THE USE OF ANOINTING OIL

The issue of anointing oil has become very complicated. Should we use anointing oil? Is there such thing as anointing oil? How must it be used? Will God answer prayers which are not accompanied by anointing oil? I will seek to answer some of those questions in this article.

First of all, I would like to give a brief explanation of the word anoint and how it is used in different passages and books of the Bible. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew words for anoint are masah, misha, masiah and suk. The first two words, masah and misha have to do with rubbing oil on someone or something especially for the purpose of consecrating or sanctifying. Here are a few verses in which they are used. "You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him" Exd 29:7. You will notice that the words anointing and anoint in this verse are the same. The word for anointing is misha and the word for anoint is masah. Whenever these two words are used in the Old Testament they are used to mean smearing oil on someone or something for the purpose of sanctifying them or setting them apart. So you see it being used in the consecration of people who have been set apart by God for a specific purpose. This also included the sanctifying of the things in the temple and the people who served in the temple, the priests. (Exd 28:41) You also see it used in the setting apart of Kings, anointing them into their offices (1 Sam 16:13). These two words are verbs. There is some action involved whenever they are pronounced.

The other word masiah is a noun. It is more of a title. This is where we get the English word messiah. Sometimes it is read as anointed or you read statements like the anointed one. In 1 Sam 26: 9 we see David using the word on Saul. It reads, " But David said to Abishai, " Do not destroy him, for who can put his hand against the LORD'S anointed and be guiltless" So the word anointed (masiah) is used as a noun to mean a chosen one or the chosen one. It comes out as a title and not a verb or the act of anointing (misha).

The other word used for anointing in the Old Testament is the word "suk". This has nothing to do with consecration or sanctifying. It only means to oil or to apply oil or to smear, the same way we apply lotion to the body. We see it used In 2 Sam 14:2. It reads, " And Joab sent to Tekoa and brought from there a wise woman and said to her" Pretend to be a mourner and put on the mourning garments. Do not anoint yourself with oil but behave like a woman who has been mourning many days for the dead." You can also read Daniel 10:3. You will notice the word anoint is used to mean applying or smearing without any attachment to sanctity. So these are the four words for anoint which are used in the Old Testament.

In the New Testament there are two main words used in the Greek for anoint or anointed. The first one is Chrio and the other one is aleipho. Chrio is equivalent to the Old Testament Hebrew words masah, misha and masiah. It has to do with consecrating or setting apart something or someone for holy use. For example in Luke 4:18 the Bible says, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor..." And in Acts 10:38 it says, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power." In 2 Corinthians 1:21 we are told, "And it is God who has established us with you in Christ, and has anointed us." What you will notice about the word chrio is that it is mostly used to refer to the anointing of Jesus Christ. In other words, Jesus is the chosen one of God. He is the only who has been chosen by God to save sinners. Only Jesus has the authority and power to save. He is actually the promised messiah (masiah/ anointed one) of the Old Testament who was to come.

When the word chrio is used, the other thing you will notice is that there is usually reference to the Holy Spirit. This setting apart or consecration is not a work of man. It is the work of God. No wonder the Holy Spirit is usually involved.

The other word used for anoint in the New Testament is the word aleipho. This has nothing to do with consecration. It is the equivalent of The Hebrew word suk in the Old Testament. It means to apply or smear something with oil, to oil something. Same way someone applies lotion to his body. There is no spiritual connection attached to it. In John 12:3 It says, “Mary, therefore, took a pound of very expensive ointment and made pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair…” What Mary did here was simply to apply oil to Jesus’ feet. Her applying of oil is what the Bible refers to as anoint in that verse. It has nothing to do with setting apart or consecration and nothing to do with the Holy Spirit.

So is there such a thing as anointing oil? Well, there was anointing oil in the time of the Priests and Kings. Anointing oil was something made in a particular way with particular ingredients for a particular purpose. Here is a passage in which God instructs Moses on how to make this oil.  

22 The LORD said to Moses, 23“Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane, and 24 500 of cassia, according to the shekels of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. 25 And you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. 26 With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, 27 and the table and all its utensils, and the lamp stand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the basin and its stand. You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them will become holy. 30 You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priest. 31 And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 32 It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person, and you shall make no other like in composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you. 33 Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on an outsider shall be cut off from his people.” Exodus 30:22-33.

This passage will help us greatly to get to our concerns for today’s use of anointing oil.

So first of all, if we must use anointing oil today, we must make it according to the way it is prescribed in the above verse. There should not be anything lacking in it.

The second thing we need to take note of is that this was a prescription which was given to Moses for a particular purpose. This oil was for the consecration or making holy or setting apart of the priests, the tabernacle and the utensils in the tabernacle. Read through the passage from verse 26 to 29.

The third issue you note is that no one else was to use this oil except the priests. The oil was not to be used on any ordinary person. It was strictly for the priest and for the tent of meeting.

So when you look at the use of the anointing oil today, what do you make of it? The first question is, “Whoever is using that oil, where is he getting it from?” Where in this world are they making such kind of oil?  Secondly, if it is there then why is it being used on ordinary people, people who are not priests. As far as I am concerned, it was meant for the priest and the tent of meeting. By the way, the office of the priest has been done away with. The Apostle John says in the book of Revelation that “You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth” Rev 5:10. Christians do not need priests today. We are a royal priesthood to our God. We can freely pray anywhere and at anytime to our God. The office of priests was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. No wonder when Jesus died on the cross the veil in the temple was torn in two signifying that the way into the holy of holies was now free to all through Jesus Christ. There would be no more temple activities

The verse that many use to support the use of anointing oil is James 5:14. The verse says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” When you read this verse upfront, you immediately think that the Bible is talking about anointing oil. However, reading carefully shows you that it is not talking about anointing oil. The verse is saying, “Anointing him with oil” It is not saying, “Anointing him with anointing oil.” Remember we said that there are two words used in the Greek for anoint. There is Chrio and aleipho. Chrio means to consecrate and to set apart while aleipho simply means to smear or apply. You will note that the word used for anoint in James is the word aleipho, to smear or apply. It has nothing to do with setting apart or consecrating. It is just the same way we apply lotion on the body. You find some passages in the New Testament talking about anointing someone with oil. Never will you find it talking about anointing someone with anointing oil. Here are a few passages,”

 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”  Mark 6:13. 

 “You did not anoint my head with oil but she anointed my feet with perfume.” Luke 7:46

“ And he came and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast…” Luke 10:34

So you see that it is just normal oil and not anointing oil. All of the above passages are talking about applying the body or body part with oil. This was most likely Olive Oil which was common among the Jews. Anointing oil was something different as we have seen from the passage in Exodus. Anointing oil was not made anywhere else and was only used by the priests and in the tent of meeting.

So the passage in James was addressing a totally different matter. It was not talking about anointing oil and so do the other passages in the New Testament. The passage in James was talking about a different context with different situations. The believers in James’ writing were passing through difficult times. Some of them were being beaten by their masters. So they would come with wounds to the elders. So instead of just praying for them, the elders were to be practical by applying on the believer olive oil which acts like a medicine on the wounds. In other words, the elders were to trust God for healing through prayer but also use the required medicine. Olive oil works well for wounds. No wonder you see the Good Samaritan using oil on the man who was wounded” Luke 10:34. You see also the apostles using oil as they were praying for healing among the sick. Mark 6:13. So in short, let the elders not just pray when someone is sick. Let them advise the patient to go for medical checkup and keep on praying as the medicine is taken. It doesn’t mean every time someone is sick you must use anointing oil. It does not mean that for God to answer a prayer there must be anointing oil.

The most worrying thing about today’s so called anointing oil is that it is not just oil but many other things have been anointed and we don’t know who it is who has anointed them. We have anointing water, anointed underwear, anointed pens, anointed this and that. Where in the Bible do you see those things? They are nowhere to be seen. What you do see is a plea for believers to be very prayerful. In fact when you read the context of James chapter 5, the context is prayer. James is pleading for believers to be very prayerful. It is through prayer that we see God doing great things in the believer’s life.

SATURDAY OR SUNDAY? Which is the day of Worship?

SATURDAY OR SUNDAY? Which is the day of Worship?

The aim of this article is to help anyone understand what the Bible teaches on this subject. Everything written is based on what the Scriptures teach. Reading all the Bible references which have been quoted will be the best way to get a clear understanding of what the article is teaching. So let your Bible be on your side as you read.

Some people worship on a Sunday while others worship on a Saturday. There is a lot of debate across the globe as which day God has given for worship. Those who worship on a Saturday say, “God has not given a direct command anywhere in the Bible that we should stop worshipping on the seventh day and start worshipping on Sunday.” They go on to say that God blessed the seventh day which is a Saturday and sanctified (made it holy) it and that the observance of the Sabbath is even among the Ten Commandments. None of the commandments have changed so why would anyone change the seventh day Sabbath to the first day when you cannot change the other commandments?  On the other hand those who worship on a Sunday say the early Church worshipped on the first day of the week which is a Sunday. They do it in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week and his disciples began to meet on the first day of the week in his honour (John 20:1,8; Acts 2:7; 1 Corinth 16:2) (Read the verses). This day, became known as the Lord’s Day (Rev 1:10) Read the verse. “That’s the reason we worship on a Sunday,” so goes the argument. So who is right? When should we worship?

Where then does the problem come in? How do we deal with the issue of Saturday and Sunday?

The finest way to answer this question is to ask ourselves "What does the word Sabbath mean?" When you carefully examine the Scriptures, Sabbath does not mean Sunday or Saturday or Seventh day. In Leviticus 23:26-32 (Read it), God calls the Day of Atonement, which took place on the tenth day of the Seventh month, a Sabbath day. If the word Sabbath means “seventh day” then why would God call the Day of Atonement, which happened on the tenth day, a Sabbath? This is proof that Sabbath does not mean seventh day.  Why would God call it a Sabbath if the day was the tenth day of the month and not the seventh day? God made days. He never gave the days names to say that the first day will be called Sunday or the Seventh day will called Saturday. I am yet to see in the Bible where it says “Saturday the seventh day of the week or Monday the second day of the week.” These are human decisions made to help with the managing of time. What you see instead from the Bible is that as God was creating the earth there was the first day, second day, third day, fourth day, fifth day, Sixth day and Seventh day. There is nothing like Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

The other thing is that when God created the universe, he rested on the seventh day and made it holy. Our question then is, what does the Bible mean when it says, “God rested?” Does it mean God got tired?  I don’t think so. If God got tired then he would cease to be God. Our God does not grow weary (Isa 40:28). Read the verse. The word rest means God was satisfied with his creation. I remember some time during my bachelorhood; I was so hungry that I stopped working. I decided to cook myself a meal.  I took my time. I boiled the chicken and dip fried it. I cut up the vegetables in their rightful size, cooked them, then prepared the soup and it was not long before the meal was set. I ate and had my fill and afterwards sat back and said to myself, “That was really good.” At that time, I “rested” from the cooking. I was not tired but was appreciating the goodness of the food. I was pleased with what I cooked.  That is what God did.  When the Bible says God rested it means he was satisfied or pleased with his creation. God was enjoying what he created. No wonder the word rest comes after the Bible says that all that God created was very good. If we say that God was tired then we are insulting him. We are saying he is not all powerful. We are saying he is like human beings who get tired.  So Sabbath does not mean seventh day or Saturday. It means a day of rest. It means a day when we can enjoy God in a restful way, a day when we adore him as the only one through whom we can find true satisfaction. This day must be different from all other days. This day must be a day that will be similar to the way God looked at his creation and was fully satisfied. In the same way, when we gather on that day for worship, we should do so as an expression of our satisfaction in God.  So the issue is not about Sunday or Saturday. It is about finding and expressing our spiritual satisfaction in God (finding our rest in God). Christians are commanded to meet regularly for fellowship (Heb 10:24-25, Acts 20:7) Read. That’s why there needs to be a day set aside when people are not working so that everyone can meet for fellowship. So apart from enjoying God in a restful way Christians must meet in order to fellowship (enjoy each others company), break bread and pray together.

After all that has been said, our question then is “Where can we find spiritual rest?” Remember we said that we must enjoy God in a restful way. So how do we do that without focusing on Saturday or Sunday? Is there anything that God has revealed in his word which can bring us spiritual satisfaction? I believe there is someone who gives us spiritual rest. Jesus does that. He is the one who said, "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and learn from me... I will give you rest for your souls," Matt 11:28-29 (Read it).  So it should not be about Sunday or Saturday but about honoring the Lord Jesus Christ who shed his blood for our sins. We honor him by submitting to his Lordship. We repent of our sins and he in turn gives us a new life.  When we honor the Son, we honor the Father also. So, if you enjoy God in a restful way on a Saturday then go ahead. If it’s on a Sunday then go ahead. However, we need to be sure that we have found spiritual rest in Christ because God will not ask you whether you worshipped on a Saturday or a Sunday. That is not what will get you into heaven. Nonetheless, be assured that he will ask you what you did with the blood which his Son shed for you on cross. Paul says in Romans that, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God…” Romans 14:5-6.

After all that we have talked about we must remember that the apostles did not gather for worship on the Seventh day. If you read through the Scriptures, you will never find the apostles giving commands for people to worship on the Sabbath or Seventh Day. Read through Matthew to Revelation you won't find it. In fact what you see is Jesus together with the apostles condemning observance of the Sabbath because it burdened people instead of drawing them closer to God. The apostles talk more about worshiping on the first day of the week than observing the Sabbath.

Let me state also that worship is not reserved for a day. We must worship God every day. When we read our Bible in the morning or evening and pray to God we are worshiping. When we present our bodies as living sacrifices as Paul says, we worship God in a reasonable way. Amen.

Marry Your Best Friend

Teenage life is full of dreams. One of the things that fill the mind of a teenager is career prospects. Young people dream of special careers. You never find any one adolescent hoping to become a garden boy or a plumber. They point out celebrities. “I want to be like that one,” they say. Another interesting topic of discussion during this phase of life is marriage. What kind of a lady will I marry? What will she look like? Will the man who marries me cook for me? Will he be opening doors for me before I come out of the car or enter a room? We all asked these questions at some point. The truth is that you should not be looking for someone who will open doors for you. You do not need someone who will be helping you sweep the house. If that's what you want then hire a maid or a servant. What you need is a companion suitable for you. You need a best friend.

On a magnet, the positive attracts the negative. In like manner, God designed men to be attracted to women and vice versa because they are different. Yes, different but equal. There is a friend, scripture tells us, who sticks closer than a brother. It makes it even better when you have a best friend who is also your husband or wife.  A best friend will tell you when he is upset. A best friend will tell you when your hair looks shaggy or your make up is too much. A best friend will rejoice with you when you succeed. A best friend always wants the best for you. A best friend wants to spend time with you. A best friend will love you sincerely. A best friend will gently rebuke you when necessary. A best friend will be kind to you. A best friend will respect you.

When God said let me make for Adam a companion suitable for him, he was creating a best friend for Adam. He was creating someone who would be attracted to Adam.  God was creating someone who would support Adam in his God given tasks. If she is your best friend, she will respect you. You don’t have to plead for her submission. If he is your best friend he will seek the best for you. He will protect and provide for you. You don’t have to ask him to open doors for you as you get into your car. He will do it because he cares. He is your best friend. If she is your best friend she will see to it that she helps you in your calling. Remember she is your best friend. She will stick closer than a brother.

If he is your best friend then you will agree with him at least on doctrinal grounds. It may not be everything but most of it. Amos asks a rhetoric question when he says, “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3). Your best friend must agree with your personality. Your best friend will accept your flaws and seek to help you in them. Your best friend should be friends with someone greater and special.  He should be friends with Jesus. Marry your best friend.

My Idol Pastor

When Pastor X is preaching, the auditorium is filled to capacity but when Pastor Y is on the Pulpit, the Church building is almost empty. Why is it so? Could it be that Pastor Y is not articulate? Or is it that Pastor Y has not been to Bible College? Or maybe Pastor Y is only five years in the ministry? What could be the problem behind this reality which tearing the Churches? Note that I am not referring to health and wealth kind of preaching. I know that has its effects as well. In fact, it has done more harm. However, I am talking about sound expository preaching coming from sound doctrine. Why do we have people making choices as to which preacher they will listen to? My conclusion is that there is a particular sin which has blinded believers from appreciating other preachers.

I know that going to Bible school has a lot of advantages and many people who preach well can tell you that they have been greatly assisted by the studies they have gone through on individual level or university level. I can testify that I was helped to a great extend. Paul tells Timothy to study in order to show himself approved. Bible school is like pouring gasoline on fire. The person already has the passion to preach and adding knowledge to it makes the passion more visible.

I know also that people are gifted differently. There are some who are more gifted than others. I can sing and so can many other people but I cannot compare my singing to some people I know. When they sing, it’s just out of this world. I say, “Wow, that is so good. My heart has been warmed.”

I know also that some preachers have little dependence on the help of the Holy Spirit. Some also have lives that are morally wrong. God surely will not be pleased and later on work in such a life.

However, a lack or an absence of these things is not the only reason people shun to go to Church when Pastor Y takes up the pulpit. I noticed something that is encroaching into the Church. It is the sin of idolatry. Believers have made certain preachers to be their gods. They have said to themselves, “I can only be taught by Pastor X and he is the only one who can speak the truth.” The Church no longer holds the Scriptures with high esteem. People have become greater than the Scriptures. The Scriptures are not seen as God’s very word. It’s like that book title, “When God is small and people are BIG.” What we should know is that God can use anyone despite the level of giftedness. It is because we have told our minds and hearts that only preacher X is good enough. We don’t say it but we live it. This is a deadly sin. It is such sins that have led to people forsaking the assembling of believers together. The Church at Corinth was going through these difficulties of choosing which preacher to listen to. This is what Paul tells them: “What then is Appollos? What then is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Appollos watered, but God gave the growth…for we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building” 1 Corinth 3:5-9. In chapter four verse 1 he says, “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”

God can use anyone. If only we can cease to idolize certain preachers, we would see the work of God in the preaching of others.

THE MOST ABUSED AND MISUSED PHRASES PART 1

On the African soil we have so many ways in which people conduct funerals. It is also evident that some countries outside Africa have a unique way in which they conduct funerals. In recent years I have observed that some African countries are slowly conforming to the western culture of handling funerals. Nevertheless, there is one phrase that I keep hearing and seeing from people in Africa and from those in the other parts of the world when people lose a loved one. Sometimes I wonder why someone would make such a statement. Maybe its failure to understand what death really is.

Before I can state this most abused phrase during these emotional moments, let me try and unpack the meaning and definition of death. Death is the separation of the soul from the body. One example I can give to support this definition is the death of Christ. Remember when Jesus was dying? The Bible says in John 19:30 that “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” So you notice that Jesus died and gave up his spirit. In other words, his body was separated from his spirit when he died. I could site many other passages but that verse should do for now. Not only is death separation of the soul from the body but it is also separation of man from God. Remember when Adam sinned against God? He was at that time separated from God. Sin separated him from God.

The other thing I must mention before stating one of the most tortured phrases is the destiny of those who have died. It is clear from the Scriptures that when people die without having repented of their sins in faith towards Christ then their destination is hell. Hell is the place where they will spend eternity. A good example for this is the story of Lazarus and the Rich man. I am sure you know that story well. Lazarus ends up in Abraham’s bosom while the rich man ends up in the place of torment, a picture of hell. Why will such people end up in hell? Because they are Adam’s descendants and Adam, remember, died (was separated from God) because of sin.  And in the story of Lazarus and the rich man we have a good picture of someone who is separated from God. Each one of us is Adam’s descendant and we are destined to die and go to hell if we are not saved through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

So here is my question now. If what I have said above is true and makes sense then why do people say, “May his soul rest in eternal peace,” during a funeral, when they do not even know whether that person was saved? This is abusing the phrase. In fact it is torturing the phrase. How can someone who lived in sin, cursed God and denied the Lord Jesus Christ even to his death ever rest in eternal peace? How? For all I know as the Bible says is that, “There is no rest, says the LORD, for the wicked” Isaiah 48:22. Could this be an African phrase or something from the western culture or Europe? Or is it just some people trying to be kind?

DON’T DESPISE THEM

The human mind in its sinful nature is framed in such a way that it considers certain creatures and realities of life to be more important than others, more powerful than others, more intelligent than others and even more beautiful than others. Strictly speaking, it is true. There are certain realities that surpass others when there is a comparison. There are those who are more gifted than others. That’s a fact. There are those who are more beautiful than others. It’s a reality. However, when these comparisons become more important than the eyes through which God sees human beings then notice the red light flashing. The light is a warning.

King David was the youngest of his brothers and so was Joseph who was only followed by Benjamin. Moses was rejected by the Israelites. Rahab was a prostitute. Ruth was an outcast among God’s chosen people. Hannah bore Samuel after years of being barren.  Our Lord was the son of a carpenter. He lived in Nazareth. There are a lot other people I can mention. When you go through the lives of these people as you read Bible history, you wouldn’t tell from the beginning that they would have achieved anything in future. David, the last born of seven sons, became King. In Jewish tradition being the last born meant you were the least of all according to the birthright rule.  That is why Joseph’s brothers even hated him more when he told them of his dream which seemed to suggest that they (his brothers) would in future be his servants. This reality came to pass. Do you see that in the eyes of man these people were less important, less gifted, not courageous, proud, cursed and despised? Being barren was not something that was easily accepted in those days. It was believed to be a curse. So you can imagine what Hannah was going through and what the people thought of her.

Why does God do this? Isn’t he the all powerful God and God of all wisdom? Shouldn’t the people he chooses to use display power. Listen to what he says in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29; “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

We are human and at times we will fall into the trap of considering others to be inferior.  However, we have no clue what God has in store for them. What shall we do then? How can we better the situation? Firstly, we must pray that God shows us the best way to assist and accommodate such people. That is what Samuel did when he chose David to be King. He sought the LORD’S approval even though he was looking at the outward appearance of David’s brothers. God told him they were not the ones. Secondly, be a channel of blessing for such people. When you have prayed and God answers which I am sure he will, find ways of helping such people. Talk to them. Pray with them. Thirdly, God makes everything beautiful in its time. That building which looks so ugly when the foundation is being laid may be a different site when you see a copy of the finished architectural design. Fortunately it is God who has the finished product so we should not judge and change anything. Fanny Crosby, a hymn writer, became blind 6 weeks after her birth. Who would have known that she would write more than 6000 hymns which we still enjoy to date? Hymns like “to God be the glory” and “Blessed assurance.”  Have you noticed the way blind people are treated in some places?  What about the deaf, the lame, the gay and lesbians, the mentally sick, the introverts and the weak. It’s heart breaking. Let it not be so with you dear one. Let your love be genuine.

WHEN MY PHONE AND IPAD WENT OFF

God makes everything beautiful in its time. This is what the Bible tells us. I wouldn’t agree more to the truth of those words when I see the new technology that has come in. We have a variety of gadgets all over the world. Some are touch screens, some wireless, still some are priceless. These tools assist us with so much. They make work easier. Communication is at the tip of our fingers to a people who are 20,000 kilometers or 24 hours away. But something priceless happened to me when my phone and I pad went off.

I am Steven. I have the highest level of accounting qualification.  I have one of the best jobs and you know what I mean when I say that. My bank account gets me whatever I want. I have all types of technological gadgets. I get one whenever I want to. I am one of the first to have the new release of any type, Blackberry, iphone, Samsung Galaxy and you can mention it. My life is so busy and I don’t know what I would do without these gadgets. I didn’t realize what would hit me when my phone and ipad would go off.

With the help of technology I talk to my family on facebook and watsapp using my ipad and iphone. I don’t have time to see them face to face. My work is too busy. Whenever I get home I am so tired and everyone is already fast asleep. But one day my phone and Ipad went off.

I don’t have to worry about Church or any Church activity. I can download sermons with my ipad. I will see the photos on facebook of which people were present. Sometimes when the Pastor is preaching I can attend to my watsapp messages and visit facebook sites without hesitation. After all I can listen to it later. It’s recorded. But one day my phone and ipad went off.

My closest relationships, the relations with those people I love the most are not a bother. When I am with them I don’t bother to spend time and listen to them speak and have real meaningful fellowship. You know why? I can catch up with them on skype. I don’t have to bother to visit them. And when they say they want to come home sometime in the year, I simply say, “or we can do a video conference?” But one day, my phone and I pad went off.

When my gadgets went off, I went home and found my brothers and Sisters in the lounge. I joined in the conversation. We talked and laughed. The humor, facial expression and gestures which I rarely notice were visible. The way my young Sister laughs made me realize that we have the same Father. You can rarely tell such wonderful life experiences when all you see is “Lol, lolest and rotfl” on your phone. I thought to myself, “this is awesome. ” In fact I got into a very intimate conversation with my Sister and I was so disturbed when she got up almost every other minute to respond to her facebook notifications and watsapp alerts. On Sunday I went to Church. Yes, when my phone and Ipad went off. I sat on the pew and the song leader led us into a hymn. For the first time after years of emotional absence I sang the song with insight and my soul was revived. The coordination of the voices as the choir sang made me taste heaven. And when the Pastor brought the sermon to our ears, it was like ice on the cake. After all, I had no messages to respond to or to worry about.

You see, I realized when my gadgets went off that I was being self centered. Without noticing I became an island. I wanted attention but didn’t give others the attention they deserved. I wanted God to listen to me when I pray but I wasn’t ready to give him my all in my devotions and Church participation. You know why? It’s because my phone and I pad took all the energies. I almost lost touch with my God, friends and all those who mean so much to me. Unfortunately, many are still living in it. God brought me back to reality and I will not make my phone and ipad my idol.  I will discipline my body and bring it under subjection, lest when I preach to others I myself should be disqualified.