THE PROVERBS 31 MAN

Mira Bliss University was usually quiet this time of year—most students had gone home for the long vacation.

Josephine Dairo hummed “Amazing Grace” softly as she walked through the corridors of the departmental offices. She was on her way to catch Dr. Bashorun, the Animal Science Department representative on the Disciplinary Committee, before he left for the day.

As she passed an open office, she heard voices drifting out. It was Dr. Korede’s office—the Departmental Advisor.

“Jesse Dairo is a great guy, actually,” a female voice said.

Josephine stopped abruptly. Jesse Dairo? That was her son.

The voice continued. “That guy is a very handsome young man, but he loves having fun. You wouldn’t believe that a no-nonsense, godly woman like his mother gave birth to him.”

Josephine froze in place, pretending to scroll through her phone, her ears straining to catch every word.

“I’m not saying her son is bad,” another female voice added, “but, man, that guy is hot. I won’t lie. He’s just enjoying life to the fullest.”

“He doesn’t drink like that, ooo,” a third voice chimed in, “but his friends? They drink in the club.”

“Yeah, I’ve noticed they go there just to unwind and bond sha,” said the second female voice.

A deep baritone joined in. “Come and see how sharp-eyed those ladies were, watching his every move in the club last night.”

Josephine winced. Last night? Jesse had skipped dinner at home for the club?

“Jesse was never like this,” she muttered under her breath. “Lord, what am I doing wrong? Where did we get it wrong?”

The conversation continued, but she had heard enough. Just as she was about to walk away, a shadow fell beside her. She looked up to see one of the students stepping out into the hallway.

“Good evening, ma,” the student greeted nervously.

Josephine forced a smile. “Good evening. How are you?”

“Fine, ma,” the young woman replied, fidgeting. Josephine recognized the voice—it was the one who had called Jesse “hot.”

Josephine cleared her throat. “Please go to my office. You’ll find two of my project students there. Tell them to bring my bags to the car park and lock up the office. We’re done for the day.”

“Yes, ma,” the girl said hurriedly, her voice tinged with apology, before walking off.

Josephine resumed her walk to Dr. Bashorun’s office, only to find the door locked. He had already left for the day. She sighed. This conversation can wait until tomorrow.

Turning back, she whispered, “Abba, please give me the wisdom to handle this young man of mine,” as the faint clicking of her heels echoed in the empty corridor.

---

The 2023 Toyota Fortuner glided smoothly down Ajose Adeogun Street, the soft melody of Don Moen’s Be Still playing through the speakers.

Jesse Dairo tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, lost in thought. Work had been hectic, thanks to a new client—a corporate organization with a case of alleged fund misappropriation.

His phone buzzed, and the text-to-speech app, Gemini, read aloud, “Text from Mum: Jesse, please remember you promised.”

Jesse frowned. What was going on? His mother rarely insisted he come home, but today she had been unusually firm. He recalled how she had called earlier, her voice calm but resolute.

“Obaloluwa, we need to talk,” she had said. Her words had lingered in his mind all day.

As he passed the glowing neon lights of “La Diva,” a popular spot on the street, he realized he was almost home. Moments later, he pulled up at the gate.

Abel, the gateman and gardener, swung the gate open. “Oga Jesse!” he hailed in his thick Saki accent as Jesse drove in.

The gate shut behind him, leaving the compound in silence. Jesse stepped out of the car and whispered, “Yeah, this is home.” One thing was certain—tonight would be a long night.

---

Josephine tried to stay calm, giving Jesse time to shower and eat before broaching the subject. She watched him closely as he finished his meal.

“Mom, thanks for dinner. I missed your cooking,” Jesse said with a laugh, draining the glass of water before him.

“You’re welcome, my son,” she replied, smiling. As he rose to clear the table, she added teasingly, “Soon, it’ll be your wife’s cooking you’ll be looking forward to after work.”

Jesse chuckled. “Well, if you say so. I just haven’t found the right woman yet.”

As he moved toward the kitchen, Josephine cleared her throat. Jesse paused mid-step and turned. “You’re holding something back,” he said, reading her expression.

“Yes,” she admitted. “I wanted to ask, was it at the club you were hoping to find her?”

His jaw dropped. “Mum, I—who told you?”

Josephine led him to the living room, gesturing for him to sit beside her. “Jesse,” she began, “I overheard some students at school today. They were talking about a ‘hot guy’ who frequents a particular club. Your name came up.”

Jesse groaned, dropping onto the couch. “Mum, I’m sorry. Lately, work has been so stressful…” He rubbed his face, struggling for words. “I just follow my colleagues there to relax.”

Josephine raised an eyebrow. “Yes, sometimes. But not all the time, right?”

Jesse sighed deeply. “Mum, I’ve been struggling. Work has been draining, and there’s this lady from Compliance invading my space…”

Josephine interrupted. “And I suppose you met her at the club?”

Jesse winced. “Unfortunately, yes. But, Mum, it’s not what you think. I don’t go there to ‘club.’ I just—”

“To relax, abi?” she interjected. “And how’s that been working for you? Do you feel recharged after leaving?”

Jesse stared at her in silence.

Josephine continued, her voice soft but firm. “Jesse, you’ve surrounded yourself with dischargers. That environment—the club—it drains you, spiritually and emotionally. You’ve abandoned your walk with God, and it shows.”

Josephine shook her head. “Were you at the last Holy Ghost Fire Night?”

Jesse sighed. “No, Mum. I’ve only been going to church on Sundays these last few weeks.”

Josephine clapped lightly. “Hmm. Jesse, you need to go back to your first love.”

She looked up briefly, as if sending a silent message to Heaven, before looking back at her son. “You have abandoned your walk with God. This is not how you started,” she whispered, her voice underlined with pain.

“Now, it’s not even about the club or not—it’s about your soul.”

Jesse looked at her in silence.

“Listen, I don’t know if you understand that only spiritual activities can refresh our spirit and, wonderfully enough, our body. There are some physical things we do that seem necessary—like our daily work—but they end up discharging and draining us. I know what I’m talking about. Even using your phone for long hours drains you physically, leaving you worn out and tired.”

Josephine leaned forward. “It is only in God’s presence that we can regain strength and recharge our spirit because of the various activities we engage in during the day.”

She shifted slightly. “Jesse, you’ve surrounded yourself with a lot of dischargers. If you’re not careful, you’ll get drained of every good thing you think you have in no time.”

“I figured you don’t drink, but your friends drink comfortably around you. Son, something is wrong.”

She shook her head. “Women are telling tales about you and flaunting themselves at you. Your soul is at risk.”

“God has blessed you at such a young age. You have a job that pays up to a million per month, you have your own house, and you literally have everything. The last thing you want to do is forsake the One who made you who you are.”

“You’ve been talking to me about being serious with marriage. But tell me, where do you want to meet her?”

He glanced at her. “Church, now.”

Josephine shook her head. “Which church? The one you attend only four times a month? The same one where some members may not even know you?” She laughed in disappointment.

“Jesse, you will marry your kind, because you will attract your type.”

“It’s not an angel you’ll marry. It’s those you surround yourself with that you’ll tend to consider. Don’t you see that you’re brewing trouble for yourself?” She shook her legs.

“You see, Jesse, I want you and me to be like Lemuel and his mother tonight, because I’m going to counsel you as Lemuel’s mother did.”

“Lemuel?” His brow rose.

“Yes, in the book of Proverbs. I’ve been studying that book, and when I read that part, the Holy Spirit taught me a lot of things.”

“You know, people talk and focus on the Proverbs 31 woman, but they miss the Proverbs 31 man, who, to me, is a valiant man.”

Jesse was listening.

“Lemuel’s mother talked about him in the first 10 verses, because it’s a valiant man who will find a virtuous woman.”

He looked at her questioningly.

“Yes, my son. In those verses, she told Lemuel some key things he needed to know to be a real man. I’m bringing you those same secrets.”

She shifted closer to him. “There are men who think they are real men by the world’s standards, but they are just wasters of resources, time, and money.”

“Lemuel’s mother warned him against women and wine. Son, those two W’s are what you must guard against if you want to go far in life.”

“Look at yourself. You are smart, you’re progressing so fast in your career and life generally. God has blessed and favored you. Like Lemuel, I know you feel you need a woman in your life, and you want a virtuous woman. But son, are you a noble man?”

“Are you a valiant man?” The question hung in the air as her son shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.

She continued, “Lemuel’s mother knew her son wanted a virtuous woman, but she made him realize the importance of being a noble man himself.”

“She wanted to raise a man who would be financially, spiritually, and morally responsible.”

“She was not raising a man who would change women like clothes.”

“She definitely knew how women frolicked around her son, so she warned him against leaning on them.”

“She told him that strong men and kings had been destroyed by one or both of the two W’s. You know Solomon and Samson.”

Jesse nodded.

“But we also know it’s possible to escape these things because Joseph escaped.”

“David fell because of indiscipline as a result of wanting a woman, but thank God he was restored.”

“Jesse,” she shook her head, “a wrong woman saps the strength of a man.”

“A wrong woman will drain a man and turn him into an empty barrel.”

“A woman who is not virtuous will make her husband miserable in the gates and before people.”

“When you open the door of your life to a wrong woman, you automatically disconnect yourself from the call of God upon your life, because things will become frustrating.”

“Personally, I also learned a lot from Mummy Lemuel. You see, it’s important for mothers to be like her.”

“She taught her son to be responsible and content. She shaped her son morally and made him understand that a real man is not the strong drinker. A man who wants to be relevant and make a lasting impact in life will not be a drinker.”

“She told him straight that strong drink is for a person ready to perish. She also advised her son to be good to the poor and the needy.”

“Is it only about you? Your money, your car, your house—how are you a blessing to the people around you?”

“When last did you even give your younger cousin money?”

Jesse stared at her.

“Those are just examples anyway. My point is, God has blessed you to bless others.”

He nodded in understanding.

“Jesse, in all, if you want a virtuous woman, please be a valiant man.”

“Be responsible, and she will come to you in no time.”

“Parents need to realize that no gender should be left untrained.”

“Lemuel was first taught by his mother. He was not a woman, yet she taught him. The world needs to take raising responsible and godly men very seriously, because if the daughters are godly and virtuous, where are the men who will know their worth?”

“Have you heard the phrase, ‘Why do the bad boys end up with good girls?’ You know what? It’s because those girls don’t realize their worth—that their price is far above rubies. Only a valiant man should be able to find a virtuous woman.”

“That’s true, ooo.” Jesse nodded.

Josephine wasn’t done. “Lemuel was already a king, but his mother still counseled him.”

“I am counseling you now. Jesse, please, be valiant.”

“Be a true man. The definition of a man is not the one popular among women or someone who drinks excessively, but someone who cannot be easily preyed upon by the two W’s.”

“Don’t you desire to become a man God can trust with His wonderful daughter?”

“Don’t you want to be a man whose woman can trust him to be faithful and wise in all his dealings?”

“My dear, I need you to take your walk with God seriously from now on.”

“Change your clique of friends.”

“If the club is the best place they have found to bond, then leave their bonding to them. The environment you relax in will eventually tell on you. One day, you will land in a Delilah’s lap.”

She put her right hand across his back. “Please, I need you to pray about this and act fast. God is taking you somewhere, and you cannot mess up now.”

Jesse’s eyes glittered with tears. “I will work on everything you’ve said. Thank you so much, Mummy.”

He sniffed, trying to contain his emotions. “I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused you. I won’t disappoint you.”

She pulled her son in for a hug. “I love you so much, son. You remind me too much of your father. You’re a part of his legacy.”

He nodded. “I know. I love you greatly. You mean so much to me.”

“Let’s pray together,” Josephine said, releasing him. She stretched her hands toward him, and he held them.

“Lord, thank You for Your son. Thank You for these timely warnings.”

“Lemuel had all these warnings from his mother, yet he failed. Jesse will not fail, in Jesus’ name.”

“Amen.”

“Give him the wisdom needed to navigate this situation, Lord, and help him to be who You want him to be, in Jesus’ name.”

“Amen.”

“Thank You, Glorious Lord, for we have prayed in Jesus’ name.”

“Amen,” they chorused.

“Thank you so much, Mum.”

“My pleasure. It’s my duty as your mother. I cannot watch you walk toward ruin.” She smiled thinly.

“Hmm,” he nodded.

“Yes, ooo. And by the way, I’m expecting my new daughter, ooo.”

Jesse laughed. “Don’t worry, she’s coming.”

“Don’t forget, you can only get a virtuous woman if you are a valiant man yourself.”

“I get you, Ma,” he responded, walking toward his room.

“Got work?” she asked him.

“Yes. I need to tidy up for my case tomorrow.” And he was gone.

---

Later that night, Jesse knelt in prayer, whispering, “Lord, help me to be the man You’ve called me to be. Make me a Proverbs 31 man.”

As his wristwatch beeped, signaling 5:00 PM the next day, Jesse closed the file he was working on. He was determined to attend Bible study for the first time in years.

Jide, his colleague, popped his head into the office. “Hey, mate, heading to Bella Quill tonight?”

Jesse smiled. “Not tonight, Jide. I’m going to Bible study.”

Jide smirked. “Bible study? Alright, Mr. Valiant Man. Let’s see how long that lasts.”

Jesse laughed softly with a firm resolve. “We’l

l see.”

As Jide left, Jesse whispered again, “Lord, for Your name’s sake, please help me.”

The journey had begun—one step at a time, toward being the man God intended him to be. The Proverbs 31 MAN.

…

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