The Managing Director of Molusi Microfinance Bank, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State, Otunba Bayo Ogunbanjo was reacting to a recent directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria regarding recapitalization. The CBN has given ultimatum to Microfinance banks that type 1 category should beef up their capital base to 200 million naira, and he wanted further clarification. After saying a number of useful things that are of interest to the banks, he veered off to some unfamiliar terrain when he said, “the Bible says if you ask God for three things and God grants you one, you should be thankful.”

Rhetoric or human opinion cannot defeat the devil; only God’s word can do that.

Well, I know the Bible speaks extensively of giving thanks to God; but I have never come across a verse stipulating what the MD referred to. That was another attempt of how we try to read rhyme into scripture. You probably know of other human opinions being held as God’s word. Not a few believe that “heaven helps those who helps themselves” to be a verse of scripture. You may have others accredit to the Bible that money is the root of all evil. A little infraction can make entire mess of God’s word and render it ineffective. On three different occasions that the devil tempted Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry, he was rebuffed not by hearsay or popular opinion. Jesus got the victory by accurately relaying what was written. The devil had no answer to the authentic word of God, and he had no choice but to leave Jesus alone on that occasion. Rhetoric or human opinion cannot defeat the devil; only God’s word can do that. So seek to know and apply the word accurately for a life of victory. Learn to keep it real as far as the word is concerned.