A question I asked a desperate man who thirsts for money like water
By Oladipo Oluwatosin
It was a quiet evening when I met him — eyes restless, phone in hand, his conversation dripping with anxiety. He wasn’t talking about health, peace, or purpose. His only topic was money. “If I can just hit one deal,” he said, “I’ll be okay.”
But I looked at him, and something whispered in my heart: “Are you free? I’m not sure you are.”
He smiled, thinking I was joking. But deep within, I wasn’t sure he was okay.
The Illusion of Freedom
Freedom is not the absence of chains on your wrists; it’s the absence of bondage in your heart.
Many walk around Nigeria’s busy cities — hands free, yet souls tied. They chase money, fame, and validation like a man chasing shadows at sunset.
Jesus said, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34).
The desperate man I met wasn’t alone. He represents millions of youths caught in the cycle of hustle without purpose, pleasure without peace, and wealth without wisdom.
We live in a generation where people measure liberty by luxury — forgetting that even a rich man can be a poor prisoner of greed.
There is a Yoruba adage that says, “Eni ti owo n lo, lo n jeun; eni ti owo n je, n lo s’owo.” (He who chases money may eat, but he who money chases will be devoured.)
Servants in the House of Sons
Jesus drew a line in John 8:35:
“The servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the Son abideth ever.”
You may be close to God, attend church, even serve faithfully — yet live like a servant in a son’s place. The servant has access to the house but not to the inheritance.
Many of us in this generation live that way. We know how to pray for breakthroughs but not how to build character. We speak in tongues but cheat in taxes. We dance in church but deceive in business.
If the Son truly makes us free, then liberty must show in lifestyle, not just in language.
Modern Chains, Hidden Masters
Let’s be honest — we are surrounded by modern-day chains. They don’t rattle like iron, but they hold tighter than steel.
- The Chain of Greed: When money becomes your master, you’ll serve it without rest.
- The Chain of Comparison: Social media has become a silent slave master. Everyone wants to “belong,” even if it means borrowing to look rich.
- The Chain of Corruption: From exam malpractice to political theft, this nation has normalized dishonesty.
- The Chain of Fear: Many fear failure so much that they never attempt destiny.
- The Chain of Ignorance: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Ignorance is the longest prison sentence.
Some have freedom to move, but not freedom to think; freedom to eat, but not freedom to rest; freedom to speak, but not freedom to be true.
The Truth That Sets Free
Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
Truth is not mere information — it is revelation. When you know who you are, whose you are, and why you are here, liberty begins.
- The truth about God: He didn’t create you to chase shadows but to manifest purpose.
- The truth about sin: Sin always promises freedom but delivers slavery.
- The truth about self: You are not your bank balance or your background.
The desperate man didn’t need more money — he needed meaning. Like many of us, he thought financial freedom equals life freedom. But no currency can buy peace of mind.
Sons of Liberty: The Path Forward
We must choose our identity — servant or son. Servants chase survival; sons walk in inheritance.
To live as a son of liberty, you must:
- Submit to the truth of God’s Word.
- Disown the lies of greed and vanity.
- Renew your mind daily (Romans 12:2).
- Live for impact, not impression.
Remember the proverb: “A bird that flies without resting will fall without warning.”
You can’t run from one deal to another, one pleasure to another, and expect peace. Liberty is not a race — it’s a realization.
When Chains Finally Break
When true freedom comes, your decisions change.
You start seeing money as a tool, not a god.
You stop envying others and start building yourself.
You stop serving sin and start walking as a son of grace.
That’s when the chains of greed, corruption, and ignorance begin to fall — one truth at a time.
Conclusion: Are You Truly Free?
When I see the young man again, still chasing deals, still restless, I whisper within, “I’m still not sure you are free.”
Freedom isn’t the absence of struggle — it’s the presence of peace.
It’s the moment when you stop thirsting for money like water and start drinking from the well of truth.
Because when the Son makes you free, not fame, not fortune, not followers — then you are free indeed. (John 8:36)
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