Dealing with strangers (2)

Psalm 146:9 says God protects strangers. Know this about strangers: not all of them are good and not all are bad.

In writing the epistle to the Hebrews, the author in 13:2 said: “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers…”

An exegetical x-ray into 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 exposes us to the greatest gift.
The Greatest Gift

1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

2: And though I have the gift of a prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3: And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4: Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.

5: does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.

6: Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.

7: Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8: Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

9: For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10: But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12: For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13: And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Love is the great gift we need to have and share with those around us, especially those we do not know. Do good to those you meet here; you may never know if they will meet you there again.
What Do You Have? (1Corinth. 4:7, and 1Kings 4:1-7)

Life is a gift; the gift that life affords is for ‘us’ rather than for ‘me.’ This means it is for the overall good of all, it is not ‘self-oriented,’ but general goodness. God gives us opportunities, talents, spiritual blessings, which most times are temporal, earthly and for a season. What we do with them at the time counts. A lost time, a lost opportunity, talent, privilege may never be redeemed. What do you do with what God has given to you? In Genesis 12:1-2; God only blessed Abraham that he could be a blessing: “I will bless you and make you a blessing.” We are truly blessed when we become a blessing to those around us and more so to those we barely know.
Note This: God is the source and author of all things (Eccl. 9:11, 1Sam. 2:1-10), therefore;

• Don’t be proud of what you have or who you are – 2Kgs 4:3; 1Sam. 2:3.

• The full can be made empty overnight – 1Sam. 2:5; 2Kgs 4:1.

• Everything we do with God’s provision and blessings is weighed – 1Sam. 2:3.

• Those who stumble can be guided with strength – 1Sam. 2:4.
Are you stumbling again and again? Do you fail often or repeatedly? Does anything you touch die or depreciate? Do not give up for God is here to help you.

• God can raise anyone – 1Sam. 2:7-8.

• How do you judge what you have – 2Kgs 4:2-6; Job 8:7. Never look down on anything you have – vs 2 ‘except a pot of oil.’ Never neglect what you have.

• The insignificant can be significantly rewarding if you believe.

• Connecting with others can improve your status and make your nothing to become something. Never look down on people that come across your way (vs 3).

• Develop what you have secretly – shut the door.
Some people need to shut the door of their mouth, some need to shut the door of their nudeness, some need to shut the door of their excessive socialisation. Ask yourself now and possibly pen it down:

• Which door do I need to shut?
• What kind of people do I need to shut out of my life?
• Everybody is not needed in your life. Learn to work inside.
• As you have these opportunities, ‘learn to pour out.’
– Pour into vessels.
– Pour out what you have.
– Hurdling does not bring increase.

• Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu is the Rector Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State (08035413812)