₦airaland Forum

grandstar:
God is not the determinant whether you become rich or poor, successful or a failure. There is nowhere in the scruptures that supports what you said.

Lol....so you didn't grab the message in that verse you quoteed from wise king Solomon. That's very pathetic!

Pls go back to same verse re-read it over and over again and tell me what you can deduce from it. I will now tell you the full definition of time.

Honestly, you raised something many people avoid saying out loud.

Your argument about systems, family foundations, access, and environment is very real. In Nigeria especially, pretending everyone starts from the same line would be dishonest. Someone born into wealth in Lagos, with private education, networks, and exposure is clearly not fighting the same battle as someone born in a struggling rural community with poor schools and limited opportunities.

That part is true.

But I think where many people may push back is that your response can sound too mechanical—as though life is entirely a formula of structure + effort = success.

And real life doesn’t always behave that neatly.

We’ve seen people from wealthy homes lose everything through terrible decisions.

We’ve also seen people from extremely poor backgrounds rise in ways that statistics would never predict.

We’ve seen two people with similar qualifications apply for the same role—one gets an unexpected opportunity while the other keeps struggling.

We’ve seen hardworking people do everything “right” and still face repeated setbacks that are difficult to explain purely through systems.

That’s why many Nigerians lean into spiritual language—not always because they are lazy thinkers, but because life can sometimes feel bigger than what data alone explains.

And to be fair, faith has helped many people survive seasons where logic offered no comfort.

The problem begins when spirituality becomes an excuse for passivity:

"It’s my village people."
"God didn’t create me to prosper."
"My destiny is suffering."

That mindset can become dangerous because it removes agency.

But there’s also danger in swinging too far in the opposite direction and dismissing the role faith plays in people’s lives.

For many Nigerians, faith is not just explanation—it’s survival. It gives hope when institutions fail, when government systems collapse, and when effort doesn’t immediately produce results.

Maybe the healthier balance is this:

God may not be sitting in heaven assigning permanent poverty to some people and permanent wealth to others.

But life is also not entirely controlled by human effort alone.

There are structural realities.
There are personal decisions.
There is discipline.
There is timing.
There is community.
And for many people, there is faith.

All of these can interact.

The real tragedy is when someone uses “God’s plan” to avoid responsibility.

And the real arrogance is when someone who benefited from privilege acts like they are entirely self-made.

Both perspectives miss the full picture.

Sometimes people inherited opportunities.

Sometimes people created opportunities.

Sometimes people wasted opportunities.

And sometimes people need both faith and strategy to move forward.

That’s probably the more honest conversation.

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.

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.

Yes including Tinubu's daughter who is LGBTQ in the USA.


I agree...

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!🙂

The same Old Testament u quoted contradicts u right here. 1 Sam 2:7 says it all. **The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.,..

Hezmatosky210:
What about luck?

Nothing like luck. LUCK means Labouring Under Correct Knowledge

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

If we are to look at it critically; although we can Comfort ourselves by saying Backgrounds isn't an excuse. But most of d time, we are a product of our Foundation because it can either hasten our journey into greatness or slower it, or even incapacitate one for getting into d Future.

Mani100:
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!

May God continue to Enrich ur Wisdom. I always Wonder & Smiled anytime I hear people talked down on d background people come from that it doesn't matter. Everything does not revolves about a wealthy or very Rich backgrounds & I think dis is where they missed it. But in a serious note, there are some kind of confidence one have about life if one comes from a rich background.

Backgrounds actually delays or hasten one's progress in life. Even though some are having having everything needed on a platter of gold but wasted it out of u seriousness, but that doesn't remove d fact that it actually helps a lot on a large scale.

Although, there are many who broke d yoke of poverty through self efforts, but then; our level of Grace differs from person to person.

For an example, it would take someone 5yrs or more to save up just #5m for an investment, whereas someone else of his age would conveniently get that within an hour of a Phone call for same purpose courtesy of their parents, brothers or sisters, uncles or aunties. Dis is the kind of financial Miracle that d former will be continually praying for, whereas someone else of his age didn't even think of a prayers about it because just a phone call has solved d problem within one hour.

judewrites:
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.

Lazy thought.

I really wish people will think critically sometimes and not just regurgitation what they've been told to repeat.

Remaining poor is a choice, very convenient to say.

So in a world of 8 billion people, you have just 4% of that number holding on to all the wealth and controlling the lives of others and somehow you think its because those others chose to be poor.

You don't think there's a systemic pattern that is rigidly in operation?

Classism is a real thing and it's never a level playimg ground for some people. more than 80% of people never get to migrate out of the class they were born into. Especially in a feudal country like Nigeria. Not because of lack of effort or competence.

Unless one is ready for criminality, it's almost impossible to break out of poverty in Nigeria if one is born into it.

DeWorlex45:
The same Old Testament u quoted contradicts u right here. 1 Sam 2:7 says it all. **The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.,..

The Psalmist is referring to servants of God not everyone and for your information Satan is the god of this world {2Corinthians 4:4} in whose hand all the riches on this planet has been given so he also gives it to whoever he likes! Luke 4:5-7

realG101:
Lazy thought.

I really wish people will think critically sometimes and not just regurgitation what they've been told to repeat.

Remaining poor is a choice, very convenient to say.

So in a world of 8 billion people, you have just 4% of that number holding on to all the wealth and controlling the lives of others and somehow you think its because those others chose to be poor.

You don't think there's a systemic pattern that is rigidly in operation?

Classism is a real thing and it's never a level playimg ground for some people. more than 80% of people never get to migrate out of the class they were born into. Especially in a feudal country like Nigeria. Not because of lack of effort or competence.

Unless one is ready for criminality, it's almost impossible to break out of poverty in Nigeria if one is born into it.

The spiritual although unseen is more real than this physical world.

There are very strong spiritual forces that control wealth and riches, this is so because Adam sold out his destiny to the devil.

Many of the richest men in the world have entered into strong covenants with the devil for wealth, most of this wealth comes through satanic manipulation because the devil is the god of this world.

I'm not degrading hardwork, its good to work hard, but beyond anything we can do in the physical, the spiritual limits it.

However, all money belongs to God because He's the almighty.

Hamachi:
Honestly, you raised something many people avoid saying out loud.

Your argument about systems, family foundations, access, and environment is very real. In Nigeria especially, pretending everyone starts from the same line would be dishonest. Someone born into wealth in Lagos, with private education, networks, and exposure is clearly not fighting the same battle as someone born in a struggling rural community with poor schools and limited opportunities.

That part is true.

But I think where many people may push back is that your response can sound too mechanical—as though life is entirely a formula of structure + effort = success.

And real life doesn’t always behave that neatly.

We’ve seen people from wealthy homes lose everything through terrible decisions.

We’ve also seen people from extremely poor backgrounds rise in ways that statistics would never predict.

We’ve seen two people with similar qualifications apply for the same role—one gets an unexpected opportunity while the other keeps struggling.

We’ve seen hardworking people do everything “right” and still face repeated setbacks that are difficult to explain purely through systems.

That’s why many Nigerians lean into spiritual language—not always because they are lazy thinkers, but because life can sometimes feel bigger than what data alone explains.

And to be fair, faith has helped many people survive seasons where logic offered no comfort.

The problem begins when spirituality becomes an excuse for passivity:

"It’s my village people."
"God didn’t create me to prosper."
"My destiny is suffering."

That mindset can become dangerous because it removes agency.

But there’s also danger in swinging too far in the opposite direction and dismissing the role faith plays in people’s lives.

For many Nigerians, faith is not just explanation—it’s survival. It gives hope when institutions fail, when government systems collapse, and when effort doesn’t immediately produce results.

Maybe the healthier balance is this:

God may not be sitting in heaven assigning permanent poverty to some people and permanent wealth to others.

But life is also not entirely controlled by human effort alone.

There are structural realities.
There are personal decisions.
There is discipline.
There is timing.
There is community.
And for many people, there is faith.

All of these can interact.

The real tragedy is when someone uses “God’s plan” to avoid responsibility.

And the real arrogance is when someone who benefited from privilege acts like they are entirely self-made.

Both perspectives miss the full picture.

Sometimes people inherited opportunities.

Sometimes people created opportunities.

Sometimes people wasted opportunities.

And sometimes people need both faith and strategy to move forward.

That’s probably the more honest conversation.

Wow!! U really nailed d points decisively & how u wish we can interact further from here. I patiently read through dis comment & everything seems to be captured without been biased.

I extend my hand if friendship to know u better if u wouldn't mind

judewrites:
The spiritual although unseen is more real than this physical world.

There are very strong spiritual forces that control wealth and riches, this is so because Adam sold out his destiny to the devil.

Many of the richest men in the world have entered into strong covenants with the devil for wealth, most of this wealth comes through satanic manipulation because the devil is the god of this world.

I'm not degrading hardwork, its good to work hard, but beyond anything we can do in the physical, the spiritual limits it.

However, all money belongs to God because He's the almighty.

This Bible stories of manipulation have really messed up y'all minds.

Assuming the Adam cock and bull story is true, why does it affect you as a person regardless of what you do. And does that not mean all men are condemned to poverty by default (which makes zero sense).

And if Adam never messed up, what exactly was your God's plan for him? Have you asked yourself that question.

These stories don't add up, and they make yall believe it so you don't take charge of your life and so you can be easy to subdue. It's working.

All your pastors are all over the place gallivanting and displaying wealth, somehow the Adam curse does not apply to them.

muykem:
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.

And if I may ask. What are your views?

Ifexibe:
"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."

ignorant religious people call it grace, i call it a mixture of book smart, street smart, curiosity, and being genuine.

I'm one of those lucky people in life who seem to get what they want effortlessly.

How?

judewrites:
The spiritual although unseen is more real than this physical world.

There are very strong spiritual forces that control wealth and riches, this is so because Adam sold out his destiny to the devil.

Many of the richest men in the world have entered into strong covenants with the devil for wealth, most of this wealth comes through satanic manipulation because the devil is the god of this world.

I'm not degrading hardwork, its good to work hard, but beyond anything we can do in the physical, the spiritual limits it.

However, all money belongs to God because He's the almighty.

In that case. He should take it and distribute it evenly to His people for the equipping of the brethen and glorification of His name.

I will testify by God's grace.

MaxInDHouse:
The Psalmist is referring to servants of God not everyone and for your information Satan is the god of this world {2Corinthians 4:4} in whose hand all the riches on this planet has been given so he also gives it to whoever he likes! Luke 4:5-7

Satan is not the god of this earth. Stop this blasphemy.

If you want to understand the secrets of the world, delve deeply into nature and numerology.

You'll uncover things you wish you knew.

Another churchgoer who just jumped in to argue needlessly.

I said something and quoted scriptures to back it yet you have come to argue.

I never said Satan is the God of the earth please get it straight Satan is the God of this world! 2Corinthians 4:4

TheStoriesOfMan:
Satan is not the god of this earth. Stop this blasphemy.

If you know how to talk with God, have faith, be hard working, obey spiritual laws e.g. tithe, feeling happy with those who are celebrating good things, learn from ants that store up food for raining season (investment, business) etc. and add patience to all of this, you will surely prosper and have health to eat the fruit of the land.

Don't say I didn't tell you.

Delat521:
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.

May God help us in Jesus name.

Eastcoastboy:
In that case. He should take it and distribute it evenly to His people for the equipping of the brethen and glorification of His name.

God gives to us according to our faith.

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.

No
God isnt keen on your material wealth. You have to work it out

Eastcoastboy:
How?

How what?

MaxInDHouse:
Another churchgoer who just jumped in to argue needlessly.

I said something and quoted scriptures to back it yet you have come to argue.

I never said Satan is the God of the earth please get it straight Satan is the God of this world! 2Corinthians 4:4

Another doctrine worshipper who thinks he knows the bible more than the colonizers. Satan is not the god of this world.

You are quoting lies from the bible to support your lying claim.

You dey call me Christian? No evidence, nothing?

You don't know anything about Christianity, feeding off what you were passed down. I no blame you.

Please leave here.

TheStoriesOfMan:
Another doctrine worshipper who thinks he knows the bible more than the colonizers. Satan is not the god of this world. You are quoting lies from the bible to support your lying claim.
You dey call me Christian? No evidence, nothing? You don't know anything about Christianity, feeding off what you were passed down. I no blame you.
Please leave here.

Please where did you get that word "BLASPHEMY"?
Hope it's not from one of your African shrines?😂

Eastcoastboy:
And if I may ask. What are your views?

The views that contradict public opinion such as Nigeria is the best place to make it quickly, many opportunities are with us . Government is not our problem but our thinking process etc

MaxInDHouse:
Please where did you get that word "BLASPHEMY"?
Hope it's not from one of your African shrines?😂

Yes it is from it. Any problems with it? Abi your god dey vex?

TheStoriesOfMan:
Yes it is from it. Any problems with it? Abi your god dey vex?

So how come evil is everywhere àbí it's the will of your own God?

MaxInDHouse:
So how come evil is everywhere àbí it's the will of your own God?

Answer the question yourself, since you sabi front and back of bible pass the colonizers.

You be JW boy, shey? You know bible pass me na, answer it like as if you want to give me bible study.

I'm waiting.

TheStoriesOfMan:
Answer the question yourself, since you sabi front and back of bible pass the colonizers. You be JW boy, shey? You know bible pass me na, answer it like as if you want to give me bible study. I'm waiting.

I said Satan is the God of this world {2Corinthians 4:4} but you said that is blasphemy so i asked you where you got that word BLASPHEMY from and you said it's from your African shrines.

That is why i asked you to tell me why the world is full of evil because my own Bible answered the question that Satan is the God controlling the world {1John 5:19} but since your shrine says my Bible is wrong then you should be able to tell me why the world is full of evil.

Please tell me Sir!🙂

MaxInDHouse:
I said Satan is the God of this world {2Corinthians 4:4} but you said that is blasphemy so i asked you where you got that word BLASPHEMY from and you said it's from your African shrines.

That is why i asked you to tell me why the world is full of evil because my own Bible answered the question that Satan is the God controlling the world {1John 5:19} but since your shrine says my Bible is wrong then you should be able to tell me why the world is full of evil.

Please tell me Sir!🙂

Okayyyyyy. Your Bible answered the question, not you?

*Claps*

Fantastic! Never knew a bible could talk🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣