Author: Pastor J.O. Lawal

Title: His intention

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date December 31, 2025

Series: Youth for Jesus

Number: Vol. 8, No. 33

“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Eph 3:10-11NIV)

Whose intention is Paul speaking of here in our opening text? God’s intention! And what is His intention? It is that His manifold wisdom will be made known to all His creation through His children, all believers in Christ Jesus.So, it is not the will of God for us as His children to be making foolish or stupid decisions in life. Rather, His will is that our decisions will be decisions of wisdom, that our words will be words of wisdom and that our actions will be actions of wisdom. That is what will cause the world of humans and the world of angels to praise Him.

Look at Solomon, for example. He so manifested the wisdom of God to his world that people came from everywhere to listen to him and to take counsel from him. Also, look at Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They all so manifested the wisdom of God that the emperors of the Babylon of their time could not ignore them. The report was that they were all several times better than all their counterparts. Amazing, or what do you think? (Cf. 1Kings 4:29-34; Dan 1:18-20)

Then consider Bezalel and Oholiab, the two young men that led the design and construction of the tabernacle of God for Moses in the wilderness. They so manifested the wisdom of God that none of the heavenly instructions given to them by Moses was too difficult for them to understand or carry out. (Cf. Ex 31:1-11 & 35:30-35)

Furthermore, consider the apostles of old, including Paul who shared with us the words of our opening text in a letter. Even though most of them were not learned, they still so manifested the wisdom of God that they baffled rulers and leaders of people when they spoke and led many out of poverty. And they did all this to the glory and praise of God.

So, if you are a child of God, His intention is never that you will be living a silly, uncoordinated and meaningless life. Rather, His intention is that your life will be a mighty expression of His wisdom and glory every day. You, then, should begin to pray to Him that this will be a reality in your life every day. And so shall it be. Amen.

Happy new year in advance.

Copyright © 2025, Reality Desk, a ministry of Alaythia Bible Church –This material is the sole property of Reality Desk. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice. Please direct any questions you may have to pastor@abcministryng.com or call: 08037592851 (WhatsApp Number: 08146472876)

Title: You have to be ready

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date December 27, 2025

Series: From Pastor’s Desk

Number: Vol. 14, No. 35

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace be yours from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. I am delighted to welcome you to the transition week between this year, 2025, and the coming year, 2026. My prayer is that God will equip you with every good thing you need to go into the new year and succeed, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

As we all know, we get older with every day God adds to our lives. But however old we may become in life, there will always be something new God wants to do for us or give to us. It is our readiness, then, to receive from Him that will determine whether what He wants to do for us or give to us will actually be ours.

For example, God said this to Joshua after he had led the children of Israel into their inheritance and also had become very old: “When Joshua was old and well advanced in years, the LORD said to him, “You are very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.”” (Josh 13:1NIV)

Why was it an old man that God was saying these things to? Why wasn’t He saying them to some young men in the land? The reason was that God was not through with Joshua at the time, even though he had become very old. And inasmuch as he too was ready to have whatever God wanted him to have, his age would not be a problem to God.

In like manner, regardless of how old you are this year or how old you will be in the coming year, God is not through with you, as long as there is still breath in you. There are still all kinds of good and pleasant things that He wants do for you and give to you. But you have to be ready to have what He wants you to have and not use your age as your excuse for losing His blessings.Don’t forget that God knows how old you are.

Also, He knows all your inadequacies. And if He will not use your age or inadequacies as an excuse for not promoting, lifting or healing you, then, you too must not use them as an excuse for staying stagnant or unwell in life.

Instead, like Mary the mother of Jesus, you should embrace whatever He wants you to have, saying, “Let it be unto me according to your word and desire.” And as you do that, you will see Him providing for you every good thing you need to experience the fullness of His good purpose for your life.Happy new year in advance.

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Title: Let someone else take your place

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date December 25, 2025

Series: Youth for Jesus

Number: Vol. 8, No. 32

“Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king. Do for him whatever pleases you.” (2Sam 19:37NIV)

Who said these words? Barzillai! And who was Barzillai? According to bible accounts, he was one of these few Israelite wealthy men that helped David with food and other things during the rebellion of Absalom. But he was not just a wealthy man at the time; he was also an old man, eighty years of age. (Cf. 2Sam 17: 27-29 &19:31-32)

Now because this man was crucial to David’s survival during Absalom’s rebellion, he wanted to bring him to live with him in Jerusalem after the rebellion had been crushed. And that, of course, was the highest honour the king may bestow on anyone. That means he would be getting the treatment of the king’s friend, eating and drinking regularly with him at his table, and perhaps also helping him with some state affairs.One, then, would think or expect Barzillai to jump at the offer, for it would give him access to greater influence and enjoyment in life.

Yet, as we see in our opening text, the man would not take the offer. Instead, he asked the king to let someone else, a gentleman that was most likely his son, take his place in accepting and enjoying the offer. Why?Well, as he himself pointed out, the reason was that he was too old and weak at the time to make the most of the offer. Yes, sometimes, we may come in contact with some eighty or more years old people that are still strong and agile and ready to take on anything life throws at them.

But in most cases, people of that age bracket are no longer willing to fight for positions, power, influence, wealth or enjoyment in life. They just want to make peace with their world or with their maker while they wait for their time to be done. Therefore, there are acts of kindness that will just be a waste them. And that was exactly what Barzillai thought of what David wanted to do for him. He saw it as an attempt to waste honour on him.

So, he pleaded with David to let someone else that still had the ability to make the most of that honour to take his place in receiving it. And as a wise and reasonable king, David listened to him and did as he had requested.Now what is the lesson for us in this? It is simply that it is not every act of kindness meant for us that we must personally accept and enjoy. There are acts of kindness meant for us that we may not readily have what it takes to enjoy.

If we, then, should insist on accepting and enjoying such acts of kindness by ourselves, we may end up wasting them. And that will be nothing but an expression of greed on our part. Wisdom, then, demands that we let others who can make the most of such acts of kindness take our place in such situations. That way, God and people will praise us for not allowing an act of goodness to be wasted on us.

Similarly, in doing good to others or in appreciating them, we must avoid wastefulness. Yes, someone may deserve our acts of kindness. But if such acts of kindness will only amount to a waste of kindness on the person, we should come up with some other acts of kindness that won’t be a waste on them. Or we can handle such acts of kindness in a way that those in their lives that have the ability to make the most of them can benefit from them. That will be our wisdom.Cheers!

From Pastor's Desk 2025 FROM PASTOR’S DESK 2025 Pastor's Desk

Title: You cannot be on the fence

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date December 20, 2025

Series: From Pastor’s Desk

Number: Vol. 14, No. 34

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace be yours from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. I am delighted to welcome you to another week of the month of December 2025. I pray that God will continue to empower you to increase in usefulness in His hands, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

As we begin this week, I want to remind you of these words of our Lord Jesus Christ that say: “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” (Matt 12:30NIV)

Now what point is the Lord making by saying these words? It is that we cannot be on the fence in this world or in His kingdom. If we are not on His side, then, we are against Him. And there are people who claim not to have anything against Jesus and Christianity but who don’t want to be Christians. Some of them even attend church meetings sometimes with their friends or family members. But as far as the Lord Jesus is concerned, all of them are against Him. So, they will not find Him to be their friend but their judge and enemy on the day of judgment.

Also, there are people who call themselves Christians but who don’t join others in their churches in doing anything for the Lord. And why don’t they join others in doing anything for the Lord? They may say that they are too busy to do so. They may say that they are shy or afraid of doing so. Or they may say that what is being done does not make sense to them, especially if what is being done is not their idea.

Well, as far as the Lord Jesus is concerned, all such people who are not gathering with Him are scattering what He is doing. They may not see it that way. But that is exactly what they are doing. And a day is coming when they will be punished for destroying the work of God.

Some, in fact, are already being punished for unconsciously destroying God’s work. It is just that they don’t know.Therefore, you cannot be on the fence in God’s kingdom. If you want to be inside, then, stay inside and make yourself useful. Otherwise, just stay outside so that no one will assume that you belong to Jesus when you really don’t belong to Him.Have a lovely week.

Fire in my Bones General Post Youth for Jesus

Title: Parasites

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date December 18, 2025

Series: Youth for Jesus

Number: Vol. 8, No. 32

“We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.” (2Thess 3:11-13NIV)

What was the news coming to Paul and his ministry companions about the Thessalonians? It was that some of them were idle and disruptive. And idle people are often disruptive. That is because what they use most of their time and energy to do is rumour spreading. Therefore, consciously or unconsciously, they are bound to cause trouble for those in their lives or around them with their mouths.

Also, idle people are usually parasites. That means they have to rely on others to live well and fine, seeing that they are not using their energy and time to do anything productive or profitable. And like parasites, unless they are deal with ruthlessly, they will not stop going from one person to another wreaking havoc.All of this, of course, is why Paul warns the Thessalonians to address all the idle brethren among them to stop being idle and start earning the food they eat.

This, by the way, is not a call for the brethren to stop helping one another to come or stay out of poverty. Rather, it is a call for them to be discerning and discreet in helping one another.See, every child of God can expect to be supported by the brethren with whom they are in fellowship. But you need to show yourself as worthy of whatever help you are getting from the people of God in your life.

If you are getting monetary support, for example, use the money wisely in an obvious way. And when God starts increasing you in money, don’t hide it because you want to continue to get help from others or because you don’t want to help anyone with your own money. Otherwise, you will be nothing but a parasite.Then if it is a job you are helped with, don’t make the person that got the job for you regret doing so through laziness, unfaithfulness or lack of diligence.

Instead, work so hard that news will come to the person that has helped you that you have been nothing but a blessing to those you are working for or working with. And if it is housing support you get, prove yourself extremely useful and helpful to those housing and perhaps also feeding you. Otherwise, you will be nothing but a parasite.

Now, as I pointed out to you before, the only way to take care of parasites is to ruthlessly destroy or get rid of them. Otherwise, they will end up ruining their hosts. So, if you will not stop being a parasite, wise and spiritually discerning people will not keep you around them for long. Instead, they will do all that they can righteously do to keep you far away from their lives.

Also, if what you have chosen is a parasitic life and are unwilling to let go of it, God Himself will, at some point, have to step in and keep you from ruining His people and discouraging them from helping others. And who knows what measures He may take against you? Nobody! So, mind yourself.

From Pastor's Desk 2025 FROM PASTOR’S DESK 2025 Pastor's Desk

Title: Teach us not to waste our lives

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date December 13, 2025

Series: From Pastor’s Desk

Number: Vol. 14, No. 33

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to another week of the month of December 2025.

My prayer is that God will make the week sweet for you and your family in every way, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

As we come to the last days of this year, I want to encourage you with these words of prayer of Moses: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Ps 90:12NIV)

What does this mean? Does it mean that God should teach us to know how old we are? No! We don’t need God to teach us how old we are in other to know our ages. Our parents and other family members that were present when we were born can do that.

In fact, they would have done so already, if they had some measure of education.More so, knowing how old we are is not what will make us live lives of wisdom, for there are many old people that are living foolish lives.

Rather, knowing how to make the most of every day given to us by God is what will enable us to do so. And that is exactly what this prayer of Moses is all about. It is a cry to God to teach us how not to waste our lives.From what we see in Scriptures, it is possible for us to waste our lives. And we will waste our lives, if we are wasting our days. That is why we need God to teach us how to use every day to do only those things that are profitable.

Now I would not know how you have used the days given to you by God this year. I would not know whether you have wasted them on unprofitable things or whether you have used them to do those things that will earn you God’s praise. But I want you to know that you don’t have to waste any more day doing unprofitable things. And you will not waste any more day doing unprofitable things, if you will ask God to teach you how to make the most of every day.

So, as you enter the last days of this year, make it your daily prayer that God will teach you how to not to waste your life. That way, you will be enabled to live the rest of your days in wisdom and not in foolishness. And may you be strengthened to do so, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have a lovely week.

Tags alaythia bible church, christianity, wisdom

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Title: With all their heart

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date December 10, 2025

Series: Youth for Jesus

Number: Vol. 8, No. 31

“So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.” (Nehemiah 4:6NIV)

Who were the people that worked with all their heart, as we see in our opening text? The Jews rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem with Nehemiah! And why did they work with all their heart? First, they worked with all their heart because they had a leader like Nehemiah, who not only spoke encouraging words to them but also worked with all his heart too.

So, if we want any group of people anywhere to work hard and with all their heart, we must give them a leader who is ready to work hard and with all his heart himself. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that such a group will succeed at any task before them.The second reason those people worked with all their heart was that they knew that what they were doing was for their benefit. Nehemiah had earlier told all of them that rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem would take disgrace away from them in unspeakable ways. And they all agreed with him because it was the truth.

So, when it was time to start working, all of them, including their priests gave themselves wholeheartedly to the work. That, of course, shows us that if we want people to work with all their heart in doing anything, we must endeavor to draw their attention to the benefits involved, whether material or spiritual. That is a great way to motivate people. (Cf. Neh 2&3)

Another reason those Jews worked with all their hearts was that God succeeded in stirring them up to do so. If God does not stir up people’s hearts to fully give themselves to doing what is right, they will not demonstrate any form of faithfulness in doing so, even if they have the most diligent and inspiring leader over them and even though what is to be done is for their utmost benefit. (Cf. Haggai 1:14-15)

For instance, despite the fact that Moses was a diligent, faithful and inspiring leader, most of the Israelites that he brought out of Egypt did not follow him wholeheartedly in doing the will of God.

Also, despite the fact that all that Moses was leading them to do was for their benefit, they still would not follow him wholeheartedly in doing the will of God. So, most of them did not make it to the Promised Land.Therefore, God needs to stir people’s hearts up to work with all their hearts in doing His will or in following any leader to do what is right and profitable for them and others.

That is why, as a leader of a family, an organization, a team or a Christian body, learn to pray that God will always stir up the hearts of those under your leadership to work with you with all their hearts in accomplishing your collective objectives and good desires. Otherwise, all you can expect are failure and frustration. And may you be kept from such, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Finally, if you are a follower in any place or a part of any team, learn to work with all your heart in handing any task you are given, as long as it is something good, righteous and beneficial. Don’t be the one to discourage your leader or team with laziness or meaningless talks. Remember that the word of God tells us to do whatever we find to do with all our might and as unto the Lord. That is because it is not only humans that will reward us for our works. God also will reward us for them. (Cf. Ecc 9:10; Col 3:23-24)

Now God’s rewards are always greater and better. Will you, then, someday receive His rewards or miss them? Everything depends on the heart with which you do whatever is entrusted to you. So, wake up and begin to handle whatever work that is committed to you with all your heart. It is one sure way not to waste your effort and life.

Cheers!

FROM PASTOR’S DESK 2025 Pastor's Desk

Title: Be outstanding in generosity

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date December 6, 2025

Series: From Pastor’s Desk

Number: Vol. 14, No. 32

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace be yours immeasurably from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. I am delighted to welcome you to another week in December 2025. My prayer is that God will fill your heart with overflowing joy all through the week, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

As we begin this new week, I want to encourage you with these words from Paul to the Corinthian church: “But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” (2Cor 8:7NIV)

Did you see that? Paul wanted the Corinthian brethren to be outstanding in generosity, as they had been outstanding in faith, knowledge, eagerness and love. Why? First, it was because it was the will of God for them to be so. Second, it must have been because they had been behind other churches of God at the time in generosity.

Third, it was because he did not want them to miss the benefits of being generous.Now are there actually benefits to being generous? Yes! And one of them is that it can cause people to stand up for you, when you least expect it.

For instance, the bible tells us of a time that some Jewish leaders went to plead with Jesus to come and heal the servant of a Roman centurion. Why did they rise up to speak for this man, even though he was a gentile? The reason was that the man was outstanding in his generosity to them. He built a synagogue for them. So, they could not just sit down and watch him lose a servant that was dear to him. And did Jesus listen to them or not? He did. (Cf. Luke 7:1-10)

Also, we are told in the bible of a woman called Dorcas and of how she fell ill and died. And did members of her church just accept her death as from the Lord? No! Instead, they sent some of them to go and bring Peter to pray for her.

Why? The reason was that she was outstanding in generosity. She had helped many people in the church, especially the widows, before her death. And did Peter answer their call or not? He did. So, Dorcas was brought back to life to continue to live to be a blessing to the people around her. (Cf. Acts 9:36-43)

In like manner, there are times that we are shocked to see some servants of God leave everything they are doing to go and pray for some people or to attend their ceremonies. Some of us may even think of that as irresponsible or a display of favouritism.

But it is usually the generosity of those involved that is responsible for what we see. And don’t we also take seriously those who are generous to us? Don’t we even sometimes leave everything we are doing just to help them or do something that will make them happy?You can see, then, that it pays to be outstanding in generosity.

So, don’t let your generosity to people, especially the people of God, be an occasional thing. Rather, let it be something everyone around you will know you for. And one day, when you least expect it, it will cause some people to rise up to favour you.

Have a splendid week.

Fire in my Bones Youth for Jesus

Title: Stay in your lane

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date December 4, 2025

Series: Youth for Jesus

Number: Vol. 8, No. 30

“Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead.” (2Chron 26:19NIV)

Who did leprosy break out on his forehead? Uzziah! And why did leprosy break out on his forehead? It was because he did not stay in his lane.As the account goes, Uzziah was an anointed king. He was anointed by God to be king over the house of Judah. And he did pretty well as king. In fact, the bible says that his fame spread far and wide because he was marvelously helped by God until he became powerful. (Cf. 2Chro 26:15)

But afterwards, he became proud. How? One day, he entered the temple of the Lord to offer incense. What was he thinking? Though he was anointed by God, he was not anointed by Him to be a priest but to be a king. Why, then, did he try to do the job of a priest? Pride!

See, Uziah, at the time, must have felt that there was nothing the priests were doing that he himself was not knowledgeable or anointed enough to do. What could have made him feel this way? We would not know.

Maybe he was not getting along well with some of the leading priests in the land at the time. Or maybe he felt that they were overrated and needed to be checked of their excesses. We would not know for sure.But even if some the priests in the land at the time were actually misbehaving, trying to take over their jobs in the temple was clearly not the solution. Those priests were set apart by God Himself to serve in His temple. They did not choose themselves. (Cf. Ex 28&29)

Then, when God chose their family, the family of Aaron, to serve Him in this manner, He was very clear about the fact that He would not welcome any argument about His choice of them. In fact, Korah, Dathan, Abiram, On and their families all perished because of their argument about this. That was to show how seriously God took the matter. (Cf. Numbers 16&17)

So, instead of trying to hijack the Aaronic priesthood from priests of the time, Uzziah should simply have prayed to God about their matter, that is, if they were actually misbehaving. But we do not even have it on record that they were misbehaving.

Therefore, it was completely out of place for him to enter the temple to do their job for them.At any rate, because of his arrogance, God immediately struck him with leprosy on his forehead, where everybody could easily see it. And that was to teach him and other arrogant people like Him that He was not docile and that He meant everything that He had said about the Aaronic priesthood.

Now are there lessons for us in all this? Yes, there are. And one of them is that we must learn to stay in our lane, especially where spiritual matters are involved. We all who believe in Christ Jesus are indeed anointed. And not one of us is more anointed than the others. But we all have not been set apart or gifted by God to do the same things.

So, even though you may know some things about what some other people are gifted by God to do, never try to minimize the relevance of what they are doing through your words or actions. Otherwise, you may get yourself wounded.

Often, I hear people say things like, “What is the big deal in being a pastor or a prophet? I too know enough Scriptures to be a pastor or a prophet. In fact, it is joblessness that drives many into calling themselves pastors, prophets and so forth.” People who speak and act in that manner are simply committing the sin of Uzziah. They don’t want to stay in their lane.

And if they are not shown mercy, they too, like Uzziah, will surely get wounded in such a way that they will not be able to hide their shame.Watch yourself, therefore, and stay in your lane. Yes, stay within the boundaries of the gifts, abilities and responsibilities given to you by God and even men. Otherwise, you may just expose yourself to problems that are never meant to be yours in life.

From Pastor's Desk 2025 FROM PASTOR’S DESK 2025 Pastor's Desk

Title: Don’t let them abandon their ministry

Post author By Pastor J.O. Lawal
Post date November 29, 2025

Series: From Pastor’s Desk

Number: Vol. 14, No. 31

Beloved: grace, mercy and peace be yours without measure from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. I welcome you with gladness to the last day of the eleventh month of this year.

My prayer is that the new month we are moving into in the week will be sweet for us in every way, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Now, as we begin this new week, I want to encourage you to always watch how you relate to anyone who has devoted himself to ministry in the kingdom of God, so that you will not make them abandon their ministry. Can we actually make people abandon the ministries God has given them?

Yes, we can. And it is not only those who are church members that can make servants of God abandon their ministries; church leaders like them can also make them abandon their ministries.For example, when a new pastor was brought to a church I used to attend, the first thing he did was to reduce the stipends being paid to all the staff that were working in the office of that church.

Why? His reason was that they were not doing enough to be earning the amount that they were being paid by the previous pastor. But what the previous pastor was paying those staff was not even up to what their counterparts working outside were being paid. And he was paying them as much as he was paying them so that they would not at any point begin to feel that the reason they could not take adequate care of themselves and their families was that they were working for God. But this new pastor just spoilt everything.

So, before long, a good number of those working in that church office began to leave. And were they leaving because they did not love God or because they did not want to serve Him? No! The reason they came to work in the church office and did not go to start their own businesses or work with some other companies was that they loved God and wanted to serve Him. But when they realized that their pastor was not concerned about their welfare at all, they began to leave. And it was better that they left like that than to stay and be grumbling.In any case, because they left in that manner, the work that they were doing began to suffer.

Not only that, others who saw how they were treated did not feel encouraged to come to work in the church office. That was because they did not want to experience the same thing. But who made those people abandon their ministries? It was their church leader. And only God knows how many all around the world have been made to abandon their ministries in that manner by their church leaders.

So, it is not only church members that can make servants of God abandon their ministries; church leaders can also make them abandon their ministries. And where that is the case, certain things that God wants to do in people’s lives will surely suffer for a while.

Yes, those things will suffer until He is able to find new servants to encourage to begin to do them.As we see in the bible, during the time of Nehemiah, the work of God also began to suffer at some point because the Jews and their leaders made many of the Levites serving in the temple to abandon their ministries.

How? Look at what Nehemiah himself says in the bible about it:“I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts. All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and oil into the storerooms.” (Neh 13:10-12NIV)

Did you see that? Because the people refused to take care of the Levites and singers serving them in God’s temple, they left the work of God and went back to their farms and businesses. And who do you think would suffer more for that? The people themselves! They were the ones that would not be experiencing the blessings associated with the ministries of those Levites and singers as they should. And if Nehemiah had not intervened in time, only God knows how to what extent the prosperity, peace and health of their nation would have been affected because of what they were doing.

Now, of course, it is not only by not adequately supporting the servants of God among us with our money that we can make them abandon their ministries. We can also make them abandon their ministries by saying discouraging words to them, lying against them or inciting rebellion against them. And when we do so, we can be sure that we will hinder the work God wants to do through them in our lives and in the lives of others. Will God, then, praise us for that? No!

Instead, He will most likely punish us. And that may not be pleasant at all.So, let us check ourselves carefully and be sure that we are not doing anything to make any servant of God abandon his ministry. And may God strengthen us to do the right thing about this matter before it is too late. Amen.

Have a lovely week.