Omoluabi Podcast

Omoluabi Podcast | Season 6 Episode 2

PROVERB CONSIDERED: ““Níbo ló gbé wà?” nìyájú ẹkùn.” (Translation: "[To ask] ‘Where is it?’ is a great insult to the leopard.")

REFLECTION

To put the proverb in context, imagine yourself in one of Kenya’s national parks. Your son has been looking forward to seeing his favourite animal—the leopard—up close in the wild. As your tour guide drove you around from place to place across the park showcasing various animals to you, you finally arrived at a vast expanse of grassland where you could see an animal with black spots as well as a lion and a black rhino. Your tour guide tells you, “Look over there! That’s the leopard.” You looked. You saw the lion, the rhino, and the other animal covered in black spots, but still, you asked, “Where is it? Where is the leopard?”

The proverb we considered in this episode says, for you to ask such a question is an insult to the leopard! What kind of person would not be able to tell which is the leopard among a lion, a rhino, and a spotted animal? If the leopard could understand your language and heard you ask such a dumb question, it would probably teach you a lesson! Indeed, the leopard is a rather unmistakable creature in the wild, isn't it? That's the point of this proverb—one should be knowledgeable enough to avoid displaying ignorance about things they should know.

But sometimes, in life, we do the exact opposite. We speak or choose to think in ways that reveal our ignorance! In our biblical reflection on this proverb, we offer two distinct interpretations of the proverb:

1. Living as a Christian and reflecting God's presence: Anu applies the proverb to the concept of Christian identity. Relating it to Romans 8:16 and 2 Timothy 2:4, she emphasises the importance of Christians embodying their faith in all aspects of life. Christians, like leopards, should be easily identifiable in any sphere they find themselves in. They shouldn't need to camouflage or compromise their identity to fit in. This perspective underscores the significance of living a life that reflects the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

2. Awakening from Ignorance: Joseph takes a different approach. He sees the proverb as a way to highlight someone's ignorance. Asking "where is it?" about something obvious is a way to point out a lack of awareness. He connects this to the story of King Nebuchadnezzar, who forgot God's role in his achievements (Daniel 4:29-35). This serves as a caution against the human tendency to take credit for God's work, thereby diminishing His glory. This should prompt us to consider our own actions and speech, ensuring that we never rob God of the glory that rightfully belongs to Him.

Furthermore, the episode highlights the subtle attacks on our faith, whether through external challenges or internal complacency. The devil will always seek to downplay the importance of faith for us in times of comfort or difficulty. However, a strong Christian identity, rooted in the knowledge of God, allows one to resist such temptations. “. . . the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” (Daniel 11:32 NKJV)

Anu's reminder to hold onto the truth of our identity as children of God, as affirmed by the Spirit, is both comforting and empowering. In the face of such attacks, there's no need to engage in futile arguments or attempts to prove our faith. Instead, we can find solace in the knowledge of whose we are.

Key Takeaways:


LISTEN TO THE EPISODE: 

✥ Our Website — ⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi 

✥ Other Platforms — https://pod.link/1550735589 

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA: 

Explore additional resources and content from Joseph and Anu Ola on various platforms:

✥ Linktree — ⁠https://linktr.ee/josephola⁠ 

✥ Disha Page — ⁠https://josephola.disha.page/⁠

JOIN THE OMOLUABI COMMUNITY: Stay connected with us as we journey together towards becoming true Omoluabis — people of character and wisdom. You can like our Facebook page at ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/omoluabipodcast/⁠⁠ or join Alive Mentorship Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/alivementorship. If you have African proverbs you'd like us to discuss in future episodes, you can submit them through our website — https://www.josephkolawole.org/contact or reach out on social media. 

Till next time, remain an Omoluabi.

Omoluabi Podcast | Season 6 Episode 1

PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Pípẹ́ ni yó pẹ̀ẹ́, akólòlò á pe baba.” (Translation: “It may take a long while, but the stammerer will eventually manage to say ‘‘Papa.’’”)

REFLECTION

Perhaps this proverb reminds you—as it reminded me—of a stammerer you know. Or perhaps, it reminds you of yourself and your occasional stutter. Stammering can be embarrassing, but the way the stammerer is portrayed in this proverb is as a champion that we should learn from. What kind of lessons can stammering teach us?

1. It’s only a matter of time. Between a stammerer’s stutter and their being able to say what they intend to say eventually, it’s only a matter of time. Likewise, between where you are and where you hope to be—or between who you are and who you hope to become—it’s only a matter of time! That’s the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 3, verses 1 and 11.

2. Refrain from giving unsolicited assistance. Whether you are helping someone with whom you are speaking complete their sentence or you are offering your spouse an unsolicited solution to a matter to which they primarily desire your empathy, offering unsolicited assistance can stifle intimacy rather than nourish it. Besides, if stammering nurtures perseverance in us (as the proverb surely implies), offering unsolicited assistance in helping the stammerer complete their statements will kill their opportunity to develop their perseverance further. 

3. There is a blessing in our disabilities and incompetence. God, in His sovereignty, has blessed us with limitations that become tools that shape us into ever-increasing Christlikeness. The more we acknowledge our limitations, the more we will live a life that is fully dependent on Jesus—and the more we will bear the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

4. Stammering reminds us that failure—even repeated failure—is okay. The stammerer fails again and again before eventually being able to say a word, phrase, or statement correctly, but they don’t give up. Besides, for the stammerer, the fact that they were able to get the word out eventually in one moment does not mean that they will be able to do it again in the next moment. Such should be our disposition in life. No matter how many wins we record, we should not become so familiar with success that failure becomes abhorrent. Failure has always been one of God’s best tools to cultivate in us humility and utter dependence on Him. Perseverance validates failures.


5. Lastly, be patient. Be patient with other (fellow) stammerers, and be patient with yourself. If we are being honest, we will admit that, at the end of the day, we are all stammerers—and that’s okay! We all have one area of life or the other where we stutter. Rather than wanting to cover these up, let us acknowledge them for what they are: portals for God’s power to find expression in our weakness!

Be encouraged by the words of Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV — “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.”

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE: 

✥ Our Website — ⁠https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi 

✥ Other Platforms — https://pod.link/1550735589 

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA: 

Explore additional resources and content from Joseph and Anu Ola on various platforms:

✥ Linktree — ⁠https://linktr.ee/josephola⁠ 

✥ Disha Page — ⁠https://josephola.disha.page/⁠

JOIN THE OMOLUABI COMMUNITY: Stay connected with us as we journey together towards becoming true Omoluabis — people of character and wisdom. You can like our Facebook page at ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/omoluabipodcast/⁠⁠ or join Alive Mentorship Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/alivementorship. If you have African proverbs you'd like us to discuss in future episodes, you can submit them through our website — https://www.josephkolawole.org/contact or reach out on social media. 

Till next time, remain an Omoluabi.

Omoluabi Podcast | Season 5 Episode 5

PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Ìwà lẹwà" (Translation: "Character is beauty.")

MEANING & ETYMOLOGY

n this enlightening episode, we explore the profound Yorùbá proverb above, which emphasises the deep connection between a person's inner qualities and their external beauty. At the core of being an "Omoluabi" (which breaks down into "Ọmọ tí Olú ìwà bí" -- a child born by the lord of character, i.e., a child of supreme character qualities and virtues) is the understanding that good character is the foundation of true beauty. Character is not merely a facade but a reflection of one's true essence.

CONNECTING PROVERB:

BIBLICAL APPLICATION:

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

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Picture Credit: Oye Diran

Omoluabi Podcast | Season 5 Episode 4

PROVERB CONSIDERED: "Èké mọ ilé-e rẹ̀ ó wó; Ọ̀dàlẹ̀ mọ tirẹ̀ ó bì dànù"

In this captivating episode, we delve into the profound Yorùbá proverb that carries a powerful message about the consequences of deceit and treachery. The proverb paints a vivid picture of the fate that awaits those who engage in underhanded actions, highlighting that their efforts will ultimately lead to ruin.

MEANING & BIBLICAL CONNECTION:

MORAL & SPIRITUAL APPLICATION:

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

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Omoluabi Podcast | Season 5 Episode 3

PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Ilé ahun ò gba ahun; ọ̀dẹ̀dẹ̀ ahun ò gbàlejò; ahún kọ́lé ẹ̀ tán ó yọ ọ̀dẹ̀dẹ̀ níbàdí” (Translation: "The tortoise's house is not large enough for it; the tortoise's porch is not large enough to receive visitors; the tortoise built its house and adds a porch at the rear.")

MEANING: In this episode, through the above Yorùbá proverb, we highlight the issue of stinginess and its consequences. The proverb cleverly plays on the word, "ahun" which could either mean "stingy" or (as a contracted form of "alábahun", means) "tortoise." Of course, the tortoise is often depicted as both a stingy and cautious creature in many Yorùbá folk tales.

The proverb is using the morphology of the tortoise as an object lesson. If the tortoise's shell is its house, it would seem that the tortoise but itself a house that is hardly spacious enough to contain himself alone let alone have some spare room (not even a well sized porch) to entertain visitors in.

BIBLICAL APPLICATION: In a world often driven by self-preservation and scarcity mentality, the call to generosity can be challenging. However, the wisdom of both Yoruba culture and the Bible reminds us that true fulfilment lies in giving to others selflessly. When we open our hearts to generosity, we participate in a beautiful cycle of blessings.

Just as the tortoise's limited space denies it the joy of hosting guests, stinginess restricts us from experiencing the joy of enriching others' lives. God designed us to be conduits of His love, and when we share what we have with others, we sow seeds of hope, love, and transformation.

In contrast to the tortoise's morphology, the example of a kangaroo comes to mind. Think of the kangaroo's pouch, with enough room to embrace multiple young ones. When we give without reservation, we create space in our hearts to nurture and support others. Our acts of kindness, no matter how small, can have a profound impact on those around us. We draw parallels from biblical teachings, such as Proverbs 11:24-25 and Proverbs 28:25, that emphasize the principle of scattering and increasing wealth through generosity.

BIBLICAL REFERENCES:

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

ACTION STEPS:

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Omoluabi Podcast | Season 5 Episode 2

PROVERB CONSIDERED:“Ajé ní ḿba ojú ọ̀rẹ́ jẹ́.”

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:"It is money that brings a frown to the brow of friendship."

MEANING & BIBLICAL APPLICATION: The point of this proverb, to put it simply, is thatnothing ruins a friendship more surely than the intrusion of money. In other words, money is very sensitive and requires wisdom to manage it properly.

It is often said that the top 3 things that destroy marriages are communication problems, sex-related problems, and money-related problems. We agree. So what attitudes towards money management tend to ruin friendships, partnerships, marriages, and other relationships? We highlighted a few of them in this episode, including:

1. Laziness.
2. Wrong attitude towardsSavings and Investment
3. Greed
4. Debts (borrowing and not repaying)

We concluded by recommending a sound stewardship mindset towards managing money.

Scriptures Cited include:

✥“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Proverbs 10:4 (NIV)

✥“Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Proverbs 13:11 (NIV)

✥“Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.” Proverbs 1:19 (NIV)

✥“The rich rule over the poor, And the borrower is slave to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7 (NIV)

LINKS TO LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

✥ Our Website —https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi/

✥ Other Platforms —https://pod.link/1550735589

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA

https://linktr.ee/josephola

https://josephola.disha.page/

PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Ọmọ tí àgbẹ̀-ẹ́bí, oko ni yó ro; ọmọ tí Gàm̀bàrí bí, okùn ni yó ran.”

ENGLISH TRANSLATION: "The child born by a farmer will engage in farming; the child born by a Hausa man will engage in rope weaving." 

MEANING & BIBLICAL APPLICATION: This is one of those proverbs that sound like a hasty (or even myopic) generalisation. Factually, not every farmer's child goes on to become a farmer and not every Hausa man's child will weave ropes. However, to treat the proverb like that is to miss the point. The point of the proverbs is rather clear: There is such a thing as "family likeness." A goat will sire a goat in the same way a lion will sire a lion. We will take after our parents (or foster parent, or guardian, or pastor, or mentor . . . etc), at least in certain respect and to some certain degree. As Barry Hallen noted, "Proverbs do not introduce themselves to us as universal truths, as generalizations that always apply. Their pith, their point, their punch is situational or context-dependent to an essential degree."

If we think of this proverb biblically, therefore, an essential scriptural truth comes alive: We are supposed to take after our Heavenly Father! In fact, this is the reality unto which every child of God is predestined! 

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29 ESV). “God, in his foreknowledge, chose [us] to bear the family likeness of his Son, that he might be the eldest of a family of many brothers” (Romans 8:29 PHILLIPS). “God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him” (Romans 8:29 MSG). “. . . And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him” (2 Corinthians 3:18 MSG). “. . . as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him” (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB).

In a nutshell, “all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 AMPC)

This leaves each of us with a rather personal question: “How is your transformation and transfiguration going?” Each of us will have to take responsibility for our part in this process. As the AMPC hinted in 2 Corinthians 3:18, the tool by which this transformation happens is the Word of God. What’s your relationship with the Word of God like as you dig into 2023 in full?

May we be faithful to our individual sanctification process as God supplies the grace, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scriptures Cited include:

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PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Ohun tí a rí la fi ḿbọ párá ẹni; Bí igi tíná ḿbẹ lẹ́nu ẹ̀ kọ́.”

ENGLISH TRANSLATION: "One uses whatever one can find to fill gaps in one’s roof; That does not apply to a still-burning stick."

MEANING & BIBLICAL APPLICATION: The imagery that birthed this proverb is that of a mud hut with a thatched roof in a typical African village. While such a roof may occasionally have leakages, such gaps or leakages could be blocked by virtually anything—anything apart from a stick still spewing flames! The reason is obvious; rather than block a leakage or close a gap in the roof, such a burning stick will end up burning down the entire building!

The implication of the proverb is therefore quite obvious, viz: every seemingly sensible generalization has exceptions. To state it biblically, the fact that something is generally good does not mean it is good for you. 

In the same vein, proverbs, as wise as they may be, are often based on generalisations which will need to be applied contextually, making the  exemptions when necessary lest what was supposed to be wisdom becomes foolishness.

Scriptures Cited include:

✥ 1 Corinthians 6:12 MSG - "Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate."

✥ 1 Corinthians 10:23 NKJV - "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify."

✥ My Website — https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi/

✥ Other Platforms — https://pod.link/1550735589

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PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Àṣá ò gbádìẹ níkọ̀kọ̀; gba-n-gba làṣá ńgbádìẹ”

INTERPRETATION: "What one dare do, one does openly"

MEANING & BIBLICAL APPLICATION: The imagery that birthed this proverb is hunting; the kite (predator) hunts the chick (prey) in broad day light, says the proverb. In that sense, we can easily see the biblical imagery of the devil going about like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour from the proverb (1 Peter 5:8). The point here is to be watchful; to spot the signs of the devil's tactics and nip them in the bud. This will come by maintaining a vibrant personal relationship with God as well as a flourishing communal fellowship experience. Isolated Christians are easy preys!

The other side to this proverb is the direct point of louding what we are doing, especially when we are persuaded that they are good deeds. In doing this, however, we must be careful to ensure that we are not making this publicity about us but about the God that is at work in and through us.

Scriptures Cited include:

✥ 1 Peter 5:8 CSB - "Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour."

✥ John 7:4 CEV - "No one does anything in secret, if they want others to know about them. So let the world know what you are doing!"

✥ Matthew 5:16 NKJV - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

✥ Matthew 6:3-4 NKJV - "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."

✥ My Website — https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi/

✥ Other Platforms — https://pod.link/1550735589

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA

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https://josephola.disha.page/

PROVERB CONSIDERED: “À-fi-ọ̀rọ̀-wé-ọ̀rọ̀ ò jẹ́ kí ọ̀rọ̀ tán bọ̀rọ̀.”

INTERPRETATION: "Allowing-a-current-matter-to-remind-one-of-similar-matters-in-the-past prevents a quarrel from ending easily."

MEANING & BIBLICAL APPLICATION: Have you ever met someone who ALWAYS recalls your past mistakes in light of your present ones? How does that make you feel? That's exactly what this proverb is asking us to guard against. Let's be like our heavenly father who takes away our sins as far as the east is from the west, in spite of His ultimate knowledge of how many more times we will repeat the same mistakes. That's how the psalmist imagined the Fatherhood of God in Psalm 103. Read verses 12 to 14 for yourself below.

Scriptures Cited include:

✥ Psalm 103:12-14 VOICE

12 You see, God takes all our crimes—our seemingly inexhaustible sins—and removes them.

LINKS TO LISTEN TO THE EPISODE

✥ My Website — https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi/

✥ Other Platforms — https://pod.link/1550735589

FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM JOSEPH & ANU OLA

https://linktr.ee/josephola

https://josephola.disha.page/