PROVERB CONSIDERED: “Ohun tí a rí la fi ḿbọ párá ẹni; Bí igi tíná ḿbẹ lẹ́nu ẹ̀ kọ́.”
ENGLISH TRANSLATION: "One uses whatever one can find to fill gaps in one’s roof; That does not apply to a still-burning stick."
MEANING & BIBLICAL APPLICATION: The imagery that birthed this proverb is that of a mud hut with a thatched roof in a typical African village. While such a roof may occasionally have leakages, such gaps or leakages could be blocked by virtually anything—anything apart from a stick still spewing flames! The reason is obvious; rather than block a leakage or close a gap in the roof, such a burning stick will end up burning down the entire building!
The implication of the proverb is therefore quite obvious, viz: every seemingly sensible generalization has exceptions. To state it biblically, the fact that something is generally good does not mean it is good for you.
In the same vein, proverbs, as wise as they may be, are often based on generalisations which will need to be applied contextually, making the exemptions when necessary lest what was supposed to be wisdom becomes foolishness.
Scriptures Cited include:
✥ 1 Corinthians 6:12 MSG - "Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate."
✥ 1 Corinthians 10:23 NKJV - "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify."
LINKS TO LISTEN TO THE EPISODE
✥ My Website — https://www.josephkolawole.org/omoluabi/
✥ Other Platforms — https://pod.link/1550735589
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