Prophet James Omitade of the Holy Trinity Authority Church, Ikere Road, Ado Ekiti has advised Christians to always build rewarding relationships through goodwill.
In his message titled Rewarding Relationships, Omitade urged Christians not to be too concerned about immediat benefits in any relationship but endeavour to show commitment and sacrifice.
He said: “What kind of relationship do you keep?
what is the nature and manners of your companionship with others? what motivates you to associate with a particular person or even generally? Is it for selfish purpose or an attachment to help others?.
” Appraising our past relationships with others how much have we fared?. Most of us have ruined future opportunities that would have resulted to golden destines because of our rashness.
“We have lost our moderation through greed and now we blaming all our woes on enmity.
“Let me ask a golden question that is one in a million. What are the views of most people you have had contact with in one way or the other about you?. How many of them could bless the day they met with you just because of your good relationship?.
Did they see the touch and presence of God in you?. Forget now about whether you are a Christian or not. Several people including christians, have had the cause to bless God for meeting with several people we castigate as unbelievers.
“Gen 6:6 says “And it repented the LORD that he had made man on earth and it grieved him at his heart”. This passage was cited for you to know the nature of man right from creation.
” In as much as we find it different to please our creator who gave us form and life, is it not then an uphill task to live with one another in accord?.
Our present generation takes delight in moving from mountain to mountain, church to church just to have answers to our prayers. What is the nomenelature of our character?.
“Have we not played our roles like Rueben did to Joseph when he was sold to slavery?. Too many questions you’ll say!. But the truth is God said yes to our prayers a long time prior to the time we began to pray. The problem is most of the people (God Sent) God planned on our destiny maps have been blighted by one thing or the other in our unguarded behaviour whereas we have people whose pathways to success are seamless because of what their parent, brother, sister, name sake, towns mate, have done at some points in the past.
“No good goes unnoticed! God, the keeper of all good and bad conscience will bring everything to the open in it’s right time for reward.
why do we sow thorns on the pathway of others with our myopic behaviour?.
“A good number of us call ourselves christians yet behave as if we have no bible to tutor us. Most times we pay back goodness with bad conducts. The bible in proverbs 17:13 Says “whose rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house”. Some of these attitudes have become curses upon the coming generation who find it difficult to wriggle out of it.
“Why do we claim to know God when we are just christians in name only?. The bible in Romans 12:21 says “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”. Everyone you meet may not be as good as you are, this does not mean you have to pay them back in their own coin Enough of the law of eye for an eye!.
“Brethren, we are in several relationships and friendships to learn one thing or the other that we will use to train ourselves and others. How do you want to be a reflection of Jesus Christ like the Antioch Christians if you do not want to be tried, tested and even persecuted?. 2peter 1:3 says According to his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue”. By the time you read the passage to the tenth (10th) verse of the chapter, ye shall never fail. As a true christian and a child of God emulate what Apostle Paul tells his disciple in 1 Timothy 6:11 ” But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience meekness”. God bless shalom.