It is a candid truth that man is a banker provided by nature. The place of man as head of God's creation demands that a real man must be alive to his responsibilities. And the number one responsibility of a real man is to provide for his family and those under his care.

Furthermore, a real man must always be ready and able to take care of his family and those who depend on him. However, not many men are finding this very funny. Majority of men don't know how to go about this basic duty of a real man. Therefore, some have resorted to stealing, running away from home, putting up a bold-face or outrightly getting angry, annoyed and bitter when reminded of their God given responsibilities to their family and dependants.

In my estimation, lack of financial wisdom is the principal reason why so many men fail in their duties to their families. It is disheartening to note that many men failed to acquire the right financial wisdom that could have made them alive to their foundational responsibility to their immediate family.

A research about men showed that out of every 10 men,
9 are in debt; 8 work very hard but no money; 7 have no savings; 6 neglect their responsibilities; 5 are really struggling to survive; 4 depend on their wives; 3 have some savings and only 2 are financially okay.

No male can really claim to be a real man, a father, husband, leader and mentor without being financially free. Financial freedom for a man is a state whereby you are free from debt, doesn't depend on others for your livelihood, eating what you want and not what you see, being able to meet the basic needs of your family which are food, clothing and shelter.

Many men lack the financial wisdom to plan, pray, work strategically when they are young and agile. Unfortunately, when they get to 50 or 55 years, they are still working hard or they retire into poverty and penury. Some have bitten more than they can shew in the sense that they have too many children, dependants and responsibilities that make their expenditure to be more than their income.

How can you be free financially as a man? How can you plan your financial freedom? How can you work and not retire into poverty and penury of pensions? How can you carefully manage your finances? How can you take those manly decisions that will greatly help your financial independence?

As a man, you cannot afford to take your financial freedom with a hand of levity. Don't forget, if you are not financially free, you are not truly free. Furthermore, if your attitude to money is not right, you cannot be right in other areas of your life.

Finally, money says, 'with me you enjoy, without me, you endure'

Dr Francis Bola Akin-John President, Church. Growth Services Inc. Visit his website at www.churchgrowthafrica.org