A relationship you should have …
Bible Reading: Galatians 2:1-14
When was the last time someone looked at you and said “I think you are wrong” OR “I do not believe you are heading in the right direction” OR “I don’t seem to agree with your decision or opinion”? Many Christians have given up on their deepest desires and dreams because there was no one around them who had the boldness to caution them when they were drifting apart.
We are most times satisfied with having people around us who would affix a CORRECT stamp to everything we say or do, even when we are heading in the wrong direction. This is common with those who have been Christians for long; who feel they now have a good grasp of the scriptures. Leaders, teachers and preachers, I believe you have experienced the feeling that comes to mind when someone tells you “oh, you are God-sent. Your words were just perfect for me”. But many of us cannot afford to ever hear anyone disapprove our words or actions even when they are wrong. We feel anyone who opposes us is our enemy. May be we should learn from Apostle Paul, the man who was blessed with abundance of revelations and wrote majority of the new testament books …
Paul claimed no one taught him the message he preached. He heard it directly from the Lord (Gal. 1:12). Notwithstanding, after some years in ministry, here is what he said he did – “I went to clarify with them (Peter, James & John) what had been revealed to me. At that time I placed before them exactly what I was preaching to the non-Jews. I did this in private with the leaders, those held in esteem by the church, so thatour concern would not become a controversial public issue, marred by ethnic tensions,exposing my years of work to denigration and endangering my present ministry” – Galatians 2:2 MSG. In other words, Paul was willing that the leaders evaluate his message and tell him if he was deviating from The Message.
Today, most of the principles that drive our lives were not due to a direct revelation from God. We have fed on books of preachers and philosophers, yet we sometimes feel we always know the right thing to do and no one can correct us. Even when we err or we need help, we feel so proud to share our problems with anyone. James 5:16 says “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other”. A Christian should have elders and friends that they can share their deepest secrets, regrets and success together. If there is nobody in your life that you respect who will be bold to tell you when you are deviating from the right way, then you are running at a risk and endangering your present success. It is a sign of weakness and it requires your urgent attention.
tope aladenusi
