Economics, the study of satisfying wants based on limited resources have been of concern to humans since time immemorial. Even when the concepts weren’t properly defined as today, the principles and practice always existed. In locations or periods of plenty, early man didn’t need to go far to engage in his predominant task of gathering and hunting. However, with famine or scarcity as modern economics would define it, man became forced to wander off, think harder and work harder to satisfy his needs, which still remain basic – shelter, food and clothing.
However, as economies progressed over time, human wants shot up beyond the basics across the globe. Occasions of scarcity also became more complex. In the recession which has plagued Nigeria within the past three years, many Nigerians have suffered. The effects of the strained economy couldn’t be ignored. In 2018, Nigeria was declared by Brookings Institute as poverty capital of the world. While the economy stagnated and businesses collapsed, the toll on Nigerians rose. And, news reports of people taking their lives to avoid personal financial crises have been on the rise.
Hence, in the midst of this to provide succour is the book, ‘Living Above Economic Recession’ written by Ayodele Abisagbo. With such a title and a cover that shows wads of dollar bills, one might easily think the book is solely a manual for financial survival during economic straits.
However, it does not frontally address this topic as such a topical issue of ‘economic recession’ might demand. Rather, it is heavily slanted towards Christianity, having as topics ‘Divine Intervention’, ‘Man’s Intervention’, ‘Obedience is the key’, ‘Steadfastness’, ‘The power of the seed’ and ‘Digging deep’ and ending chapters with ‘life applications’ and ‘prayer points.’
Harping on biblical quotes, Abisagbo uses a sermon-like style to connect surviving economic hardships using Judaic and Christian tenets. For instance, quoting Isaiah 1:19 and Job 36:11, Abisagbo says faith in God is capable of creating wealth but ends by saying the time of getting such wealth is also at God’s discretion.
“He does what He wills and can decide to work the situation out to favour the fulfillment of His own word,” he writes.
“Even at that, the promise may be delayed for a season. Your willingness to obey the word will determine how long the famine will last. God will not instruct you further from your last disobedience.”
Abisagbo also writes on how many people have talents that can be converted to wealth and how he and his wife have deployed theirs.
“I was talking to my wife the other day and she said she’s beginning to look at some of the old stuff she has that are out of vogue for event decoration and she wants to start recycling them to make ornaments and accessories. That business now has grown and she is supplying stores and making enough money to maintain her office and staff while waiting for big breaks.”
While this book will likely resonate with many Christians, its heavy reliance on some biblical quotes which requires faith to accept puts it in direct conflict with tested business principles honed over years of logic. The nuggets of the books are however, not diminished.
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