Bible Reading: Psalm 136-138; 1 Corinthians 9.
Memory Verse: “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” 1 Corinthians 9:16 (KJV)
Several years ago, a young Christian family was close to another family in their neighbourhood. They became close through the closeness of their wives. The husband, a young Christian had just been converted from Islam a few years before then but his wife had not committed her life to Christ yet. However, her friend in the close family in their Neighbourhood was a regular church goer and an established member of their church though not the same parish. The problem was her friend was doing more harm to the gospel than good.
The young Christian’s wife used to import apparels and their family friend was patronizing her. However, whenever the family friend bought things worth fifty thousand Naira then, her church going friend would ask her to inflate it to sixty thousand or more and whenever the husband paid, she kept the difference! Her reason was that her husband was tight-fisted. It got so bad that at a stage the young Christian’s wife selling the apparel said she would not be selling to her friend again as she could no longer inflate the prices for her husband.
But at home, the young Christian’s wife used to taunt her husband whenever they discussed Christianity then. She would remind him of how her friend who was supposed to be a good Christian was defrauding her husband and she who was not born again could not do such an evil!
So the woman’s friend was preaching a false gospel by her conduct. And truly all believers preach the gospel by their conduct. The question is, what type of gospel are you preaching? When you tell lies, cheat on others, backbite or even commit adultery or fornication, you are preaching the false gospel! Those who know you will relate your conduct to your belief and will take the former as the standard of the latter! This is how people spread the false teaching about the gospel without uttering a word! For those who go out to preach the gospel, your audience will compare your conduct with your preaching and usually will align more with your conduct.
When your conduct is at variance with your biblical messages, you are seen as a liar and deceiver and nobody takes you serious. More importantly except you repent on time, you will regret such an action because Revelation 21:8 (KJV) says, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
On the other hand, believers are enjoined to preach the gospel and be good examples to others thus fulfilling one of the purposes for which God has called them. Apostle Paul tells us of the necessity laid upon him in 1 Corinthians 9:16 (KJV), “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” All believers are commissioned to preach the true gospel to others (Mark 16:15). However only those who do the will of God will enter the kingdom of heaven! (Matthew 7:21). Are you walking your talk?
Action Point:
Examine your life whether you are living a lie as a Christian and make adjustments urgently where necessary.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero