When shall we reap what we sow?

Galatians 6:7 says, "Whatever a person is sowing, this he will also reap" . WHEN will this 

occur? Is it occurring already?

In 2 of Jesus' parables, we read that (a) fine seeds can be eaten up by birds, scorched by the sun, choked by thorns, etc ; (b) weeds can be oversowed among fine seeds by the enemy (Matthew 13: 1-9, 24-30) . The sower was not the one who planted the weeds, was he? 

We are living in an age when the weeds and the wheat are allowed to grow together until the harvest time (when the weeds will be uprooted and burned and the wheat will be collected into the storehouse)-Matthew 13: 30,36-43. In this present system of things, bad things sometimes happen to good people (Psalm 34:19 ; John 16:33) , while good things sometimes happen to bad people (Psalm 73: 1-18). (a) Rebekah was barren for 20 years, despite getting married as a virgin (Genesis 24:15-16 ;25:20-26). (b) Joseph (who was missing for more than 13 years) was not a Yahoo boy (Genesis 37:2-35 ; 41:46 ; 47 : 9). (c) Job was the most righteous human being of his day, yet he suffered many calamities. He lost all his ten children the same day, just as disobedient Eli lost all his two children and his daughter-in-law the same day (1 Samuel 3:10-19 & 4:18-22 ; Job 1:1-3,8,18-22). While Eli's daughter-in-law was survived by a son (1 Samuel 4: 18-22), Job's ten children (whose conduct could not be faulted even by Satan) all died childless. Job's boils (which resembled a wicked person's punishment at Deuteronomy 28:35) made his friends to conclude that he must have sinned secretly to attract God's wrath (Job 2:7 ; 4:7,8 ; 22: 5-11). His brothers and sisters turned away from him (Job 19:13) and came back only after God restored him (Job 42: 10,11). Though God gave Job and his wife a new set of 10 children, their first set of children were not restored to life [Job 42:12-17]. (d) The baby boys killed by Pharaoh [Exodus 1:22] and by Herod (Matthew 2:16-18) were innocent. (e) Jesus Christ said that the man born blind was innocent (as were his parents) (John 9:1-3) and that some Israelites killed by Pilate and by a falling tower were not worse sinners than other people (Luke 13:1-5). (f) Abel, the first murder victim, is still waiting for justice (Genesis 4: 1-12). (g) God did not remove Paul's "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12: 7-9).

Not every calamity is caused by humans (e.g. witches and wizards). Satan killed Job's children and struck him with boils without human help (Job 1: 12, 16-19]. Job did not eye any other woman apart from his wife (Job 31:1 , 9 - 11) , so there was no stepmother to suspect.

On the other hand, Asaph was almost stumbled by the prosperity of the wicked until he discerned their future (Psalm 73: 1-19).

Therefore, don't be quick to judge anyone who is suffering as wicked. Just "rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15). You can't be sure whether they are being punished by God (for sin) or by Satan (as a trial permitted by God, as in Job's case). Don't rejoice when your enemy falls, or God will be displeased with you and stop the punishment (Proverbs 24: 17-18). "Speak consolingly to those who are depressed" (1 Thessalonians 5:14). 

Since life is unpredictably brief, always "prepare to meet your God" (Amos 4:12). Be (and remain) on God's side (Ezekiel 18:24 ; Matthew 24:13). Dead people are unconscious (Psalm 146: 3-4 ; Ecclesiastes 9 : 5,10) and therefore unable to repent before the Judgement (2 Corinthians 5:10 ; Hebrews 9:27). 

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The real home-breaker

Joyce could vouch for her husband's fidelity (even when he gave excuses of busy and exacting office schedules as reasons for his late nights and frequent travels) until she received a text message on her phone. The message read : " You don't know me, but I just want to inform you that I'm no longer dating your husband, Steve. ... I now know that what we did was wrong. I'm sorry for any pain I may have caused you. Do forgive me".

When Steve returned from work that night, Joyce confronted him about the text message, but he denied it vehemently. Joyce would not stop there. She wanted to get to the bottom of the matter so she demanded to go through his phone logs, messages and contacts, raising her obviously exasperated voice at him. Irked by his wife's effrontery, Steve lost his cool, accused her of nagging and ingratitude, picked up a few of his clothes and stormed out of the house, not knowing she was 2 weeks pregnant with their second child.

He didn't return until 9 months later , when she had lost the baby after a Caesarean section due to pregnancy complications. They eventually reconciled, after paying a steep price for not settling their dispute  amicably as the Bible commands.   

1. The Bible says at Luke 17:1 , "It is impossible for offences not to come". However, we should not retaliate when offended (Romans 12: 17 - 19). Resolve your differences as outlined in Matthew 18:15-18. Forgive your offender, even if there is no apology (Ephesians 4:32 ; Psalm 103 : 10,12 ; Romans 5: 8-11 ; Matthew 18:35). Try to avoid offending others and seek their forgiveness if you have offended them already( Acts 24:16 ; Romans  14 ; Hebrews 12:14).

2. Steve's other woman did a lot of damage to his marriage with that text message. She was probably dumped and deliberately wanted to crash  his marriage in retaliation. Otherwise, why confess to the WIFE? A bitter ex can do more damage to a marriage than a current mistress who "hides her head". 

Some socio-economic tips

1. If circumstances do not allow you to help people , just make sure you don't harm them. Jesus Christ did not blame the 5 wise virgins for not rendering self-harming help to the foolish virgins (Matthew 25: 1-12).

2. There is a limit to human help (2 Kings 6:26-27 ; Psalm 49:7-9) . Even the biological parents of an only child will not be able to help him rear up his 4 children, 16 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren, etc. 

3. Don't distract people from facing their own battles. Neither try to profiteer from other people's problems. Don't dump your children's upkeep on someone who is childless or has lost a child. They will see you as the architect of their problems. Nowadays, most childless women battle fibroids, etc and can't afford to shoulder the upkeep of other people's children as well. 

4. Don't have more children than you can handle alone (in case of divorce or widowhood , and even to enjoy your marriage ) . Even God directly created only 2 people (and left the remaining production to us, via reproduction). Having many children even increases a woman's risk of developing placenta previa, cervical cancer, etc. There is a medium in all things. 

5. Extensive farming (along with attending public schools) can help large families to survive. Labour is a factor of production. That's how our forefathers survived in the olden days. 

6. Yorùbá people say :(a)"Òrìṣà jẹ́ n pé méjì obìnrin kò dénú"( Deep down, no woman wants her husband to have another wife) ; (b) "Ẹní bímọ fún'ni kúrò l'álè ẹni" (the mother of your child is more than a side chick or mistress). Therefore, don't let any woman see (or know) you as her rival, or your child as her stepchild. That's how not to be a home-breaker.

7. No cheating husband can commit maternity fraud against a woman. A woman can always tell her own child apart from a stepchild. That is nature's compensation for the labour pains. Remember this biological advantage when tempted to cheat back or fight other women over a man.

May God bless all our well-wishers and make the plans of the wicked against us backfire on them. Amen.

"Abẹ́ Ààbò" by Akínwùmí Ìṣọ̀lá

The play discusses how false prophets prey on gullible people. 

SCENE 1 : John and Maria are both devoted Christians. At the beginning of this scene, Maria rebukes Janet for singing worldly songs. John can be extreme at times. He blames Sunday's teachers for teaching them about Jesus' conversion of water to wine (John 2: 1-11), instead of the dangers of drunkenness (Proverbs 20:1). Jimoh is John's younger half-brother who has converted to Islam from their common Christian background. He lives with them and often twists John's words in jest, but John can't eject him from their father's house. He also smokes and drinks.

SCENE 2: Jeremiah (a prophet) and Solomon (his deputy) come to John's house to rent 2 rooms. They have bought a neighbouring plot of land to build their church and claim that God led them specifically to John's house. Jimoh objects to their tenancy. "In this 4-room house, you and your wife use 1 room, your children use the second, the third is the store and guest room, while I use the 4th room. When I get married, my wife will use the guest room. We are each entitled to 2 rooms. Don't cheat me". Nevertheless, John lets out the guest room and the prophet move in the next day. 

SCENE 3: A month later, John complains about Maria's watery soup. She reminds him that he hasn't increased the housekeeping money despite offering free meals to the prophet and his entourage. They also pay no rent. John says she should continue the free feeding and that he will put up with any inconvenience because of God. 

SCENE 4: Jeremiah complains to Michael (a more experienced false prophet) about inadequate offerings, an unfriendly neighbour,etc. Michael decides to take him to a herbalist the next day. Jeremiah's wife (Abigail) is in Ilesa and he wants to pretend to be single and make Janet his second wife. One of Jeremiah's church members has bribed him to select his (the member's) choice on the list of suitors his daughter will bring. The daughter is unhappy and Jeremiah consoles her that prayer may reverse the situation. He hopes to lure her to his bed. 

SCENE 5: While the prophets are with the herbalist, Jimoh watches them from the window and overhears their conversation. Jimoh enters the herbalist's house after their exit. They both discuss the hypocrisy of some prophets . Jeremiah and Michael have obtained crowd-pulling, self-defence, drop-dead and womanising charms.   

SCENE 6: Oluwole (Janet's fiance) tells Jimoh about her reduced interest in him. Jimoh reveals she is now very close to the prophet. They plot to catch him red-handed and report him to John. They see Janet and Jeremiah coming from church and decide to hide in Jimoh's room. Jeremiah plays with Janet's hair before trying to drag her by force into his room. At this point, Jimoh and Oluwole come out and beat Jeremiah. When John arrives, Jeremiah denies the seduction attempt and Janet supports him. Jimoh calls Jeremiah a "prophet with charms", in an aside.

SCENE 7: Michael visits Jeremiah and promises to get him a charm that will make people forget his misdeeds. Jeremiah says Maria has come to him to solve her secondary infertility problem and he has invited her for a 3-day spiritual retreat (Abẹ́ ààbò) in the church's uncompleted building. Jimoh overhears this before he and Oluwole enter the house. They sing mocking songs in Jeremiah's hearing . For example, they use the tune of "Christian, seek not yet repose" to sing "Wòlíì, jọ̀ọ́ lọ ọ fẹ́'bìnrin. Máṣe gb'aya aláya. Bí o kò bá ṣọ́ra rẹ, wà á j'ọrẹ́" (Prophet, go and get married. Don't snatch another man's wife. If you don't caution yourself, we will beat you). They also call him Prophet "Toromáyà" (cling to breast). 　

SCENE 8: After a church service , Jeremiah tells 3 women "under spiritual retreat" to wait behind. Maria is to be prayed for that same night, Abigail the next night and Rachel the last night of the 3-day prayer session. While praying for Maria, he uncovers and plays with her hair and later caresses her shoulders and her back. Jimoh and Oluwole watch them from a window behind them. John later joins them in their watch. As she rebuffs Jeremiah's advances, he points out that John may be the infertile one and that she should try him (Jeremiah) for a change. Maria refuses, especially since she already has 2 children. When he tries to undress her by force, the men come out of hiding and start beating him. When he takes out his drop-dead charm (ońdè), they run back. He manages to take the offering basket before running away. At last, John's eyes are opened to the realities of life. 

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