S5E03 - A Proverb on STINGINESS - “Ilé ahun ò gba ahun; ọ̀dẹ̀dẹ̀ ahun ò gbàlejò; ahún kọ́lé ẹ̀ tán ó yọ ọ̀dẹ̀dẹ̀ níbàdí”

Omoluabi Podcast

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: ✥ Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV) - "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." ✥ Proverbs 28:25 (NIV) - "The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper."

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Generosity leads to abundance.
• Hoarding and excessive caution can lead to impoverishment.
• Be led by God in giving and trust Him to prosper you.
• Embrace a saving culture but avoid making savings an idol.

ACTION STEPS: This week, let us strive to be more generous and open-hearted. Reach out to someone in need, give even when it pinches, and trust that God will bless your acts of kindness. Remember, true generosity leads to an enriched life.

LISTEN TO THE EPISODE: Listen to the thought-provoking discussion on stinginess and generosity on our website or other podcast platforms.

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