The Sunday Conversation | with Pastor Luke Okoro | 23. 01. 2022
2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 15:33. Proverbs 27:17.
4. Relationships l Network.
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Proverbs 27:17.
“Evil communications corrupt good manners” 2 Corinthians 15:33.
One area of great importance for the Christian journey maker is marriage and family life. The Bible is clear on who the believer should marry and how we should conduct our family life . The Bible is also mindful of whom we should do business with, the friends we should keep and the materials that should filter into our hearts through reading, watching , listening or hearing cum meditation.
Indeed the concept of relationship and network is all embracing , thereby tasking the believer to be keenly sensitive in the choices to make and the interests to develop. Relationship demands that you become responsible, deliberate and intentional in everything you do, anywhere you go , anything you eat or drink as well as the thoughts and imaginations you entertain. You cannot allow your mind and thoughts to run riot because you want to be creative, thoughtful and rigorous. Everything , anything and all things we do as Christian journey makers must come under serious scrutiny of the Holy Ghost, the Word and divine authority with established ancient landmarks and acceptable principles of integrity, honesty and sincere mindedness.
We must note that the parameters of assessment for the. Christian is far too high to be compared with those of OTHERS . This is why the world is always afraid of the CROSS . Indeed, beholding the cross where humanity was reconciled to God and sin judged, ,has remained offensive and a burden of guilt to those who PERISH — as they tenaciously battle to obliterate the image of the cross in human affairs.( I believe you are aware of the recent UK judgement obtained by Nurse Onuoha — who was relieved of her job because her boss hated the sight of a shiny little cross neckless on her neck) This is not, in anyway, an exception. It’s almost becoming a norm, across climes , in the same way that many object to praying in the name of JESUS CHRIST.
As we tread this part of eternity, the Christian on the Journey must be sensitive to all these subtle but unrelenting shenanigans meant to undermine their faith. We must actively and openly contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints by our Master and Savior Jesus’Christ. Jude v3. He bought it for us with His blood , so great a PRICE. This isn’t a trivia, beloved.
Yes, BELIEVERS on a journey must get their marriage and family life intentionally right . Tthere must be a sincere resolve to prayerfully make the right decisions on whom to marry , the kind of home and family life to pursue. In the main, contemporary believers now think that they can marry anybody they like, contrary to the Word of God . In 2 Corinthians 6:14-18,;;the Bible tells us that we should not be unequally yoked together with. unbelievers: because light and darkness do not have any relationship. Yes, the passage likened the Christian as God , who has no association with Satan. It’s strange that some BELIEVERS would see this kind of admonition and still go AHEAD to marry unbelievers, go into business relationship with unbelievers and enter into deep association, communication and communion with people who are on the contrary side. The Bible says two people can only work together if they both are on agreement. And that iron sharpens iron. On both scores, the Christian man or woman is disadvantaged because they are in a relationship where there will be neither agreement nor sharpening of each other. Yet, we need such agreements and sharpenings to encourage each other and to remain aflame , despite the challenges we face in the Journey . Darkness and light cannot meet, except Jesus died in vain .
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteous? a d what communion hath light with darkness?, Abd what Concord hath Christ with Belial?. or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
.., Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate; saith the Lord, a d touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you.
“And will a Father unto you , and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” 2 Corinthians6 14 -18.
. When you go contrary to this Biblical injunction, it’s deja vu that you have chosen the part of rebellion as Solomon did, and painfully paid for it . We can read his Lamentations in the book of Ecclesiastes. This also affected the kind of family he ran. Indeed, if your marriage is mired in wrong foundation, it will take heaven’s intervention based on Godly sorrow and genuine repentance to fix it, and for your Journey to sail through.
But should a Christian man or woman deliberately choose to marry any how? Perhaps, with the intention of converting the unbelieving spouse? So many brethren who chose this option in the past are still mired in its unsavoury taste . Many have made shipwreck of their faith. The Church is literally littered with so many abandoned marriages orchestrated by this unwise and carnal decision. We must not forget that our marriages are not subject to divorce or separation. This calls for greater caution especially for the Christian man whose prayer would remain hindered if he doesn’t treat the wife with due honor and respect even if she is an unbeliever. 1 Peter 3:7.
Similarly, we must be mindful of the friends we keep and those we go into business partnerships with. It’s regrettable that today, believers do not have clear cut boundaries in their friendships and business partnerships. This is absurd. As in the case of marriage, so should our friendships and business partnerships be. The truth is that the foundation of these dealings is truth and righteousness – which are scarce in the life of an unbeliever. So, why hurt yourself? The Bible asks whether a man can carry fire in his chest without being burned? And also tells us that friendship with the world is enmity with God. Your faith must determine your friendships , your associations and your communion. Anything short of this for the the MAN on the journey is like having faith in one – legged warrior for VICTORY on the day of battle. Only an insane would do that.
We also establish relationships by the books we read ,the videos and television programs we watch. When we read books especially, watch videos and listen to messages of other BELIEVERS, in particular, those who have gone before us, we are better equipped, going forward. We share in their inspiration and gain better insights to their lives and the challenges they faced, and how best to apply such knowledge in our journey. Paul told Timothy to bring him the books when coming to visit him in Rome. 2 Timothy 4:13. He didn’t read the Bible only. Whereas the Holy Scripture is complete in itself, cross reading makes the believer better able to deal with wider and broader issues in course of the Journey. Prophet Daniel tells us that he discovered by the books that Israel had over stayed it’s captivity in Babylon. Daniel 9:2. When you read others, you pick their brain, their mindset and their reason for doing what they do or did. With books you can share in the authors emotions . Some adopt mentors just reading their books. This is a higher level of relationship which demands that the man on the journey should develop mental bonding with those who had gone before by reading them, listening to them or watching them. Nonetheless, the most important is that such books, messages and videos must be healthy and in conformity with what we believe as Christian Journey makers.
As you journey along, the Believer should not forget to be a fellowshipper, thereby having an authority over him or her. The Bible says we must not forsake the gathering of the saints together because it is the spirit of unbelief to distance oneself from the church. Hebrews 10:25. It’s in the church that iron can sharpen iron more effectually.
The believer should also have a Prophet or Priest over him or her. Many make the mistake of journeying alone: Nobody to guide, nobody to consult and nobody to pray with , particularly in difficult conditions. This is dangerous, if not reckless, to do. Jesus sent His disciples in TWOs. Why do you want to journey alone? . The Holy Ghost sent out Barnabas and Paul. Later , Paul requested for John Mark because he was useful to him in the Journey. 2 Timothy 4:11.
You need a companion, you need a fellow journey maker. But more importantly you need a prophet , a priest over you for prayer support, for advise and sometimes, for emotional stability and direction. . Most often, the believer has to pour water into somebody’s hand to obtain this privilege, as in the case of Elisha with Elijah and Timothy and Titus with Paul. As you journey along strive for this rare privilege. Happy Sunday. God bless.
( To be concluded. )
•Pastor Okoro , a revivalist and marriage counselor, can be reached on:
08051000462.
January 23,
