LOVE WELL
Dearly beloved’, boomed the voice of Reverend Sam, ‘you must always show love. It is a royal law. Show love today, show love tomorrow, show love always. Let us continually remember 1 John 4:7 & 8’.
Members of the congregation sanctimoniously nod their heads. He continues to preach as I yawn (for the third time) and look around. Every body’s face is sober and serious in their Sunday suits and fancy, expensive dresses. Their noses are raised high in the air, legs crossed at the ankles and hands piously clasped together. Everybody is feeling ‘Holy’.
I sigh as I look round this gathering of believers. A gathering of proud bankers, politicians, oil workers, business tycoons, financial gurus and the likes. All dressed to the heavens. The Reverend preaches on as people walk into church and fill the pews.
I sit at the back of the church in my designer clothes, beautifully coiffed hair and exquisite make-up.
I fit in but the woman who shuffles into church and catches my attention doesn’t.
You should see this woman – torn skirt and shirt, bathroom slippers and an unkempt hair. The uneven braids on her head should be more than six months old. Incredible.
More noses in the air. The usher doesn’t even bother to lead her to a seat. She walks down the aisle looking for an empty seat and like magic, all the open spots disappear. Because of her unusual fashion statement, nobody scoots over for her to sit. She walks down to the front and still doesn’t find a seat. Finding herself at the front of the church with no seat, she sits down of the floor between the pulpit and the front pew. You can imagine the tension in this conservative church. She had interrupted the church service with her very poor dressing and her sitting position. Even our beloved Reverend is stunned and hasn’t said a word of ‘love’ since she her arrival. I shake my head and laugh.
In the silence, I get up, hold my head high and make my way to the front of the church. I make my way to where she sits. I don’t say a word, but with great deliberation, I sit down beside the poorly dressed woman and put my hand around her. Today, she is my companion. She looks at me and smile. I feel good as I smile back. With raised eyebrows, I brazenly look the Reverend in the eye as he continues his sermon on ‘The Royal Law of Love’. His voice is not booming much now.
Discrimination in any form is a sin in the eyes of God. James 2:1-13 gives us the full gist. We do not live in a perfect world, so we see people discriminated against for the slightest reason such as race, gender outward appearance or age. We see this occur at times in church. Believers favour the rich over the poor much the same way they did in Biblical times. However, we do know that God does not look on the outer man, but judges us based on who we are and not what we may appear to be.
Social discrimination is not compatible with anyone who expresses faith in Christ. It shows a distinct lack of sensitivity to the church’s calling to be conformed to the image of Christ. It blasphemes the name of God by insinuating that He has a greater love and respect for the rich than He does for the poor. This, of course, is not true.
I still think of when the church would move away from showing partiality, making distinctions and judging people based on outer appearance.
Loving your neighbour as yourself means treating others as we would want to be treated and showing mercy to others as we would want to receive from them. Living as children of God will stimulate us to embrace one another in Christ as we are embraced by Him.
Live well. Love well.
Posted on February 17, 2014, in Dear Jesus and tagged Discrimination in church, God's love, Outward appearance, Showing Love. Bookmark the permalink. 32 Comments.
Ezar's Chronicles 
Ezar my dear,we live in a world dat is unpredictable nd where u hv 2 deal wit some person’s idiosyncracies.I share ur views about loving d poor nd d needy.But many times i tried 2 share this love wit my church members,it was rejected.Some of d poor/needy hv this attitude-problem,an air of arrogance dat says,..’what can u offer me dat my God cannot give me’?They forget dat God uses human vessels as channels of blessings.B/c of their ignorance,they dont hv d right attitude 2 receive gifts frm d brethren.Some are poor,but hv a terrible ‘ego’problem dat they must allow d Holy Spirit 2 deal with or they wont b positioned 2 receive love.
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Sis Bimbo,u are right!Yes,i gave new ankara materials(6yds each) 2 a widow nd a sister in my church whom i thot needed them.Later i discovered dat they gave them away.Why?They claimed they were not beggars!Thats love spurned nd ‘hypocritically’ rejected.A very wrong attitude dat will keep some away frm loving in kind.
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When d poor in our midst wuld not accept their position,but rather choose to live in denial,competing wit those dat can help them,then there is a problem.Once i tried 2 give a ride to my brother in church who apparently didnt have a car.He told me dat i shouldnt bother b/c he was almost near his house.But as i drove away nd looked through d rear-view mirror,i saw him join a bus.So who is fooling who?
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Thumbs up dumebi. The good Lord will help us all. Thank you dear n God bless ur ministry.😘
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Right now,i am looking for a driver,a househelp nd a cleaner for my office,to employ.Announcements were made in church with our teeming youth,but till date none came around though unemployed.This is d case of wanting d ‘dash’nd not d ‘wage wit d accompanying labour’.Nigerians take up menial jobs in US,but not in Nigeria.The youth should know dat there is dignity in labour if we should live well nd love well.Ezar,dont be surprised if dat girl dat came 2 church in tattered clothes wont refuse ur offer 2 work 4 a living.
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Heyyyyyyyy! I am beginning 2 have a phobia for the ‘wells’-marry well,live well nd love well.When 2 or more people are involved,wit differing opinions,it becomes unachievable b/c u cannot violate their will ‘for’ or ‘against’.U might have good intentions 2 marry well,live well nd love well.What happens wen d others involved reject/refuse nd trample down ur good intentions 2 do everything well?Rem,life is about ‘give’ nd ‘..take’.It takes 2 to tango.However,like our Lord Jesus,we shuld keep loving.We can now love Him b/c He first loved us nd didn’t stop loving us.Add a little prayer to our loving,nd we will get amazing praise reports of love received nd appreciated!!!
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Indeed,this is a season of love nd this post on love is timely.Years ago,people readily gave love,received love nd appreciated love.But not so today in Nigeria,where wicked nd occultic people in our midst have destabilized d atmosphere of love wit wickedness.They have made everyone a ‘suspect’,so dat u suspect anyone dat offers u food wen u are hungry….as giving u love portion,or poison 2 kill.Orphanages suspect those dat come 4 adoptn….perhaps they are ritualists.Gone are d days wen during Christmas ppl visit 2 eat wit friends,neighbours nd even loved ones.When u do,it is wit great faith nd much prayers.As Christians,we should strive 2 have an intimate relationship wit d Holy Spirit,2 be led by Him.Someone is saying…but perfect love casts out fear.The same Bible says….See then dat u walk circumspectly,not as fools,but as wise,…….b/c d days are evil. (Eph5:15,16).Freely as u have received d love of God,freely nd copiously give.But be led by the Spirit 2 love in ‘kind’.Some persons lovingly gave out cash,nd ended up wit ‘leaking pockets’.Last Halloween,some children were poisoned through sweets/biscuits.Don’t fall prey 2 satanic ‘love tricks’. U guys dat had a’ wonderful’ valentine day…..u might have slept wit a demon in human form who transferred into u a legion of demons 2 truncate ur destiny.Trace ur relatnships to real families nd real villages 2 avoid catastrophy in d name of love.BE VIGILANT.
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Brethren,i have a pastor friend,whose wife was heavily pregnant.Their storehouse was dry nd they didnt have food 2 eat.One old woman,their neighbour,came knocking wit tubers of yam,to love them well.This old woman made sure dat there was no other person in d house dat can identify her if her plans worked.Wen d coast was clear,she dropped d food items nd left.The pastor nd d wife were happy nd tanked God 4 d ‘love gifts’.As they were about 2 cook the yam,the Holy Spirit warned them not to.But they were very hungry.Suddenly d Pastor came up wit a satanic alternative-bless nd sanctify the food.They disobeyed d voice of d Holy Spirit,cooked the yam,blessed,sanctfied nd ate it.They became very sick nd were dying.They pleaded mercy 4 disobeying d voice of d Spirit.To save d wife,the baby had 2 go.With d help of fellow men of God,they received mercy at d point of death nd survived.Meanwhile d old woman travelled out,2 await d news of their death which d Lord cancelled.This is not nollywood,but a true story of ‘loving well unto death’.Brethren,lean not on ur own understanding(Pro 3:5,6).Be led by the Holy Spirit,nd ask Him 4 a discerning heart 2 discern wen something is not right,wit a check in ur Spirit.
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Ezar,i can identify wit ur storyline dat indicts the stingy,arrogant rich that refuse 2 identify wit d plight of d poor nd needy around them.They build empires around them 4 themselves,their children nd 4 their children’s children.In Church,they flaunt their wealth around,buying up Church titles or sponsoring projects dat will bear their names.Meanwhile d widows,orphans,poor nd needy in their midst are neglected.These are ‘affluent’Christians who call d shots nd make sure their persons are in positions of authority.If its in some churches,dat preacher of love will be transfered out or retired 4 preaching d truth nd 4 allowing d tattered looking girl 2 come 2 d front nd cause them much embarrassment.I look forward 2 d time wen like in d early Church we will be one in heart nd mind,share our possessions,wit NO needy persons around us.That is religion undefiled(James1:27).
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These are perilous times.Things are not as they appear.Shine ur eyes…look before u leap.Nevertheless,Jesus loves u nd so do I………Loi !!!
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Guys,beware of d ‘love’agents of darkness dat are frm d marine kingdom 2 seduce u nd love you u well.Sexual relationships wit them will endanger ur life nd destiny.Let their beauty not lure u into bed-all dat glitters is not gold.KNOW UR PARTNER DAT COMES IN THE NAME OF LOVE!
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Love well?I am mercy,nd live my name by showing mercy nd compassion.I saw a lady in my Church dat appeared ‘needy’nd homeless,wit this deeper life/higher life dress code nd attitude dat drew me close 2 her.Wit her tales of woe,i decided 2 offer her my home,until we can settle her.About six mths of loving her real well,i discovered dat she was an agent of darkness specially planted in my church wit d main purpose 2 destroy my prayer life,nd eventually my marriage through an adulterous relationship wit my husband.My midnight prayers was 2 hot 4 her 2 handle.This led 2 her confession of who she is nd her mission 2 my home.Infact her Christian dress code nd ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude was part of d game plan 2 get my attention.My flesh overcame my spirit,nd i forgot 2 seek the leading of d Holy Spirit b/4 bringing her into my home.That was my undoing.Brethren,things are not as they appear.Looks are deceptive.No wonder the devil parades himself as d angel of light.Always seek d guidance of the Holy Spirit.He will give u a check in ur Spirit,nd u will know what to do 2 overcome d wiles of d devil.Live well nd love well only by d Spirit of God!Shalom
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‘The Royal law of love’!Who doesnt love royalty……the authority nd glamour dat goes with it?Rem as a church,we are also a royal priesthood.Yes,love is d hallmark of our Christianity,b/c d love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by d Spirit of God(Romans5:5).There must be a deliberate effort on our part 2 love,nd 2 love sacrificially,even wen it hurts,nd wen it is not convenient.Except we practice 2 love,it will be only mere words from d pulpit……we shuld talk nd do or work our talk. Rev Sam,show me ur faith,nd i will show u the FAITH THAT WORKS BY LOVE(Galatians 5:6).B/c we are faithless,we are also loveless.As we exercise our faith,we should also exercise love by practising it.Faith nd love MUST work together 2 impact our world our Lord Jesus!
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It is written,Love ur neighbour as you love yourself(lev.19:18).But can someone who does not love himself/herself,love another?No wonder Jesus gave us a new commandment,”…..That you love one another;as i have loved you,that you also love one another”(John13:35;15:12).Yes,d former command for ‘fallen man’ is selfish nd cannot love another.The new command for d ‘new creation man’is sacrificial nd unselfish….’as i have loved you’!True love is to love like Jesus,the love of 1Corinth13:1-8….the love dat is willing 2 die for another….and they loved not their lives unto the death(Rev12:11b).Lord Jesus help me 2 love my enemies,to love d unloveables,to love my persecutors nd 2 love in difficult situations….in d face of d contradictions of men,Amen.
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Ihe Royal law….love as u wuld want 2 be loved,nd The Golden Rule….do to others what u wuld want them to do to u,are from one SPIRIT nd so must work together for d good of all.
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If u love only those dat love u,you have no reward,……for unbelievers do the same thing.Go the extra mile nd love those dat do not ‘deserve’ur love(Matt 5:44-48).
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Why did u give ur life 2 Jesus Christ?Was it b/c u love Him nd appreciate Him 4 taking ur place,2 die 4 you,OR b/c u want 2 escape hell?The former will enjoy a wonderful vertical love relationship wit the Lord dat will also bring him/her into a sacrificial horizontal love relationship with neighbours.Except we truely love d Lord,we will not truely love our neighbours,for God is love.Those dat come 2 Christ not b/c they love Him,but want 2 escape hell,have not experienced d true love of God nd therefore can not truely love.
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For relationships b/w the opposite sex,we must draw a big line b/w LUST and LOVE or we end up breaking hearts in d name of lust.How about a big line b/w ‘pity’ nd ‘love’?Wen we know d differences,we can escape delusion nd embrace true love.
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I am the love child of d love God,nd i choose 2 love and not 2 hate.I want 2 love nd be loved in a love-starved world……Lol!!!
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I am from a polygamous family dat is loveless,wit intrigues, suspicions,hate,bad-belly….etc.My family examplifies household wickedness.To God be all d glory,i have given my life 2 Christ wit my heart flooded wit d love of God.I am trying 2 love my family members,but b/c they dont know love,they reject my acts of love.Some of them even see it as an act of weakness 2 love.I am praying dat one day,they will also experience d Love of God thru salvation,so dat they can love nd b loved!
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Indeed,some have never really known love b/c of their background.When u meet such,they are often nasty,wit attitude problem.I believe dat we dat ‘know’ love should teach them.By d help of d Holy Spirit,they will learn 2 give love,nd also receive love.
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You know what? A mustard seed love today,like faith,can grow into a mighty tree 2moro.Love grows.Give love a chanceooooooooooo.
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I fancy ‘Oyibo love’.They know how 2 love well.They understand dat love-bond is strengthened thru touch…hugs,holding hands,kisses/pecks…etc. Not ‘Niger love’dat is so rigid/cosmetic!Some men can’t even hug their wives or hold their hands.If they can’t love their wives,who can they?Pastors,be romantic.Isaac was seen sporting Rebecca(Gen26:8).My Niger people,love well nd live well.
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For God so loved the world dat He gave His Best/His Son.What are we giving back 2 our beloved nation,Nigeria,as an act of our love?Well, i give my time nd fast my food 2 pray for Nigeria.Brethren,start where u are.Nigeria needs our love in this hour of great need.Pray 4 d peace of Nigeria…against Boko haram scourge nd against corruption.
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Do u know dat those u truely love are those dat hurt u most?But dat wont stop u frm loving.Like our Lord Jesus,we forgive them 4 they know not what they do.Let love continue.
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We often hear dat respect is reciprocal….u give respect nd u get respect.Mmmmmm..not so wit love.For love.it is more blessed 2 give than 2 receive.Don’t be stingy wit love……give it away.
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I am beyond appalled to read of the various accounts of love gestures gone wrong. Should we cease to live simply because one died? Be kind to one another, show love to the less privileged and be Christ-like in your beliefs and displays!
Dear brethren who complain of the disadvantaged rejecting help, have you thought of how humiliating/embarrassing/demeaning/emasculating (take your pick) it must be for the person to accept your help? We often expect people to jump at our offers of help without considering the psychological and “reverse reaction” of the giftee? Next time your ego is affronted at your offer to help, try not to get too caught up in the gesture and think also of the person. You may choose to retract your offer but never stop to show kindness. Sooner than later, the boundaries of pride and ego will be broken and your charity will be accepted.
As for those who worry about the repayment of kindness with evil and wickedness, take it to God in prayer! Is there nothing He cannot do?
In summary, all I ask is that you PLEASE continue to do good and may the good Lord bless you richly for it.
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Cheech my dear,i beg 2 disagree.Nigerians,rich or poor,dont find it ‘ humiliating’,’demeaning’….to receive ‘cash gifts’.Dat does not affect their psychologyoooo.They will gladly accept dat.So why wuld other kind gestures affect their psychology?It is a ‘love gift’Not everybody has liquid cash 2 give.If u dont have cash to give,then u give in kind.Besides,love acts and kindness are inseparable-FRUIT of d Spirit..originating from d same Spirit.Why should u retract an offer dat comes frm d heart of love?Rem,faith without works is dead.Even d ‘advantaged’ receive gifts…i guess u received a gift(s)on Valentine?Did it affect ur psychology?Baby girl,cool down….be open 2 accept gift from anyone.Enough of d ego trip.Pls,send me a ‘love gift’,nd not a nasty reply through this post.
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Dear Emma,
I don’t know what people you have met or mixed with. I was raised in a giving ministry. I have seen grown men cry that they cannot provide for their families, I have seen women do the most menial tasks so that they will not be seen as having accepted things for free. There are still of course people who will accept without qualms which doesn’t mean that they haven’t pride but simply because they are probably pragmatic people who see a glaring need for it.
I have also seen incredible evil perpetrated by the same gift collectors. I have however chosen not to let the actions of other people change who I am. That is simply what I have implored everyone else to do. And you seem to be under the impression that I speak only of material things, you are wrong. Let me tell you a story of a girl I used to know who had a bad hand. When you offer to help her carry things that appear heavy, she always declined and assured you that she will manage. As her friends, we had to devise a way to help without being so obvious because we saw that she clearly needed it but felt such a sense of pride in self that she declined charity.
Mr. Emma, I cannot presume to tell you what to do, neither can I make you change your mind. All I ask is that you try, in any small way to help any less fortunate person you can. If we all did, the world will certainly be a better place for it.
PS: I cannot imagine why you would expect a scathing response from me.
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Cheech,people like u never let go.U see every thing wrong in others except yourself.I wasn’t surprised 2 read about ur example nd ur ‘special way of giving’.U deserve an award frm me,…..2014 BEST GIVER,WITH THE SPECIAL TOUCH.Cheech,how about dat.Do i expect another long’epistle’or u choose 2 rest ur case?Sorry i take up ur time 2 comment……dat was a long one baby-girl!In ur apparent humility,i see a ‘masked pride’.
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Cheech,people like u never let go.U see every thing wrong in others except yourself.I wasn’t surprised 2 read about ur example nd ur ‘special way of giving’.U missed d point…the issue wasn’t about d physically-challenged.We are talking about little acts of love given but rejected b/c of a wrong attitude.However,U deserve an award frm me,…..2014 BEST GIVER,WITH THE SPECIAL TOUCH.Cheech,how about dat.Do i expect another long’epistle’or u choose 2 rest ur case?Sorry i take up ur time 2 comment……dat was a long one baby-girl!In ur apparent humility,i see a ‘masked pride’….a phariseeeeeeeeeeee?
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I am honestly tempted to let this go but I will persist. If for nothing else but to educate you on my choices, beliefs and the stance I have taken on this.
You suppose that I am condemning you and criticising your decisions. Which is exactly what I’m NOT doing. If you’ll return to my very first sentence, I said I’m appalled at acts of love gone wrong. People are found to take advantage of people who are kind! All I simply advocate for, is that givers do not let themselves change as a result of this. Where you got an alternate meaning is baffling to me!
Somehow, you presume to think that this is a contest of wills, it isn’t. Your combative manner will suggest that that’s how you see it though.
This isn’t about me, if by sharing a vague story about myself someone is encouraged to show another love, then I will consider my work here done.
I do not presume to be better than you, and I will like to think that I have not come off that way in my writing here. Also, my use of a physically challenged person here is merely a metaphor to show that people no matter their station or inability still have a modicum of pride.
I do quite apologise if I came off as superior, it was not my intention. However, I will stand by my earlier pronouncement, show love regardless.
Thank you. God bless us, everyone.
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