“Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Heb. 12:16-17 KJV)
After being called to the Nigerian Bar, I was privileged to have served as a Youth Corper in the financial industry and eventually got immediate and full time employment in the same industry. Being a new entrant in an industry that has no direct bearing on my legal background, amongst many curiosities and bewilderment, I wondered what the duties of a Discount House are. Although, I was in the capital market as opposed to the money market where the discount houses belonged, I was curious to know.
My discovery elicited some interest in the key function of Discount Houses, which is to provide liquidity in the system by buying and discounting money market instruments.
Without prejudice to the great value Discount Houses are adding to the financial markets, their discounting function could be literally appreciated as a metaphor for the discounting of destiny’s investments for immediate and temporary pleasures. In finance parlance, a discounted destiny’s instrument is only worth the discounted present value as opposed to the future value which has a weightier eternal reward.
Instability and unrestrained behaviours will always remain the bane of every unfulfilled destiny.(Gen. 49:1-4) Many global prophets, entrepreneurs, artistes, authors have been diminished and their lofty dreams aborted because of unrestrained behaviours. Imagine what a glorious destiny Esau would have had if he maintained strength of character.
Permit to share the pathetic stories of two great personalities that fell from grace to grass due to incontinence or unrestrained behaviours:
1. Charles Schwab was the second steel magnate of his time. His investment in Bethlehem Steel was virtually worthless and he was over $300,000 in debt at his death. This was a man that started well but lacked the strength of character to restrain himself from unrestrained behaviours.
2. Whitney Houston was a decorated artiste. Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all-time. We all know her story with hard drugs which is reported to have caused her death. Her death coincided with the 2012 Grammy Awards. What a paradox!
Hear this: It is only those that endure to the end that will be celebrated. Continuity guarantees unchangeability. (Heb. 7:24) The unchangeability of your destiny is tied to your continuity in the principles of Scriptures and the demands of your assignment.
Therefore, we must be diligent as we walk in the grace of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Also, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to your virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness, charity. For if these things be in you , and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8)
Your destiny must count both now and in eternity. I see generations yet unborn celebrate your greatness.
Remain ever beautified!
✝️Tochukwu Kemakolam
Prime Minister