AN OLD LION CAN SUFFER LACK!

AN OLD LION CAN SUFFER LACK!

"Aha! An old lion! Even an old lion? I doubt it."

But, you don't have to trek too far. You don't need to hold onto your doubts for too long. I know your perception is that old lions ought not to lack. "Old" should give them the edge. "Old" should position them for being wiser and experienced hunters. The lion, king of the jungle metaphorically! Why would he ever go hungry? However, the coin doesn't flip like that. What appears to us as written on the wall is that, "the old lions do suffer lack."

"Old" in this defined sense made them unfit, outdated and weak in field games - like hunting, racing and outcompeting other predators and prey. "Old" in this sense evidently proves their mentality has shifted to wanting security than exploring. They're pampering and convincing themselves therefore to accept having entered retirement. As such, they stay indoors - in their 'dens' as their keenness and sharpness for hunting has seriously deteriorated - revealing sluggishness like never. Note, the literal lion lives in the open and in the grasslands. Not in permanent dens. 

When hungry therefore, they might have to make do with the fresh carcass that they may find. When it is not available as fresh, they are forced to scavenge and eat decaying meats when prey is scarce or when it's simply easy to afford. At other times when nothing works in their favour, they go hungry and enter the lacking phase actively from where they can experience the extinction phase. 

Do you know anything about lions? What do you have at hand on them? To make this a more established work, I'll give you an AI overview of the question I asked Google in order to prove my side to you. The question was, "do old lions suffer hunger?" The reply was simple but poignant. 

"Yes, old lions often suffer from hunger because age and weakness prevent them from hunting successfully or defending their kills from other predators like hyenas. As a result, they may die miserably due to starvation, becoming vulnerable and ultimately perishing for lack of prey."

Without having searched Google, I explained the same thing initially through the revelation from the Bible verse the Holy Spirit gave to me for this teaching. Here's it!

Job 4:11, KJV

"The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, [and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad]."

I didn't need to check Google because I had believed the Bible's report before I checked for you to clear your own doubts on that [if any] against some suppositions. 

When the Bible says, "the old lion perishes for lack of prey...", it is stating an obvious fact. A very obvious one at that. It is telling us what has been long researched, known and held unto. It won't be now that it'll change. It is a proven fact that, "old lions (in the literal lion) do suffer lack and perish." And by extension, another "lion" which you'll soon see. 

Meanwhile, the crux of the matter is how the Holy Spirit highlighted this passage for me. The Holy Spirit said, "Olusola, do you know that old lions do suffer lack and perish eventually?" I gave Him attention. Then He said, "watch old people, aged people who once were active but now are retired from various works and walks of life; at times many of them suffer lack and end in poverty towards the tail end of their lives." Just like Google describes the literal lions, they also do fall miserably. In defining the scarcity that do befall them, professionals called it, "old age poverty." You [my reader] personally know many people who didn't die wealthy and well even if they were once okay or had fared well at a time. It might have brought a rude shock seeing the end of "the once great." Imagine!

Yet, these were once active civil servants, traders, business operators, sole proprietors or entrepreneurs of a time earning steady salary/income by which they could be sustained. However, what's their experience now? Their confession is that, "life while in active service is better economically for me than now that I've retired and can no longer hunt for meat."

Should it be? I'm asking you, "should the old lions suffer lack?" "Should they be the ones with this sorrow?" "I thought at this age they should be comforted." I know the kind of sympathy that has hit you now. You're feeling for them. For some, they're scared and wondering what would become of them too. You can be saved. You can staunch the 'blood' flow and live healthy.

I was touched at heart and deeply moved at why people who once moved mountains at work, programmed, operated, computed, played (in games/sports), traded, competed, challenged and even accumulated some medals, trophies and made some marks for it are now the old monkeys that cannot find their way or play tricks on the trees tops anymore. I said, "God, what a situation! What a disaster? This must not happen to us! This must not happen to anyone." He told me, "it's for that I'm coming for you and many who'll read this and incline a heart of wisdom by putting measures in place that'll continue them to live fat even in old age when they cannot run helter skelter again. You can be one who laughs in time to come. How? If you'll let strength and dignity be your clothing now.  

Proverbs 31:25, KJV

"Strength and honour [dignity] are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come."

I nodded to the Holy Spirit and asked, "Teach us that we'll not be devastated." I could sense Him strongly with me. Like a father holding His son's hand, He held mine and led me on into some valuables that were worth it which He wanted to renew in your heart. 

"Every wise person always holds water against their thirst." It is unwise trying to put preparation on ground only after being cornered. Why not get ready at a distance?

God told me, to avoid the lack of old age, avoid the myth of the 'dozen children.' 

It is this myth that made some parents give birth to children they have no preparation and capacities to raise - leading to expenses that drained what they could have done for themselves or become for the preservation of their old age. They were deceived into thinking, "the more they have (children), the likely the chances of those who would make it or look after them at old age."

First, get to a place of strategy where you're not waiting for your children to bring hither and thither before you'll put your hand to the mouth. That's Grade A evil and you should avoid it. Let the dew of your youth labour and plough the ground now in the favour that God will surround you with. As you gather from your harvest often, deposit some in preparation for those "old days." It can be an investment that you're even running simultaneously with other things but ensure it's not only gratuity or pension. 

It may be the holding of enough landed properties in places that'll make you a millionaire after forecasting into its future or holding of anything of such stance that can finance your sustenance then. What matters is to be able to continue in old age (when some natural difficulties are earmarked to everyone). In famine and at tough times, continuing and still taking sustenance like former days is key (I Kings 17:9). 

If you rely on gratuity/pension only, future inflation will disturb, vex and wreck it. Only the institution that has been holding it really makes turnover from it. It'll therefore be corroded and rusted. It can't withstand the coming pressure and the demands of years to come. So, devise to raise something that can grow with the growth of time and development. If it does appreciate, it'll keep its relevance to equate with the time it lives in. 

Parents who give birth beyond their means - economic capacity will be forced to share their little among many yet it won't satiate. As such, the many they have will not be effectively raised and be their sure trees to lean on. This way, they cannot even bank on those children as they had falsely hoped. 

It is such children you see fending to raise themselves and until they're balanced, they cannot take a careful thought for the other person. It is such children you hear say, "what I suffered, my children won't suffer!" That may be true if they'll be wiser than their parents. Without an action plan, a whole cycle can be inherited and repeated. It's such children you hear saying, "I could have gone farther than this but I had no man" [to push me to the destination] - John 5:7.

It means there's a knowing, guilt and dissatisfaction in their chest that they themselves haven't become successful let alone avoid the repeated cycle. 

So, give birth to a few, then lavish your (corresponding few or average resources on them) to raise children like the nobles' and those at the top echelon of the system.

Don't you know that raising children is stressful? It's demanding! It's actually 'dying' for one's children to live. It is giving oneself away. Is that what you want to use your whole life to do (even if you have the resources)? Sacrificing, staying restricted (at home) especially for mothers, being concerned as they grow, spending yourself and all resources isn't a little expenditure. Yet, some will keep nurturing into their sixties or even seventies just to raise children. 

What about your own dreams? That something to become. The very one you've always pined doing. The one you need to express to the degree of possessing inner rest eventually. Like Jacob asked, "when will I have time to prepare for my own house also" (Gen. 30:30)? Don't you know it is in servicing your purpose and becoming its demands and bringing it to pass that you can even furnish a good future for your children. This matter is, "in your light we see light." So, give them a platform to spring up from instead of seeking to rise from the very ground they walk on. Or do you lack awareness that it's in your purpose you can have your old age provided for at a good level? If you're pursuing a career/calling, ensure you become outstanding in it as a youth. You see, many even marry without having begun to live purposefully - without having entered into their way or become something. So, they began raising kids on empty stomachs that early without time to realize, grow and become their real selves. They substituted finding themselves to obtain children. They're deceived to think they'll have joy by that only to discover how aggravated they were after having the sex and having the children but with no proof of purposeful living that can satiate, assure, encourage and endorse a booming future. No! Not living out purpose will trouble you. It'll leave a gorge that nothing can satisfy in you. You can't think or wish it away. Taking alcohol every night can't wear that dissatisfaction off. Therefore find your road [where your greatness is hidden] and pursue it. Become a man of war from your youth (I Samuel 17:33). Find yourself early. By the time you grow midway, you're as popular and a 'terror' in your field as Goliath of Gath whose the staff of his spear is as the weaver's beam. He is a man of great resume (I Samuel 17:4-7). He was confessed to be a champion. How lucky the Philistines were having him?

Those who stand out in their calling are those who usually become men of war and managers even from their youth. Maintain that form until departure from active service. At retirement, they'll call you a veteran, master of the trade, J.J. Okocha of the craft - someone that cannot be forgotten but often remembered, honoured and even called back by the system for consultations and advice. News will still pick you up and call you a set-man, legendary and unforgettable though not on the active public scene but on the shelf. All these will only make your relevance far reaching. Though in retirement, you're not old but new. The incoming will even rever you, admire you for the records set (that still speak) and aspire to be like you. It is you they'll feature on their platforms saying, "only who knows the way should be followed and trusted to instruct other men alike."  And when you render such services at old age to those who acknowledge who you were and are now to them, it comes not without a cap but with honour, reward, stipends and showers of blessings. Their estimation for you would make them reward you more than you could or had offered. It'll be disguised in, "a living legend must be celebrated while alive." They'll even add a prostration. 

That's what it means to still be eating the seeds you have planted. But you must ensure you climb that ladder into the limelight. You must be recognized. Once the light is on you and leaves with the light still beaming, you'll have written yourself in the system, rules, workings, hearts of men and archive of records. This way, you'll keep reoccurring even while retiring and sipping tea in your den. Your name will be mentioned! Your quotes will be used! Your frame will be hung by your ardent followers! Your enemies will still criticize you! Philosophers will still critique your works and all these will only flow currency and relevance into your purse (even at old age). At such old age, they can name a street after you and treat you to the toast and joy of the mainstream. For being a sea still and salt that retains its savour, you can enter into consulting and even become senior adviser to senior men of their days (including those youngsters in politics and what have them). 

Furthermore, avoid their trap - the trap that caught some. The trap of whatever my eyes see, I will buy, experience and give me [buy myself] - Eccl.2:10. Don't forget, the eyes cannot be tired of seeing nor the ear filled with hearing (Eccl. 1:8). So master discipline by the act of deliberate bridling of your body [horse]. The trap of, "nobody knows tomorrow, give a treat to yourself today" has successfully ruined or sent some to their early grave. Chibuike Onu's poem, The Government Driver on His Retirement warns against throwing caution in the air and disrobing from the precautions that have kept you alive and secured your head for ages. The devil is an opportunist. He goes around like a roaring lion looking for whom to devour. If your door is slightly opened through indiscipline and recklessness, then he can enter and widen that access by a combination of blows, jabs and battering he'll administer to you. His venture is to quickly do harm [steal, kill or destroy] and gain good ground he can contest with you or defend later on. It'll take a miracle to recover from how he'll invade and rush you with blows if you lose guard.

Life spent strategically however is wise. But that previous saying is a canvasser of wastefulness and a romancer of early death. Rather, critical thinkers are those who cast their bread on water and give portions to seven or eight because they don't know the unforeseen contingency that could come on earth (Eccl. 11:1-2). Such rather scatter seeds abroad and hope that even if some fall by the road side, on the rock, amidst thorns, there'll still be some that'll fall on the good ground - bringing forth in a hundred, sixty or thirty folds (Matt.13:8). Even after the scattering and after the losing of some gateways to harvest, the ones that fell on the good land may not offer the best of outcome to individual seed scatterers. It could come as abundant, huge, fair or little for individuals. For this reason, you must seriously scatter abroad and give portions to many.  

Build a community and belong to a community. Give to the community and worry less about return. When you give, you'll be given (Lk.6:38). It's not a lie even if it won't be through the same people you gave to that you'll reap. And may I tell you, returns often come with dividends. The Bible cannot be broken. If you'll be of service to many people while young and agile; if you'll support dreams and nurture the visions of many - sponsoring and raising men even if it'll be in your niche, circle or the calling God has given you, do. He that waters shall be watered (Prov.11:25). No be lie! That's why that same verse says, "the liberal soul will be made fat." That fatness results from accumulations or yielded dividends of sowing.

It'll come back. As simple as that is, it can be the means through which you'll secure your old age. Many elderly people have been adopted by someone they once sown into, ploughed his field or encouraged. The Bible wrote this concerning widows who are real widows and should be catered for. 

II Timothy 5:9, ESV

"Let a widow be enrolled (adopted) if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, (I'm sure this may include adopted ones), has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work" [emphasis mine in brackets].

Did you see what your deeds should be? According to Paul, those are those who should expect a return or a re-investment (that is, return investment as compensation for their having laboured once upon a time when they were much able). You, do you have any work? Are you doing any work?

For short, do good to everyone. Raise people up while you have the office, pen, ink, desk, mouth, standing, uniform, official phone, letter head, quarters, allocation, allowances etc". 

If you're a selfless person, truly selfless, you can take this further by creating an NGO in order to see to people's welfare though it is an open secret nowadays that many NGOs are only established for personal benefits and enrichments of individuals but under the colour of meeting the general public's needs.

The Spirit writing this wants to bring it to an end and it means, "don't push it further." It means the anointing is lifting as the excitement is dousing. So, I'll begin to stay my hands. I guess there are no more voids or gaps to fill that the already shared knowledge can't fill. Summarily, secure your old age. Just don't eat everything today that your land has brought forth plentifully. Time of youth and active service is an opportunity but it's also a season. It'll pass. If you know this, you'll build for yourself (not for any Pharaoh), storehouses and treasure cities (Gen. 41:56; Exodus 1:11) that can hold the goodness of the Lord, goods and goodies of those good years against the incoming '7 years of famine.'

I'm hearing concerning some of you. "You need to re-strategize and pull down your old barns and build new ones that can contain" (Lk.12:18). Put new plans on ground that will attack effectively and maximize this teaching. 

You'll be lucky to have escaped from old age poverty if you die seven years after retirement. But you know as I do that you'll want to live long. Naturally, even in poverty, many would leave beyond 70s (for instance). So, why won't you dig deep - burrow into the soil, carry treasures away and hide them. 

The story of some invalids came to mind. They were a total write-off. Lepers in Israel don't live in the city but without. The Bible says, in II Kings 7:8, "And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it." 

Until then, they never announced their find to the palace. Secure yourself without depriving humanity of your kindness and service. Those lepers did it strongly. It was the principle of pouring the water until it flows round the altar and extends to the trench. 

I Kings 18:34-35, KJV 

"34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. 35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water."

Do this and find balance in the fear of God. Don't kill, don't steal but willingly work with your hands. 

Proverbs 31:13, KJV

"She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands."

Ephesians 4:28, KJV

"Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth."

Remember, what goes round comes round. The acts of today (good or bad) will speak for/against you tomorrow. 

May you cultivate the heart of wisdom by this. 

Olusola ADEJUMO,

M'Wings. 

Morning Wings Ministry,

Nigeria. 

morningwingsministryplus@gmail.com

25/08/2025