, struggle, and success in Nigeria.

You often hear people say:

“God created some people to never lack.”

It sounds comforting, especially when life is hard. It gives a simple explanation for why things are unequal. But the more you look at real life closely, the more that explanation starts to fall apart.

Because when you look around in places like Nigeria, the differences we see between people are very clear. Some people are born into stability, good education, and access. Others are born into environments where just surviving is already a struggle.

Now the question is, did God deliberately assign all of that at birth?

Or is something else going on?

If we are being honest, a big part of what shapes people’s outcomes is not just divine assignment, but also foundation.

Some people are simply starting from a place where someone before them already laid something down. Maybe it’s land. Maybe it’s education. Maybe it’s a business. Maybe it’s just connections built over time and that advantage did not appear randomly. It was built by effort, decisions, and sometimes sacrifice from earlier generations.

On the other hand, there are people who are also working hard, but they are starting from weaker foundations. Fewer opportunities, less structure, challenging environment and sometimes systems that are already stacked against them. So even if the effort is there, the outcome is slower or harder to see.

In moments like that, people often shift to spiritual explanations. Things like curses, attacks, my village people or “it’s just my destiny.”
This happens especially when someone is trying repeatedly and still not seeing results, it becomes easier to believe there is something beyond the physical blocking them.

But here is where I think we need to be careful.

If we believe in a loving God and that he is faithful and just, then the idea that He deliberately created some people to permanently suffer while others automatically succeed becomes difficult to reconcile. It raises questions that don’t have easy answers.

What makes more sense when we look at reality is that outcomes are shaped more by systems, environment, access, and decisions over time, rather than fixed divine favoritism.

In Nigeria specifically, this is even more obvious because opportunity is not evenly distributed. Where you are born, who you know, and what you are exposed to often has a huge impact on where you end up.

This does not mean prayer or faith is not important and it also does not mean effort does not matter. It just means we should be careful about replacing real-world causes with simple spiritual explanations that stop us from thinking deeper and working towards success.

Because once someone believes “this is just how God made it,” they stop asking questions, stop building, and stop looking for solutions.

But when you start to see that a lot of what we call destiny is actually shaped by structure and choices, your mindset changes. You start focusing more on what can be built, improved, or changed.

At the end of the day, what we are seeing is not random assignment. It is layered outcomes built over time and understanding that changes how you see life, responsibility, and even opportunity.

Happy Sunday Nairalanders. May be love of God be with you all.

Yes there atoms were rewarded in the past life and when it combined and recycled by earth all the favor they deserve will keep coming to them. Its called heaven.

Not exactly, but upbringing has a play in life.
Everyday decision plays a part in each individual destiny and that of those around. Your carelessness or carefulness can change other people's lives forever, especially yours.

Background should be an excuse indeed... E get when Dangote pikin or Tinubu pikin go dey write CV for work? Partiality dey the life ..Do the maths... How many rich men children die in the hands of kidnappers or malaria or even almighty CANCER? How many end up wretched? Even the ones who do drugs, live recklessly still stand a better chance. The only thing I'll say is if you find urself in a domain of poverty, do your best , appreciate your progress and accept the outcome. In Nigeria, coming from a poor background is war on its own. In my opinion , some people are not meant to lack. Some children I've seen are so taken care of their food, clothing, pets , school, investment and all that. Some 5yr children are already billionaires bro. So what are you saying.. they are like a thousand years ahead of their mates!

Dpsychologist:
You said it well. The background shouldn't be an excuse.

If we dissect this matter for you ehn, it will take a full year to complete it. For now just take it and believe that God creates things the way he pleases and how he wants it. He created good, he created evil. He created wealth, he created poverty.

He also created time and seasons. If you are lacking ATM, don’t despair, joy comets in the morning. It might even come from your generations yet unborn because God doesn’t look at timing the way we do.

Also, if you are wealthy now, but keep amassing wealth instead of helping the less privileged because you want to store up for future generations, continue too ooooo. Where are the Mansa Musa, King Solomon and other wealthy men of past generation or their lineage ?

He that is filthy, let him be filthy still and He that is holy, let him be holy still.

I rest my case ! Court !!!!

Yes, some of us . God makes us to understand the world system, spiritual system and interwoven between spiritual and natural. People do see our results but always disagree with our views.

UgoFly:
This is an important question.

You look at your life and the life of your age mates in other climes or from wealthy background and you ask yourself "why me?"

But then again this life is not summed up in the totality of what you can gather but the level of your impact. You can have huge impact on people without financial stability or wealth. So no matter where you find yourself in life, live as God's tool/vessel for mankind. This is the essence of life.

In life, nothing equates to money You make more impact when you are rich. In fact, a wealthy unbeliever is more useful to God than a broke born again.

If you read the Old Testament well, you will see instances where God promised to bless people with material things. With riches, a wealthy man can convert 10,000 souls for God in a week, but a poor believer will hardly win ONE soul for God.

Those people you believe are comfortable also have something they wish to have in secret.

The major reason some people don't lack is because they already have a solid foundation, it's not as a result of their hard work.

Dpsychologist

For Muslims, God has indeed said that He created people with disparities, and those who lack should not constantly fix their eyes on those who have more. Everyone will account with what they were given.

This means that wealth itself is a test and might be a curse, because people will be held accountable for how they earned it, spent it, and behaved with it. So in Islam, woeee to those who become arrogant or miserable despite these blessings.

Likewise, begging and unnecessary debt are frowned upon. People are encouraged to work hard even in hardship and to be careful when borrowing, since every debt must eventually be repaid. Islam therefore encourages living within one’s means. Borrowing is not forbidden, but it should be approached with caution and responsibility. Being poor or disadvantaged aren't necessarily seen as enough reasons.

Islam addresses social disparity by mandating an annual charity obligation called "zakat" on Muslims whose wealth exceeds a certain threshold. It is compulsory, and traditionally amounts to 2.5% of qualifying wealth each year. Quran has a list of people who are recipients, charity itself considered a means to purify wealth and oneself before God so it is a BIG deal.

We also believe that being poor should not stop us from praying to God for a better life, because even prayers that seem unanswered in this world are still answered in another way as blessings and mercy for us on the Day of Accountability. Therefore poverty is also a test on hope and patience.

You guys are not yet ready to go on with this topic.


Op, for your information, some people carry special grace, favor or what others may call luck.


When you carry that special grace or favor or luck, whether you came from a shattered foundation or not, it doesn't matter because even with little or no effort, you will be getting ahead of your peers who put in more effort than you, including those that are more intelligent and wiser than you.


Are you not aware of some of those Chibok girls that were kidnapped by Boko Haram that are now graduates of US top universities and one or two are now married to a wealthy American man and now a US citizen living her dream life while those others they were kidnapped together with died, some got pregnant and ended up as Boko Haram fighters wives and baby mamas. Can't you see the place of favor or grace or luck in that story?


I dont want to go further, but please change your mindset, truly some people are born with special grace and favor to excel and succeed in whatever they do in life more than others

coputa:
Good write up, God has already built systems since creation, humans are created to fit into it, for example, plants has seeds that can be planted, you don't need God to plant it for you, a male and a female have to meet to get an offspring.

God has already created a perfect working system on earth that it's inhabitants jus have to recognize and key into.

We have nations, and families that has recognized this facts and has been exploiting them for centuries and have handed them over from generations to generations.

Hence, you see a differences among nations and families in the world.

Let me stop here......

All of us came to this world crying, whoever want to be Happ must personally and intentionally create it by himself

Okoyeeboz:
There's no such thing.

No matter how rich you are, you must always lack something.
No matter how poor you are you must always have an abundance of something.

Have you ever seen a poor man who is impotent? They are usually fertile.

Seen respected people in the society?
Look at their children. Eg Peter Obi's son.

Not true, there are thousands of impotent poor people, maybe you haven't seen but I have seen one in my hometown.


Some people are born with special grace, favor and luck, dont argue it, we all witness this happen in our everyday life unless we chose to act ignorant because of our stubborn belief that everyone is born with equal grace and favor which is not true

Dpsychologist:
You said it well. The background shouldn't be an excuse.

Background shouldn't be excuse? I laugh in Swahili. In as much human beings can achieve whatever success or dream irrespective of background. Background on many occasions catapult children of privileged ahead children of poor parents.

Two students are averagely brilliant students and they scored 250 in jamb and wanted to study medicine. Poor child chooses OAU and privileged chooses IGBINEDON, who is likely to become doctor after 6 years?

Sons of gov and of unknown parent graduated as petroleum engineering, who is likely to work in oil company?

Two women wanted to go into business, one parent gives her daughter ₦20 million as start up capital, and the other went to borrow ₦500,000 for her daughter, as start up capital, who between them likely to develop the business to empire?

God is a fallacy created to enslave your minds and gosh they did it!
Please stick to psychological matters where logic is explainable...

Dpsychologist:
I’ve been thinking about something that gets said a lot, especially in conversations around money, struggle, and success in Nigeria.

You often hear people say:

“God created some people to never lack.”

It sounds comforting, especially when life is hard. It gives a simple explanation for why things are unequal. But the more you look at real life closely, the more that explanation starts to fall apart.

Because when you look around in places like Nigeria, the differences we see between people are very clear. Some people are born into stability, good education, and access. Others are born into environments where just surviving is already a struggle.

Now the question is, did God deliberately assign all of that at birth?

Or is something else going on?

If we are being honest, a big part of what shapes people’s outcomes is not just divine assignment, but also foundation.

Some people are simply starting from a place where someone before them already laid something down. Maybe it’s land. Maybe it’s education. Maybe it’s a business. Maybe it’s just connections built over time and that advantage did not appear randomly. It was built by effort, decisions, and sometimes sacrifice from earlier generations.

On the other hand, there are people who are also working hard, but they are starting from weaker foundations. Fewer opportunities, less structure, challenging environment and sometimes systems that are already stacked against them. So even if the effort is there, the outcome is slower or harder to see.

In moments like that, people often shift to spiritual explanations. Things like curses, attacks, my village people or “it’s just my destiny.”
This happens especially when someone is trying repeatedly and still not seeing results, it becomes easier to believe there is something beyond the physical blocking them.

But here is where I think we need to be careful.

If we believe in a loving God and that he is faithful and just, then the idea that He deliberately created some people to permanently suffer while others automatically succeed becomes difficult to reconcile. It raises questions that don’t have easy answers.

What makes more sense when we look at reality is that outcomes are shaped more by systems, environment, access, and decisions over time, rather than fixed divine favoritism.

In Nigeria specifically, this is even more obvious because opportunity is not evenly distributed. Where you are born, who you know, and what you are exposed to often has a huge impact on where you end up.

This does not mean prayer or faith is not important and it also does not mean effort does not matter. It just means we should be careful about replacing real-world causes with simple spiritual explanations that stop us from thinking deeper and working towards success.

Because once someone believes “this is just how God made it,” they stop asking questions, stop building, and stop looking for solutions.

But when you start to see that a lot of what we call destiny is actually shaped by structure and choices, your mindset changes. You start focusing more on what can be built, improved, or changed.

At the end of the day, what we are seeing is not random assignment. It is layered outcomes built over time and understanding that changes how you see life, responsibility, and even opportunity.

Happy Sunday Nairalanders. May be love of God be with you all.

Nice write up but then, you have to define what it means to never lack

1. What does it mean to never lack?

2. What is that thing that people never "lack" in/on?

Money, Provisions, Well being, Faith, Wisdom, Love, empathy, kindness, Patience etc.

If you read thru the scriptures, The Creator does what He WILLS.

This is why many people in advanced world don't play with politics,infact they get involved because they know politics and who is elected has enormous impacts on the lives of people,environment,economy and wellbeing of everyone.

Yes,some people don't suffer because of the family they come from,the wealth foundation already created even before they were born.

Additionally,the job u do today and the life u lead has a way of shaping everything about ur tomorrow and ur family in the long run. This also determine if u laid the foundation of poverty and riches in time to come.