BEHOLD, HOW GOOD AND HOW PLEASANT IT IS FOR BRETHREN TO DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY
Brother Hope Eghagha, chairman of Administrative Committee, Lagos Island Branch, Lagos.
This statement by the Psalmist, King David in Psalm133, is an expression of the ideal. In other words, he is saying that it is lovable and fufilling for brethren to dwell together in unity. Unity starts from the family unit. They eat from the same table. When we are together there is joy in the home. When the family head leads by good example, the wife reciprocates, and so it spreads to the entire family. They thus have a common goal. When this is replicated in the wider society, then it leads to unity and the pursuit of a common goal.
Each person should ask himself: Will what I am doing, engender unity or cause disunity? Whether in a family or society, we have one purpose, which is to serve God Almighty. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10.) We should say the same thing in doctrines, because a lot of falsehood is being spread all over the place. We should look unto Christ the author and finisher of our faith.
Matthew 18:19 gives the understanding that when we agree and are united, God will be with us and hear our prayers. This does not mean there would be no disagreement. As human beings we make mistakes. It is only in the Kingdom of God that there would be perfection. So, if we see one making a mistake we should not be happy but help him not to trip fall. Why should we strive to see that someone makes a mistake and we are happy? In the way of salvation we should strive together for that common goal..
Sometimes it is people who are within God’s Organisation who cause division. God says: “For among my people are found wicked men”. (Jeremiah 5:26), One has to ask himself if he is practicing wickedness among the assembly of God’s people..Anyone given to sinful practices in the work of God is working against unity and is treading a dangerous path.
There should be unity in leadership and followership if we are to make progress. If we thrive on the vices in Galatians 5:19-21 such as adultery, fornication, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, and such like, we are not being guided by the spirit of God but are working against unity. When there is predominance of sin in the congregation, then there is disunity.
The example of what the Israelites did in compelling Aaron to make a golden calf for them shows that many could agree to do something that is contrary to the law of God. Everyone should examine himself whether he is in the faith.
The Bible says we should we should forbear one another “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. (Ephesians 4:2, 3) All parts of the body, none is more important than the other, but they all work together. We should be like that. – 1 Corinthians 12:13.
Let us correct the person who errs to win such one to God, not to drive away, let us not exaggerate the sins of the other person. Everybody will give account of himself to God.
We shall all reap what we sow
Brother Olufemi Akinwale
We have to sow before we reap. To sow is to plant, to reap is to harvest. Good begets good and evil leads to evil. Our utterance, action, inaction in anything, there is reward or consequence. Anything we do or say in God’s organization there is a consequence. Solomon counseled in Proverbs 5:21 The ways of man are before the Lord and he pondereth his goings.
Galatians 6:7, 8, says: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Sowing to the flesh means doing the works of the flesh, which include Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like…” – Galatians 5:19-21. See also Romans 8:5,6
Examples:
Cain killed his younger brother Abel because the sacrifice of Abel was accepted. Cain was punished for what he did. ”When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.” – Genesis 4:12.
Saul, a king in Israel, sought to kill David just because the women were singing that Saul had killed his thousands and David his ten thousands. Saul became angry and went in pursuit of David to kill him. Eventually, Saul died a painful death. “As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.” – Proverbs 11:19.
Because Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, he plotted to kill him. But because God was with Mordecai, it was Haman that was hanged on the gallows instead. “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. (Proverbs 22:8) “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” – Job 4:8.
Because of what she did to Elijah the man of God, in giving him succor, when her son died, God used him to bring him back to life. When famine was near she was warned in advance and advised to seek where she could find pasture.. Even when she returned, her land which had been seized from her was returned to her by order of the king. (2 Kings 4:8-37; 8:1-6) Surely, “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” (Proverbs 19:17) “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5, 6 ) Proverbs 11:25 says that he that watereth shall be watered also himself. “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” – Hosea 10:12.
Things that happened in the past are examples for us to learn from to the end that whatever good thing we do in the work of God does not go unrewarded. (1 Corinthians 10:11 and Romans 15:4) God does not forget the good works we do because of His name. (Hebrews 6:9-12) Let us therefore awake to righteousness and sin not as Apostle Paul enjoined us in 1 Corinthians 15:34.
Therefore, we should re-examine ourselves in the light of the word of God knowing that whatever we do, good or bad, will be rewarded. ”And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” – Colossians 3:23-25.