Sometime in the 1990s, when I was still relatively young, I had an experience that taught me one of life’s most valuable lessons about property ownership, investment and the hidden blessings in disappointment.
At the time, I invested my hard-earned money in an uncompleted building. I committed my resources towards completing the property, moved in and lived there while gradually recovering my investment through an arrangement with the landlord.
For about seven years, I lived in that house, patiently recouping the money I had invested. However, just when I had finally recovered my investment, I was served a quit notice.
Imagine the disappointment! After investing my resources, time and energy in making someone else’s property habitable, I was suddenly required to leave.
But what initially appeared to be a painful setback turned out to be one of the greatest blessings of my life.
I eventually moved to the Government Reserved Area (GRA), where I purchased a property and built my own home.
Looking back today, I realise that the quit notice was not necessarily a punishment. It was a push towards something greater. Perhaps, without that experience, I might have remained comfortable in another man’s house for many more years, postponing the dream of owning my own home.
Sometimes, what we consider a disappointment is actually God’s way of redirecting us towards a better destination.
My message is simple: Every disappointment, when placed in God’s hands, can become a blessing in disguise.
There is nothing inherently wrong with improving a rented property, especially when such improvements are necessary for your comfort or form part of a mutually beneficial arrangement with your landlord. However, wisdom demands that you carefully consider the long-term implications of such investments.
You may spend years improving another person’s property, only to discover that your continued occupation depends entirely on the terms of your tenancy.
While you are helping your landlord build wealth, remember that you also have a responsibility to plan for your own future.
If you have the means and opportunity to acquire land, build a house or purchase a completed property, I strongly encourage you to consider doing so.
Homeownership comes with a special sense of fulfilment, security and peace of mind. There is something deeply satisfying about returning each day to a house you can truly call your own.
You no longer have to live with the constant anxiety of rent increases, unexpected quit notices or the uncertainty of decisions made by another person concerning the roof over your head.
Of course, building or buying a home requires planning, sacrifice, discipline and financial commitment. It may not happen overnight, and everyone’s circumstances are different. But the important thing is to have a vision and work consistently towards achieving it.
Start with what you have. Save diligently. Invest wisely. Avoid unnecessary extravagance. Make sacrifices where necessary, and trust God to bless the work of your hands.
The Bible reminds us in Psalm 127:1 (KJV):
“Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
This scripture teaches us the importance of placing God at the centre of our plans and aspirations.
However, prayer must be accompanied by purposeful action. Faith does not eliminate the need for hard work, financial discipline and wise decisions.
Pray as though everything depends on God, but work diligently towards achieving your dreams.
Above all, never allow life’s disappointments to destroy your determination.
That quit notice which appears to have shattered your plans today may become the motivation you need to achieve something greater tomorrow.
The landlord who asks you to leave may unknowingly be pushing you towards becoming a landlord yourself.
The setback that brings tears to your eyes today may become the testimony you joyfully share with others tomorrow.
My experience taught me that life does not always give us what we want, when we want it. Sometimes, it gives us the push we need to pursue what we truly deserve.
Build for your landlord if circumstances require it, but never abandon the dream of building your own home.
Pray about it. Plan towards it. Work for it. Save for it. And when the opportunity comes, take that important step.
Remember, a temporary setback does not mean permanent defeat.
Experience may be the best teacher, but true wisdom lies in learning from experience and using those lessons to build a better future.
May God bless the work of our hands and grant everyone aspiring to own a home the grace, resources and opportunity to achieve that dream.
Emeka Asoanya
(War Machine 1993)
