Today, 14th February, is perhaps a good day to share a few thoughts about LOVE.
Rather than dwell on the passion and emotion of Love; I’d rather talk about the ECONOMICS of LOVE!
We all are familiar with economic terms like; scarcity, choice, opportunity cost and scale of preference in basic economics. These terms also manifest in the business of relationships and matters of the heart. Unfortunately, most
people do not use logic or their head when considering matters of the heart. This is rather unfortunate, because the heart and the head are complementary. Infact, God made us in 3-dimension (some may argue 4-dimension, when you add the Spirit), but I will stop at 3-dimension for the purpose of this exercise: BODY, MIND & HEART!
Most people are easily attracted and lured into relationships by nice bodily features. Now, beyond the physical attraction, shouldn’t we do some evaluation; bothering on choice and cost, particularly when you consider what our immediate preoccupation or responsibility should be. What am I suppose to deliver by this month-end, end of quarter or end of year? We must always focus on our goals. Hoping that we have applied scale of preference to our desires, wants and needs. Your magnificent obsession (most important) goal should help you order/arrange your priorities.
“Man has life and death before him; whichever a man likes better, will be given him”. – Book of Ecclesiasticus (Power to choose, and get rewarded for that which you choose/accountability)
When you have properly ordered your wants or priorities, you will then need to make some trade-offs. The moment you choose ‘A’, you may have to forgo or defer ‘B’. Choice has an implicit Cost. Now don’t get me wrong; A and B may not be mutually exclusive, but it may be dangerous to combine the two at the same time. You need the LAW and WISDOM to guide you.
“We have a wisdom to offer those who have reached maturity: not a philosophy of our age” – St Paul to the Corinthians. (Eternal Truth will endure than contemporary hype/fashion
In business, careers and relationships, there are trade-offs and most times we need judgment and experience to guide us. It is dangerous to get advice or guidance from your colleague or class mate. Remember, what is ‘fashionable’ may not be ‘wise’. It is for this reason that some people have mentors and counsellor or coaches. It’s amazing when a boy in SS2 decides to help a young JSS2 girl to understand the menstrual cycle all in a scheme to have cheap sex and avoid the risk of unwanted pregnancy. After all, “I love you and what’s the benefit of our relationship?” Even parents with many years of licensed sex still record errors in the game plan of having the pleasure of sex without the pain of parenting.
“Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them.” (No Contradiction, one comes before the other; complementary)
I started riding motorbikes and driving cars before the legal driving age, but I know all the risks I experienced. Don’t get me wrong, please!. Young people will try and attempt all the pleasures of life as they grow up. We allow our heart and body to lead us into relationships with cigarettes, driving and the opposite sex, without using our head or considering the cost of our choice and what the law permits.
“For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.” - Gospel according to Matthew. (Excellence/Standards)
The danger with playing games as adolescent is that we often have cheap standards in our haste to experience that which we will have full liberty to enjoy, with little or no risks, later on in life. We play beyond our installed capacity for risk management. Imagine driving a friend’s car and crashing it. Or drinking ‘free’ champagne at a party, only to get intoxicated beyond your capacity. Or smoking and becoming addicted. Or having unprotected sex and ending up with STD or some little baby! Now, what happens is that your fun and progress is cut short. You may never be able to become that great star, who had lots of promise of a great career and a great family life! You miss the kingdom of heaven!
“If your right hand should cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body go to hell. - Gospel according to Matthew (Priority, Choice & Opportunity Cost)
There are no mid points with success or relationships. You are either growing or failing. You cannot be facing east and west at the same time. We need the discipline to decide and choose one direction or goal at a time. It’s a simple economic truth; in life, careers and relationships.
Happy Val’s day.
Paul Olaleye.
No comments:
Post a Comment