If there is a problem that affects many people in Nigeria and beyond today, it is the lack of money. This is due to a lack of knowledge of where and how to get it. Therefore, the publication of this text entitled “Where the money hides”, written by Reverend Elekima Ekine, Resident Pastor of the International Churches of Christ Chapel, Ashi, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, is timely. Ekine is an authority on the application of biblical principles to financial management.
He says that without money, destinies will remain unfulfilled. This author claims that until you get over the commitment of money, you will not be released in the fullness that God has for you. Ekine says that we all need money to be relevant and have a significant impact on life, hence the need to talk about money. He reveals that people have different perspectives on the sources of obtaining money and how to attract wealth.
Therefore, Ekine quotes Isaiah 45: 3 thus: “… And I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hidden riches of secret places, so that you may know that I, the LORD, who call you by name, am the God of Israel “. This author argues that this implies that money is hidden in secret and unexpected places, and therefore the purpose of this book is to help you discover where money is hiding through the use of practical applications.
Regarding the structure, this text is divided into 11 chapters. Chapter One is titled “Money Hides in Relationships.” In Ekine’s words here, “The first clue to the stash of money is our definition: a neutral instrument of exchange agreed to by two people. I want you to take note of the phrase” agreed by any two people. ” agreement between two or more people, you are talking about a relationship. “
He quotes this Chinese proverb to further his point: “If you want a year of prosperity, grow grains; if you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees; but if you want a hundred years of prosperity, grow people.” This author adds that the amount of money you have at your fingertips is not defined by what is in your bank account but by the network of relationships you have built. He bases this claim on the fact that if you need money but lack the network of relationships that can help you get it, you may not be able to meet your financial needs.
Chapter two is based on the theme of money hidden in needs, problems and wants. Here, this author says that money is hidden in people because where people are, there are needs, problems and desires. Explain that where there are needs, problems, and wants, there is no shortage of opportunities to earn money, as money comes when solutions to identified problems can be found. Ekine educates that today we have a telephone because his idea came from a man who wanted to offer a solution to the needs of his sister who had a hearing problem. The man made something akin to a hearing aid and it eventually became the phone we have today. This author differentiates between the problems and the needs of people. According to him, “For example, someone’s toothache is the opportunity for the dentist to find money. That is not a necessity, but a problem. All you need to do is identify the problems around you, find solutions and let people know they have an answer. ” to their problems. “
He educates that the next thing to problems and needs is desire. Ekine claims that wants are not necessarily needs and may or may not be problems. This author says: “For example, to travel by plane, it is not necessary to go first class, therefore, going first class is a desire to make a statement. Therefore, people pay more for their wishes. In other words, there is more money to answer people’s wants than there is to satisfy needs … If you want to get more money than you have been doing to satisfy people’s needs and solve their problems, then start responding to the people’s wishes “.
Chapter three is called “Money are ideas.” Here, Ekine teaches that in order to place money on people’s problems, needs, and wants, you need ideas. Ideas, according to this author, turn problems, needs and desires into opportunities to make money. “That is why it is said that people with ideas rule the world … Money lives in ideas”, explains this author.
In chapters four through seven, Ekine analytically analyzes concepts such as money hidden in vision; money is hidden at work; money is hidden in skills and money is hidden in waste.
Chapter eight focuses on the question of money hidden in time. Ekine says that money is hidden in time and the amount of time you place in time depends on the amount of time that is under your control. He educates that whoever controls his time controls the amount of money he earns.
In chapters nine through 11, Ekine focuses his intellectual reflector on the concepts of money hidden in his seed, money hidden in his employees, and money hidden in God.
Stylistically, this text is on the highest rung of the ladder. For example, the language is simple and the presentation of the subject is very didactic. These are as expected, given the author’s background as a pastor who knows the importance of simplicity of language and detailed illustrations for effective communication and understanding. Ekine generously employs biblical allusions for conceptual reinforcement and credibility to his overall theme. This author deliberately repeats the main clause “The money hides,” in all 11 chapters, as a constant reminder of the responses to suspense and anticipation created by the book’s title.
In addition, the title of the text evokes an image and personifies money as if it were a human being who could hide. The design of the cover of the text radiates a high aesthetic appeal and the (interior) design is very pleasing to the eye. Ekine uses graphic embroidery to visually reinforce readers’ understanding. Include the Golden Nuggets section at the end of each chapter to offer important points to readers. In textual criticism it is said that there is no perfect book. This text is not an exception either. On page xiv, “… different perspective” is used instead of “… different perspectives.” Another small punctuation error is “… people problems” (page 43), rather than people problems. “
Generally, this highly creative intellectual work is a rare reservoir of financial knowledge, as it conveys an interface between biblical principles and financial literacy. It’s a must-read, and the tips should apply to anyone ready to break free from the shackles of financial scarcity. It is revealing.
