Accra: Every day, I counsel young men and women who want to be rich by next week. They do not want to learn, they do not want to work, they do not want to wait. They want quick money. And this desire for quick money is destroying a whole generation. As a Pastor and a businessman, I must say this bitter truth: There is no quick money. There is only quick destruction.
According to Ghana Web, social media has created an illusion. Young people see flashy cars, designer clothes, and foreign trips online and believe that success is instant. Consequently, many have abandoned the path of diligence for the path of deceit. We are witnessing a surge in internet fraud, sports betting addiction, and ritual-related crimes. Many youths have lost their conscience, their future, and in some cases, their lives, in pursuit of money that has no foundation. Pastor Ernest Owusu quoted Proverbs 13:11 to back the warning: "Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase."
Pastor Owusu elaborates on three reasons why quick money will destroy individuals. Firstly, quick money has no peace. Money that is not earned with integrity will never give you peace of mind. You will always be looking over your shoulder. You cannot sleep well, you cannot pray well, and you cannot build a family with it. What is the use of money that takes away your sleep?
Secondly, quick money has no value. When you do not work for money, you do not know how to manage it. That is why money made quickly is spent quickly - on alcohol, womanizing, and show-off. But money that comes through diligence is managed with wisdom because you know the sweat behind it.
Thirdly, quick money has no future. A business built on fraud has no foundation. It will collapse. A career built on betting has no security. But a business built slowly with honesty, skill, and God will stand the test of time and can be handed over to your children.
To every young person reading this, Pastor Owusu says: Do not be pressured. Your time is coming. Instead of looking for quick money, look for quick skills, quick value, and quick discipline. The Bible says in Habakkuk 2:3, "Though it tarry, wait for it." Your success may tarry, but if you stay on the path of integrity and hard work, it will surely come. Let us return to the dignity of labour. Let us teach our youth that it is honourable to start small and grow slowly. God does not bless quick money. God blesses diligent work.