When money rules you vs when you rule money: The difference between wahala and peace
August 20, 2025
Let me tell you something we don’t like to admit: money can either sweeten your life or scatter it. It’s one of the best servants you can ever have, but the moment you let it become your master, wahala starts.
Don’t vex yet, hear me out.
Back in 2016, I knew a guy: let’s call him Femi. One big contract landed on his lap and boom, millions entered his account overnight. Before anybody could say “naira to dollar,” he had moved to Lekki, changed his wardrobe, and even changed his circle of friends.
At first, everyone celebrated him. He was the guy of the moment. But then something subtle happened. Femi started trusting the size of his account more than the God who gave him the resources and even the breath to enjoy it. You could feel it in the way he talked, the way he walked, even the way he treated people.
And then reality knocked. Business slowed. The millions reduced. Suddenly, peace left his house. He became restless, snapping at people, jumping into quick risky deals just to “protect” his new status. You see, Femi had made money his master, and money is a very harsh master.
A better way to live
Now, let me gist you about someone else, Mama Fejiro. She’s a caterer in Ikeja. She doesn’t have millions sitting in her account. Most times, it’s a few hundred thousand here and there. But her joy? Infectious. Her trust? Solid. Her peace? Like that sweet, cool breeze after heavy Lagos rain.
Her secret? She never allowed money to sit on the throne of her heart. She worked hard, saved, invested little by little, but her peace wasn’t tied to whether her account was smiling or frowning. Her roots were in God, not in naira.
And that’s the real flex.
Because here’s the truth: money can buy comfort, yes. It can buy AC when NEPA decides to disgrace us, it can buy shawarma after a long Lagos day, and it can even buy a seat in business class if you like soft life. But money cannot buy peace. The day your entire life is built on it, the day it shakes, you’ll shake too.
Trusting God doesn’t mean ignoring money
Don’t get it twisted. Trusting God is not license to be lazy. It doesn’t mean you ignore money, sit at home, and start praying for manna.
No.
It means you work smart, save diligently, invest wisely, but your ultimate hope is not in the naira, the dollar, or even the pounds. It’s in the One who owns tomorrow. Because He owns it all.
That’s why those who put their roots in Him are like trees planted by rivers. Seasons come, seasons go. Dry season shows up, harmattan blows dust everywhere, but they still have green leaves. Their source is constant, regardless of the season.
So let me ask you: if your account balance halved overnight, would your peace vanish with it?
If your answer is yes, then maybe, just maybe, it’s time to shift your trust. From the gift, back to the real Giver.
Because here’s the simple truth, money will fade. The naira can misbehave, inflation can rise, and opportunities can dry up. But God’s faithfulness? E no dey expire.
The Bible even says it plainly:
“Trust in your money and down you go. But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.” Proverbs 11:28 (NLT)
Here’s my advice, as someone who has seen both sides:
- Work hard and smart – Don’t sit on vibes. Build something.
- Save and invest – Whether it’s small or big, consistency pays.
- Hold money loosely – Use it, don’t worship it.
- Stay rooted in God – Because that’s where unshakable peace lives.
That way, when money enters, you’ll enjoy it without fear. And when it reduces, you’ll still stand tall, because your foundation was never money in the first place.
Money is a terrible god but a wonderful tool. Put it in its place. Let it serve you, not the other way around.
Because true wealth isn’t just about figures in your account. It’s about peace, joy, and a life that is not easily shaken.
So, my friend, start today. Work, save, invest, but never forget who the real Source is. That’s how you flourish like leaves in spring, no matter the season.
Grab the gist?
