Scorpions and Vipers

“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” 1 John 4:20-21 KJV

Several years ago as my father drove along the narrow and rough village road to his allotted work bungalow, we were obstructed by a small herd of sheep. We were there from the city to visit him for the weekend. After several honks, they barely moved as they had just stopped to graze on some patches of fresh grass. We patiently waited till they moved along to continue our journey. Not far off we met a few stray goats and just at the sound of the vehicles engine they took off.

He proceeded to share a tall tale about sheep and goats. And it went thus: “the sheep and the goat picked a vehicle to a nearby village. The bus already had a few passengers. While in transit, the bus conductor fell asleep and forgot to take the fare. When they arrived at their destination, the sheep quietly paid up what it owed and walked away but the goat snuck out and didn’t pay a dime. Till date the goat is avoiding being caught by the bus conductor, hence it running away when it sees vehicles. However the sheep walks in confidence knowing it owes no one.”

We shall dwell on the actual parable of the sheep and goat as told by Jesus in another post soon. However, our focus today is on deceitful and dubious lifestyles that many Christians are unfortunately living. We live in a time where many people are driven by lavish and socialite living. Many will do anything to be perceived as belonging to the high class of society. Some will even resort to scamming innocent people and hacking others accounts just to finance these lifestyles.

Although many do so crudely, many others are also very intellectual in carrying out similar activities. Living a victorious life is not slandering others for your benefit. Living a victorious life does not give you the right to manipulate those you seemingly have an advantage over for your personal gain. It is not seeking out opportunities to enrich and nourish yourself to the detriment of the unassuming and gullible. Bottom line, living a victorious life is not equivalent to being a usurper!!!

““Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda].”Matthew 10:16 AMP

“So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.” Psalms 73:16-20 NLT

Regardless of how much of life’s treasures you enjoy or the wealth you store up for yourself, you won’t leave earth with anything. It is better to store up treasure above and focus on serving God. Jesus came down to die for us as a lamb (the Lamb of God who takes away the world’s sin) but when He does show up in the clouds of glory soon, He’s coming as a lion (the Lion of the tribe of Judah) and a Judge.

How much more easy life would be if we just stuck to the golden rule:

“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31 KJV

“Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain and envy.” Psalms 119:36 AMP

The above scriptures admonish us to love our neighbours as we love God. NO OTHER COMMANDMENT IS GREATER THAN THESE. We must also be careful to not yield our hearts to dishonest gain and envy. It might seem normal and even “ethical” in certain circles governed by the laws of men to carry out dishonest acts. As Christians though, the principle to our actions must be whether or not they please God and are aligned with His purposes for our lives. In the eyes of men you might look stupid and be mocked, but your ‘suffering’ is accounted for righteousness in God’s eyes. Be encouraged by the scripture below:

“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.” 1 Peter 3:13-17 KJV

If you find it a tough challenge to love on, be kind to or treat fairly your brother(sister) whom you see here on earth, how then can you prove your love for the Lord your God who you don’t see? After all, He said in Genesis 1 that he made man in His image and likeness. If your brother(sister) is the express image of God here on earth, then loving him(her) is loving God.

Don’t be a scorpion or viper, stinging others with your venom of deceit and causing them pain and hurt. Better yet, don’t be a goat and shortchange others. Let us endeavor to do better (with the help of the Holy Spirit) because this life is but a short journey and judgement awaits. Living like Christ can be tough but it is possible.

With love, Esinam.