28/07/2026
FOUNDATION
Two men built houses. The same structure, the same décor—everything that could be seen physically looked the same.
Then, as time passed, the rain came. The flood rose. The winds blew. And one of the two houses was swept away.
People became curious. They wanted to know what went wrong. When they looked deeper, they discovered something: one house was built on sand, while the other was built on rock.
Foundation.
This made me realize how much our foundation can affect our lives. What we build our lives on determines how well we stand when the storms of life come.
And while I do not mean to downplay the importance of societal values and morals, I can tell you firsthand that you need more than morals and societal values to navigate through life's challenges.
If all you have is your morals to guide you through life, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but morals can only take you so far. You need the fear of God.
The fear of God can withstand the test of time. Human morals, on the other hand, can change with society.
It takes an idea to kill an idea, and many of the morals we hold today are built on human ideas and are not necessarily biblically informed.
Our parents did what they believed was necessary to maintain the balance of life, and for that, we are grateful. However, these morals should never replace the fear of God in us.
"Train up a child in the way he should go..." — Proverbs 22:6
In the Middle Belt, particularly among the Tiv people in some families, I have observed that some children are raised more in the fear of men than in the fear of God.
They are told:
"Don't look an elder in the eye while talking to them."
"Don't steal because it will bring shame to the family."
"Don't fornicate because you might get pregnant and disgrace the family."
But what happens when the child grows up and leaves home?
Your child or ward will not remain with you forever. You cannot follow them everywhere. But God can.
"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." — Proverbs 15:3
So why not raise children to recognize God as the Alpha and Omega of their lives?
A child raised with good morals can easily be influenced by the people around them. But a child raised in the fear of God carries the consciousness of God's presence wherever they go.
"Train up a child in the way he should go..." — Proverbs 22:6
This is why you sometimes hear:
"And na pastor pikin be this o!"
Or:
"She used to be a good girl o!"
Yes, the parents are no longer there.
The child is now in a place where nobody is watching.
During my university days, I found myself in situations where morals alone were not enough to keep me standing. It was the fear of God that kept me.
I will admit that some situations floored me, but I learned from them as well.
"A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions..." — Proverbs 22:3
You may see one boy or girl behaving ungodly in the absence of their parents, while another chooses to do what is right even when nobody is watching.
It is not necessarily because the latter has more morals than the former.
It is because of the fear of the Lord.
The real question is not just, "What do you do when people are watching?"
The real question is:
What am I when no one is watching?
Is God pleased with what I do in secret?
Does my character glorify God, or does it bring shame to His name?
"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" — Psalm 11:3
Your foundation matters.
Build your life on Christ.
Because when the rain comes, when the flood rises, and when the winds blow, what you are built on will determine whether you stand.
Live the life!
Abigail N.Gbande
Image: my mum❤️
