Beware of thorns Week 7, 2026

 

It’s not that I don’t want to give God my best nnanyi, I’m juggling many things…

I also have many things to do. You have time for what is important to you.

Your words are very hard. The church is important to me also, but I am actually very busy. I work in three places. I do mornings in one place; in the evenings I put in a few hours elsewhere and cover another facility at nights. I get exhausted frequently.

Poor you. Why stress yourself that much? Is the pay so terrible?

Actually, I could manage with two, but I have a target amount to meet up within 6 months so I could pay deposit for a Tokunbo car. I cannot keep using public transport forever.

Listen to me carefully. Beware of thorns. Lk 8:7(ESV)  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. Anything choking your spiritual life must be avoided

What do you mean by that? Please be comprehensive in applying the scripture. Have you forgotten 2Th 3:10 (ESV) For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat? Do you want me to beg or be a burden to others in the name of Christian service? 2Th 3:7-8(ESV)  For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. None of these jobs is shady or illegitimate. How else will I get the good things of life, or is yours a gospel of poverty?

Far from it. Far from it. The teachings about idleness are correct, but if that is truly what you are practicing why are you not as committed as Paul the apostle who wrote and practiced these things? Act 17:16-17(ESV)  Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

How do you know I am not as committed?

Have you always been presenting the gospel message everyday in your workplace? Don’t open your mouth that’s what Paul was doing whilst he was alone at Athens. Act 17:15(ESV)  Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

So how do I meet up with my targets? I will soon get married and need to raise money for the ceremony and reception.

That is where faith comes in. Lk 8:14(ESV)  And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. Thorns are not necessarily the result of doing illegitimate work, nor has God called us to poverty. Like Paul see the gospel work as your daily assignment. Work hard, and have good targets for life Mat 6:32-33(ESV)  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. God gives His best to those who in faith serve Him unconditionally.

Serve the Lord with gladness Week 6, 2026

 

What kind of work is this? It has so many mistakes! My friend, you can do better than this.

Sorry nnayi for the hassles, no offence intended. I was in a hurry and failed to notice them.

Now we have to do this work all over again. We cannot use it.

Why? There are mistakes, alright, but it is manageable. Let’s use it

Manageable! Is that fitting for your private practice or a governor, and you offer it to the king of kings? Is that how you serve God? Mal 1:8(GNB)  When you bring a blind or sick or lame animal to sacrifice to me, do you think there's nothing wrong with that? Try giving an animal like that to the governor! Would he be pleased with you or grant you any favors?" The other day, you were so late, I wondered if the work would be done at all.

Look, I am not being paid for this job; it is entirely voluntary, and I expect your thanks and appreciation, not this kind of harsh rebuke.

I see. Mal 1:13(GNB)  You say, 'How tired we are of all this!' and you turn up your nose at me....Because you are not being paid with naira and kobo, you treat it anyhow. No skin pain, no sacrifice, you must be begged and cajoled to fulfill the role God Himself endowed you to do in His church. Let me tell you: It is for your own good that you serve the Lord. If you think you are doing me a favour by doing this work (let me not say doing God a favour), please stop. Ps 100:2(ESV)  Serve the LORD with gladness!

You mean you don’t want me to do the work? There is no one here who will do it well. You need to encourage people and not discourage them.

I laugh. Listen, and listen well. No one is indispensable. Not I. And certainly not you. Mat 3:9(ESV)  And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. There are still stones ready to be made into sons of Abraham. In fact, the cry of Hosanna will be deafening should you keep quiet! Lk 19:40(ESV)  He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” God can never, hear me, can never ever be overcome in His purpose for anyone who holds steadfastly to Him. Est 4:14(ESV)  For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place... And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Not every offering will God accept, and I hope you know this is an offering to God. Stop doing God a favour and start giving Him the very best with all joy. Perhaps you should simply stop.

Nnanyi, you are too hard, too harsh. I thought you were meant to bless me, not curse me.

But I am blessing you. Blessing is not all about sweet words. If you don’t hear these words and progress in error, I would have failed in my duty to you. You need to wake up and move properly. I am sure you have the capacity to do so much better and so gain a full reward from the Lord. Even though I speak like this, I have faith you will do much better from now. Heb 6:9, 11-12(ISV)  Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case, things that point to salvation. But we want each of you to continue to be diligent to the very end, in order to give full assurance to your hope. Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are inheriting the promises through faith and patience. 

Homosexuality Week 5, 2026

 

It is called alternate sexuality. Gays are human beings like you who do a whole lot of good and help lots of people. They just love men like you love women

My friend that is very wrong. It is a practice which attracts God’s wrath and judgement Rom 1:27(ESV)  and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 

See this your bible is outdated and outmoded. What harm are they doing? They are merely vulnerable people who need protecting

They need protection alright. Protection from themselves. The practice breeds illness. Were they not the ones who bequeathed the world with AIDS? That pandemic is still on.

Watch your words, these are unproven allegations. Your oath is not to discriminate. Life has risks, simply work to reduce the risk, and not force people to change who they are.

Aren’t you being hypocritical? My oath is that my patient’s welfare should be my first concern. What is the threshold of banning a substance for health reasons?

Well, it depends on several factors like clear evidence of harm to humans, the risk-benefit ratio, and availability of alternatives. Those causing cancer have greater restrictions.

Correct. Ano-receptive sex greatly increases the risk of so many diseases. Such persons have 50 times more likelihood of disease entities, including cancers, in that region than those who do not practice it. Of course, HIV transmission is far more common with such behaviour. Monkey pox occurs much more readily in such behaviour.  Gay and lesbian couples report 6 times greater intimate person violence than hetero sexual couples. All these are science proven and reported facts that are in public domain!

Is that so? We need to cut the risks for these vulnerable people…

Listen to yourself.  You called the behaviour alternate sexuality, so clearly the way out is the alternative. You said when a substance is dangerous you go for an alternative…

We are not dealing with a substance here, but the very persona my friend. This is who they are. Just like being black puts you at risk of keloids. Will you stop being black now?

For someone who calls the bible outmoded you have quoted it. Jer 13:23(ESV)  Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. I completely agree it takes a personality change to stop homosexual behaviour. The power to do so cannot come from the homosexual. Repeated attempts result in frustration and sometimes self harm. But we have records of successful change

O wow. Let’s have the records. How?

1Cor 6:9, 11(ESV)   Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality...And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Come to Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit will free you

This harsh tax Week 4, 2026

 

I’m not going to pay it at all, am I a tenant paying rent or what? No announcement or sensitization, just a notice that has technically expired on delivery. This is unacceptable..

My brother the matter is biting. The way the amount is increasing one wonders the motive of the government. I guess we still have to pay. Rom 13:7(ESV)  Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 

Why? Are you one of these weak, passive citizens who swallow just anything? 2Cor 11:20(ESV)  For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. This is an unjust tax. In fact I know someone in there who will get me a reduced pay with some arrangement Lk 16:5-6(ESV)  So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 

Don’t try that! Do not try that at all. What will become of your witness to the world and that man who joined you? You know nothing remains hidden forever. Just tax or not, the gospel witness is at stake in our response. 1Pt 2:12(ESV)  Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Look, brother, I don’t have the money. My finances are so stretched; I can hardly breathe.

Jesus Christ met a situation where the tax demanded was unfair. Mat 17:25, 26(ESV)  And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. He also did not have any money with Him at the time to pay. Mat 17:27 (ESV)  However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.” It is correct to point out when policies are wrong and unjust, but like Jesus Christ we must also consider how to avoid putting a stumbling block on people’s path.  2Cor 6:3-4(ESV)  We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions...

So how do I imitate Jesus now? There is no stream or fish here. And I am no fisherman.

Don’t you see? Fishing was Peter’s former occupation, and God miraculously provided by it. God will bless your business abundantly such that through it this tax will be fully met. In fact, since Jesus paid for Peter as well, I prophesy to you a double portion.

Amen! I really have many things to do with the double portion. I receive it in Jesus’ name.

Ah, no. like Jesus Christ that extra is to help another person. Make no mistakes about that