By Olubunmi Adebayo
*He sounded genuinely concerned about the welfare of the generality of people.*
*Please listen to him :*
*John 12: [4]Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,*
*[5]Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?*
*But his intention, by his nature, was entirely different. This was because he had a terrible moral weakness with money :*
*John 12: [6] This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.*
*The question is : how can you be a thief in the ministry of Jesus Christ, where sinners of different shades and shapes were coming to for salvation, including the one on the cross, who was only a few minutes away from death? Please note this – a man that weakness cannot destroy has not been born. How can you come this far with Jesus and remain untouched and unchanged over the years?*
*May I tell you that every weakness a man has that is not timely addressed, is a potential danger spot that can bring such a fellow to his knees.*
*In fact, every weakness is a potential cause of an irreparable setback to any person.*
*You and I therefore need to discover our weaknesses and promptly deal with them, before they deal with us irreparably.*
*We have seen men of great status entirely destroyed because of the inability to manage their weaknesses. We have come across women of extraordinary means turned to “societal rejects” because of their unmanageable weaknesses.*
*I am sure that Queen Vashti (Esther 1:1-22) was that type of woman who easily gets tensed up while handling activities and assignments around her. Maybe on the day she misbehaved towards her husband (King Ahasuerus), she was just having such serious problems with palace hands around her, and she got carried away momentarily with her emotions and ended up displaying a shocking stubbornness and disobedience towards the king :*
*Esther 1: [10] On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded….*
*[11]To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.*
*[12]But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.*
*Dealing with a weakness will take conscious and painstaking efforts on the part of a man or woman.*
*If your weakness is the opposite sex, then be careful of your associations with the opposite sex.*
*If it is anger, learn to walk away from the scenes of arguments or provocations, and without uttering a word.*
*You may not know it, there may be people around you trying to use your weaknesses in whatever area against you in an attempt to score a point or terminate your progress and success in life. At times, such people could be persistent in monitoring or following up on you (like Vashti’s case above). You must therefore not relax or give up in managing your weaknesses.*
*In very serious instances, you may need other people’s advice and help, including that of professional counselors in managing whatever weakness you may have.*
*For instance, you must acknowledge that you have this specific weakness, and then embrace the intervention of God :*
*Proverbs 28: [13]He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.*
*One thing is sure, if you try hard enough, including going back to God as your Creator as suggested above, you will certainly overcome that character flaw you are struggling with.*
Good day to you
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
