Study Time: Four Scriptures to Encourage the Young Professional Part 2

I hope last week was good for you. For me the last week and a half has been a very busy week, as we celebrated four birthdays in our family – the last being my fiancé’s. He didn’t want a fuss made, but seeing as birthdays only come once a year, I thought to myself “why not go out and celebrate?”. So off we went, last Monday night to one of our favourite Thai restaurants in Stratford City, East London to eat, make merry and to generally be thankful for another year (I hope you like the pics!)

Birthdays aside, I wanted to continue with a discussion I started a few months back, and which many of you got in touch with me over, to tell me you found helpful. 

The work environment is a peculiar one, because you are thrown in with people who you have little in common with, except the job! But, as work is where we spend most of our time, it also happens to be a significant aspect of your life. But sometimes dynamics can be a little awkward, for example when you are forced to work with someone you might not necessarily get on with; or when you have to look your manager in the eye whilst you hand in your resignation. 

So I have compiled a short list of scriptures to encourage you as you survive in your career. Admittedly, this blog post will not be for everyone. I know I might have already lost a few readers just by mentioning the word "scriptures". However, if you have read up until now, I do urge you to stay. A lot of wisdom can be gained from from the Bible as you will see...

1.  When a colleague does something to upset you

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honourable in the sight of all (Romans 12:17 ESV )

Sometimes it is easy to lash out , or to choose hostility for a colleague that is grinding your gears. But trust me, it only leads to a work environment, which is dense and difficult for everyone to work in. I am not saying that bad behaviour should not be addressed or confronted, but what I am saying is that it should be done with some decorum. The workplace can be a tricky one, and very easily the one who confronts every situation is often branded uncollaborative and difficult to work with. As a side note, most employers will look for employees who are  able to work amicably with all kinds of characters.

2. When your colleague persists in antagonising you

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, (Titus 3:10 ESV )

As a continuation from my last paragraph, what do you do when a colleague continues to deliberately step on your toes after you have spoken to them? It gets to a point where you’ll just have to just forgive and love them from afar, keep it strictly professional and keep it moving.

 3. When you have handed in your resignation

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust (Peter 2:18 , ESV).

I must admit that the socio-economic context of the Bible does mean that the language can appear extreme. But fast forward to 2016, all this verse is simply saying is to respect whoever your boss is. Even if he or she is a monster! If you have to address an issue with your boss, do it with manners and in keeping with your company’s policy. Maybe his or her character has led you to hand in your resignation, but even so, that does not mean you should be a jackass whilst you work your notice. Continue to work with a good attitude until your last day, and even after you leave avoid airing out your grievances on social media, or to your new employers. Trust me. It is not a good look!

 4. Considering a career change?.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.(Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) .

I think, most people at some point in their lives will think “why am I still doing this job?”. And to me this is quite normal. As growing, and ever changing entities, it is inevitable that our interests will change at some point. However, speaking as a human, I would say it's a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly; and as a Christian, I would say don't move an inch without praying over it first. When you do this, God will definitely send you clear signs on the next move to make.

Thank you for reading. Are there any words of wisdom you have to encourage the young professional?

If you enjoyed this post, you will like part one of this series: Study Time: Five Scriptures to Encourage the Young Professional

Study Time: Gratitude

Wow, it has been a hot minute since I spoke with you guys! I hope you are all doing well. I have been real busy!

The Belfry in St.Peters Square
Ghent, Belgium

One of the things I had the opportunity to do at work is visit Ghent in Belgium for three days. I attended the Flanders Belgium Travel Forum, which was the flagship event of the whole trip. It was for organised by the Visit Flanders Tourist Board and was another opportunity for key players in the travel industry to network and do business. Aside from the "work" part, I was blessed with the chance to tour the historical city of Ghent and to learn all about its history and culture.

The canal in the historical town

For someone who up until a couple of years was in a mundane job she wasn't exactly thrilled with,I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude for how far I have come, and the opportunities that are now afforded me. This has inspired the theme of today's blog post. It's the latest installment of the Study Time series.

So, what is Gratitude? It is described as the quality of being thankful or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received.

The old Ghent prison
(You need to find out why it's called the Mammelokker. Hehe!)

For those of us who choose to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible, we ought to be grateful to God who we believe has blessed us with eternal life, life on earth and everything in it. 

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, MSG)

Not convinced? In an April 2015 study of 186 men and women with heart damage, researchers rated the people’s levels of gratitude and spiritual well-being. They found that higher gratitude scores were linked to having a better mood, higher quality sleep and less inflammation (Time.com, Nov 2015)

You cannot go to Belgium and not try a Belgian beer!

With that said, can we please do a short study on why gratefulness is important, and the benefits of displaying an attitude of gratitude?

1. It takes the focus off of what you don't have.

All that I am ...praise [bless] the Lord; everything in me ...·praise [bless] his holy name. My whole being ...praise [bless] the Lord and do not forget all his kindnesses [gifts; benefits]. (Psalms 103: 1,2 EXV)

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2. It attracts more kindness from others
Ruth fell at [Boaz's] feet and thanked him warmly. "What have I done to receive such kindness?"...At mealtime, Boaz called to her "come over here and help yourself to some food..." (Ruth 2: 10, 14a, NIV)

Dinner at the very prestigious Belga Queen

3. It grants you peace 

And when you pray, always give thanks... And God’s peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6b - 7a, ICB)

4. It grants you joy 

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name...For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;at the works of your hands I sing for joy. (Psalm 92: 1, 4 ESV)

Belgian hot chocolate, with whipped cream. Mmmm.....

There is a story in the Good Book (Luke 17:11-19) of ten men suffering from leprosy, which is a horrible, flesh eating disease. Even today, these men are known as the ten lepers. Even though all ten were healed by Jesus, only one made a point of saying "thank you" to him. Jesus, astonished that only one of the ten had the common decency to say thank you, said to the one man "Get up and go. Your faith has healed you" (v19) Only God knows the implications of that for the other nine!

This is an important lesson in being grateful. So, how do you show gratitude?

1. Saying "thank you" (well that's obvious!)

2. Choosing to focus on the good

3. Being satisfied with what you have

4. Being joyful (different to happiness, which is only determined by your current circumstances)

5. Getting out of the mindset that somehow the world owes you something

6. Giving back to others

Thank you Visit Flanders! Very grateful for the opportunity.

Whether you choose to take the 100 days of gratitude challenge, or simply make notes on everything you have to be grateful for, please do not forget that an attitude of gratitude will determine your altitude!

What are some of the ways in which you show gratitude, or have been shown gratitude? Please comment below.

Study Time: Faith

Hi all,

By the time this is published it will be 2016! How were your new year celebrations? Me, I had a wonderful time at church followed by a massive party at my aunt's. We literally partied until day break!

What better way to start the year than to exercise a little bit of faith? You have probably set yourself goals or a list of achievements you would like to see fulfilled this year. Well, to have any chance of realising those dreams for 2016, you will need faith. That, and a little bit of hard work!

This installment of Study Time will give you the basics of what faith really is. After you have read this, you will need to go out and add to your new found knowledge, and most importantly ACT on this knowledge. 

Definitions of Faith

Dictionary: Belief that is not based on proof
Bible:  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1, NIV)

The first thing to note from the two definitions is that faith is knowing that something exists without you even having to cast your eyes upon it, feel it or even taste it. For example, it's like ordering a new sofa, and clearing space for it before it arrives, because you know it's coming.

Before Crossover Night on the 31st

Key Scriptures: Hebrews 11: 1- 12, James 2: 14-26

If you have a copy of the Bible, turn to Hebrews 11, or simply google it. There you will read about all the champions of the Hall of Faith, and what their faith did for them

Six Things to Know about Faith

1. It requires action 
Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works (James 2:26, NIV)

2. It must be authentic

Truly I tell you, if you have faith, and do not doubt...you can say to this mountain 'Go throw yourself into the sea', and it will be done (Matthew 21:21. NIV)

3. It has to impact others
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not show it by your actions. Can that kind of faith save anyone? (James 2: 14, NIV)

4. It will make you look foolish
Some were jeered at... (Hebrews 11: 36, NIV)

5. With prayer, it will not fail
You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it. (Matthew 21:22, NLT)

6. Start small, it can be built upon.
"Truly, I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20, NIV)

The main thing to also remember is that faith is not magic. It requires patience and perseverance. I must also repeat that it won't work if you do not act. What have you always wanted to do? Start a business? Go on a course? Get healthy? Save money? Travel? Write a book? 

Why not start your chain of action by writing one of your goals on a large piece of paper, and underneath that goal, list one thing you will do each week of this quarter (January to March) to work towards it? Pin it up somewhere you can see it as a reminder, and as a way to hold yourself accountable to the promise you have made to yourself. With each quarter that passes you can change this sheet of paper, replacing it either with the same goal or a different one. 

At church, after crossover night

In keeping with the theme of faith, one of the most important thing the Good Book says about faith is:  "...the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10: 8-9). 

Not only that, God is 100% faithful and dedicated to us. If you submit your plans to him, you will do more than just achieve goals, you will smash them!

So if this lesson has awakened your faith and you'd like to be saved and to enjoy a relationship with the God I speak of; or your faith in God has been dimmed by disappointment and you'd love to rekindle it, please read aloud the following prayer:

Heavenly Father, I recognise that I am a sinner, and ask for forgiveness for my sinful nature.

I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me, rose for me and is coming back for me.

I declare in Jesus' name that I am saved!

Amen!

It's as simple as that!

Was meant to take a photo of the party food before we tucked in!

Good luck with your endeavours this year. I pray you will have enough faith to step out and make life happen!

Study Time: Five Scriptures to Encourage the Young Professional

The past week has definitely been a lot quieter, but it was all crowned at the weekend with the christening of a beloved friend's baby! Three of my friends decided to pop baby boys within weeks of each other so I am living in a babytastic world right now!

You might have noticed that at SoulJourner's Story we changed our tagline to reflect the fact that our material is to educate and uplift the young professional, which has been good for us because zoning in on a target audience has given us more focus. Whether you are in higher education, between jobs, a business person or in full or part time employment, you fall into the 'young professional' demographic so far as you still see yourself as a young'un. 

Life for the young professional is so exciting! Yet it can be quite tumultuous as we spend the majority of our waking hours with people we have little in common with, and for the most part being employed by the same company is the sole tie binding us with them. If you add to the mix the fact that many of us are also dealing with millions of other issues outside of work, you can see how it all can become a little overwhelming!

I have thus put together five Bible scriptures to encourage the young professional. Although this is Study Time, my usual disclaimers do not apply because whether you consider yourself a christian, any other believer in God, or a non believer for that matter, I feel we can all do with a little lifting up from time to time. 

So please stay with me...

At the train station. En route to the christening

1. When you hate your job
So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. (Ecclesiastes 3:22a, NIV)
Frankly life is a gift and you ought to enjoy it. This includes your day job. Firstly because it's your way of providing a service to your community and to society as a whole. Secondly because you will spend a large chunk of your life doing it! Therefore although gratitude is key to fruitful living, it's OK to want better, and it's definitely OK to strive for better!

Freezing at the train station!

2. When you are feeling overwhelmed by your workload

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)

Inasmuch as I believe in hard work, there are times when it all becomes too much. Have you realised that talking to a friend about your problems often helps to relieve the pressure we are under? Why not talk to God about it, when you feel snowed under? He (or she) is always available to listen, and is on standby to help when you call. If "talking" seems a bit strange to you, you can even write your thoughts down in a letter, and address it to God.

3.Nervous about an interview or a business meeting?

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you (Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV )

Leading from my last point, when you cast your anxiety to God, He will go ahead of you, and do whatever He needs to do to ensure you get what belongs to you, if it belongs to you.  He has no choice! This knowledge alone should empower you to face any interviewer, manager, board member or exam!

4. When your hard work is being overlooked

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.(Galatians 6:9 ESV)
All I can say is "chin up". It's difficult when you are always the first to arrive, the last to leave, and the one always putting yourself forward for the big projects,and yet no one seems to care! Trust me when I say that even if you are not praised by your colleagues or boss, seasons will eventually turn to favour you. It's the law of the universe and it's the law of God. Besides you will refine skills that will open up opportunities for you elsewhere.

The tracks at London Bridge

5.Handling workplace discrimination

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12, NLT)

I love this one. Depending on what you do your industry might be a bit of an 'old boys club', or you might be in the minority in other ways. I remember my uncle once telling me "Maddie, in life you will find yourself in situations where you will be at a disadvantage for the following reasons: your gender,your size and your ethnicity'. Well whether true or not, I have always made it a point to speak well, to dress well, to always be polite, to always be confident, to continue to educate myself, and to continue smile! 

I hope you have enjoyed today's post. 

What are some of the ways you encourage yourself when the chips are down?

Study Time: Love (Part 3)

Finally I conclude my three part series on the topic of Love. I bring to you, a short lesson on agape love. Grab your notebooks and Bibles because I really want this lesson to linger in your conscience, and not just evaporate into thin air after you've read it. 

Bibles and notebooks ready please

This post couldn't be more timely, given I have spent days in the last week, in the city of Love. That's right, I have been in Paris. Sadly, there were no romantic dinners in the Eiffel Tower, or evening strolls along the river Seine. My trips have been strictly of the professional kind, sheepishly shuffling along behind clients whist they gawp at the classical offerings this city has to offer.  

The Sacre Coeur against the beautiful backdrop of the blue sky

Here come my disclaimers:

Disclaimer 1:  Study Time will be purely devoted to Biblical teachings. My other blog posts will be general motivational material.
Disclaimer 2: Please remember that the original intended audience of my lessons are young people, so please excuse me if Study Time appears to be too basic for you. (Remember, I teach young people!)

Key Bible Verses
1 John 4:20                                1 John 4:19                              1 John 5:2-3
John 3:16                                   1 John 4:7 - 8                           Mark 12.30-31

Definition
Agape in the new original text is translated to 'Love' and it describes perfect, unconditional love that  God is capable of demonstrating to his children so perfectly.

Lovely fresh fruits served at the Sofitel Hotel. Prepared with love of course!

It is hardly surprising then, that as we are made in God's image, God expects us to demonstrate this love that is so pure and authentic to Him and to others. (Mark 12: 30-31)
Aside from God's mercy that he shows us everyday, and the benefits that he daily loads into our lives, His ultimate portrayal of love was the sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ , who showed love to believers and non believers alike, during his time on earth.  This sacrifice is key, because without it, everyone of us, with all our sinfulness, would be sentenced to eternal condemnation.  (John 3:16). Because of His sacrifice, our only job is to believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved! (Hurrah!)

The steps of Montmartre, leading to the Sacre Coeur

The reason why God is able to agape us is because He is love. This makes the two inseparable. (1John 4:8) For example, if you are a singer, you are able to effortlessly sing (in an ideal world!). If you are a painter, you are able to effortlessly paint. Consequently, we can only know this true, unflawed, and unconditional love when we come into the knowledge of God. 

This is why as followers, of Christ, who claim to know and to love God we are challenged to let our lives become an embodiment of agape love. This means our love should be an example to other believers and should definitely not discriminate against non believers, no matter the circumstance. (1 John 4:20 -21). Ladies and gentlemen, please let honesty guide your thoughts. How much do we love others? A good measuring stick against which we can put our love for others to the test is 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7. If you are abiding by these tenets then my dear, this is true agape. 

Filet de Bar, chez le Pullman à Bercy

Don't beat yourself up if you find yourself falling short of the guidelines set out in the love scripture, because frankly, without the grace of God it is impossible to abide by it! I would like to encourage and to cheer you on to continue to ask for God's supernatural power to work in you so you can be a true portrayal of agape love to your fellow man here on earth.


Aside from loving mankind, how else do we show our love for God? Through the obedience of his commandments! (1 John 5:2-3). It's as simple as that dear reader. Whilst sobbing your heart out during worship at church is a lovely gesture, true love to God is demonstrated through our obedience of his commandments. As they say, the proof is in the pudding!

The beautiful  Sacre Coeur standing proud and stoic (from another angle!)

That concludes my Love series. Hopefully, it has stirred up a longing for a relationship with God. Maybe you find you would love to live a life in the fullness of God's love, to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal saviour and to inherit this salvation I spoke about earlier. Or maybe you'd like to rekindle your love for God. In this case, please read aloud this sinner's prayer:

Heavenly Father, I recognise that I am a sinner, and ask for forgiveness for my sinful nature.

I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me, rose for me and is coming back for me.

I declare in Jesus' name that I am saved!

Amen!

Simples! You are saved! You may want to get yourself a Bible, follow a daily devotional such as this one, and join a good prayerful, Bible believing church.

I hope you have enjoyed the third installment of my Love series. You can read parts one and two here and here. If you have any questions on anything I have shared with you in this lesson or the others please comment below. Let's discuss! Or send me an email at souljournersstory@gmail.com.

Until next time. Ciao for now! 

Study Time: Love (Part 2)

"And the second command is like the first: ‘Love your neighbour the same as you love yourself." (Matt 22:39, ERV)

Hi all.

The weekend was a largely family orientated one for me, which I loved! Saturday was spent with my sisters at Ghana Party in the Park, in North London. Lunches and blankets were packed and off we went! GPITP is what I can only describe as London’s biggest consumption of Ghanaian culture in one place, at the same time. It is held in a large green in Cockfosters, North London (forgotten the name of the park, lol!). It’s an outdoor event seasoned with musical performances on two main stages,  the sale of Ghanaian food and cultural artefacts, and entertainment for the children. Sunday morning was spent at church, and the afternoon was spent visiting Mr’s auntie, who is visiting London for a month.  

My sisters are all very camera shy!
(Actually, they just don't want to be featured on this blog!)

There is something about spending your weekends with family (especially if you do not see them regularly) which colours the two days with joy, relaxation and contentment. This was compounded by the lovely summer weather. This brings us to today’s blog post. We will continue our theme of love, focusing on love shared between family and friends. Please get your notebooks and bibles ready as we start Study Time: Love (part 2). Please check the last Study Time, for the meaning of love. 

First here comes the disclaimers:

Disclaimer 1:  Study Time will be purely devoted to Biblical teachings. My other blog posts will be general motivational material. 

Disclaimer 2: Please remember that the original intended audience of my lessons are young people, so please excuse me if Study Time appears to be too basic for you. (Remember, I teach young people!)

Key Bible Verses
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Genesis 4: 8-11
Matthew 22:39
Matthew 26:14-16
Mark 14:10-11
Luke 22:3-6

Storge Is described as an affectionate love shared between family members, or spouses. It is seen to be the most natural kind of love, the type of love us humans are most capable of.

Think about it, no matter how much your younger bro might annoy you, or your big sis may boss you about, in the long run you are unlikely to cut them off (fights aside). No matter how much you sass mum or roll your eyes at dad they will continue to provide a roof over your head and food in your stomach. As much you might feel ignored by your son or daughter,
one SOS call from them will most probably have you running to their aid.

En route to visit Auntie!

Examples of storge love in the Scriptures are of Abraham and Isaac; Mary, Martha and Lazarus; Mary and Elizabeth; and Jacob and Joseph.

I am by no means saying we always get it right, as we are not always patient or kind. We are also sometimes boastful, proud and easily angered, as we will see in the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1-16)

Cain and Abel

To sum up the story in a few lines, Cain And Abel were brothers, sons of Adam and Eve, the first ever humans. Cain was a farmer  and Abel was a shepherd. The Scriptures tells us that in the course of time, they both offered a share of their yield. Cain offered a portion of his produce, whilst Abel offered the very best lamb of his flock. God was happy with Abel’s sacrifice but not too fussed about Cain’s. Because of this Cain became angry. So one day, he attacked brother really hard and killed him. His punishment was banishment from the land they were in. He was cursed with being a homeless wanderer. But interestingly enough God did not kill him.

The story of Cain and Abel is an illustration of where love should have been practised but failed. Whilst teaching this to my youth group I decided to use this example, because I wanted to show them that the Bible is not full of perfect people doing as they told. I feel it is important to  stress this point if we are to have any hope of making the Bible relatable. It also serves as a warning to the dangerous consequences of some poor choices, and as encouragement to God’s kindness when we miss the mark.

Lessons Learnt

1.The Bible doesn't really spell out why God did not accept Cain's sacrifice. However, it does stress that when the brothers presented their wares before God, that Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. (v4, NIV)  So it could be because Cain's offering wasn't his best.Meaning it might not have been the freshest of his crops. Or his attitude wasn't right. This is highly likely because for his anger to have been roused that much probably meant his heart was not in the right place to begin with. This is a lesson that whatever we decide to offer to God, be it our time, energy or money, He should get the best, and you should give it with a cheerful heart. 

Always offer your best.
Packed lunch anyone?

2. This is loosely linked with my first point, but I'd like to stress on it again.  Practice love all the times, as your envy or hatred will be exposed eventually. How many times have you blurted something out that you shouldn't have, or done something impulsively. Chances are it didn't just happen. Luke 6: 45 tells us "of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks". I believe it was stored up hatred, which had been brewing since the day of offering that led Cain to do what he did. All he needed was a trigger. So young ladies and gentlemen pay attention to the condition of your heart! 
"And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6b, NKJV)

3. You are your brother's keeper! It's our job to look out for each other. Cain responded "Am I my brother's keeper?" (v9, NKJV) when God asked him of Abel's whereabouts. That was a display arrogance, and nonchalance towards his duty of care towards his brother. Would God have cursed Cain, had he shown some remorse? I don't know, but what I do know is that Cain's curse came after that exchange.
"So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth.” (Genesis 4:11-12, NKJV)

A purchase from GPITP.
Sadly my sisters think it's a complete waste of money!

4.   God is watching the way you treat people. After Cain attacked his brother, God asked him "Where is your brother Abel?" (v9, NKJV). My guess is that God already knew what had happened. But he was doing that thing that parents do when they ask obvious questions, just before they go absolutely mental at you! What is most remarkable is this: The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground (v10, NKJV). The revelation here is that God's attention is called to the way we treat others, whether good or bad!

5.    As I said before, I find it remarkable that even in the Old Testament, God did not kill Cain. Although he was cursed, his life was spared! However, young men and women, I would like for you to make a note of this, Cain left the presence of God and lived in No-Man’s-Land (v 16, MSG). Beware guys, the way we treat our loved ones can drive away God's presence, and also drive them away leaving us isolated!

Are you treating your relatives with love? 

Remember you can pick your friends, but not your family, and God has put you with your family members for a reason. I know some family members are painful to be around and it’s OK to love them from a distance. You may not feel the affectionate storge kind of love for them, but you must love them nonetheless (we will look at what kind of love we should have for these painful people next time). However the important thing is not to not flout the maxims of Love, like Cain did. 

Let’s move on…

Phileo is a Greek term, found in the original scriptures which describes brotherly, affectionate love exhibited between friends. Biblical examples are portrayed in the closeness between David and Jonathan (an excellent example found in 1 Samuel 18 - 20);
Jesus and his disciples; and the fellowship of believers in the early church (Acts 2:44) 

With my bestie!
Unfortunately, Mr is also camera shy!

Judas Iscariot and Jesus

Again, when teaching this to my class I decided to focus on a Biblical example of people failing in their demonstration  of love. I enjoyed doing this, because I felt it helped them in identifying unhealthy relationships in their lives!

Here is a story we mainly focus on at Easter time, but I think it teaches a good lesson on what phileo is (and most importantly is not!)

The story here is simple, Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' chosen disciples, betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. This led to Jesus's arrest and crucifixion. The act of betrayal was a kiss. The story of the betrayal is recounted in each of the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and between them all you will get the full picture.

Lessons Learnt

1. Love is not self seeking (1 Cor 13: 5). Maybe Judas missed the memo. It is difficult to understand the reasons that underpinned Judas's actions. But what we are able to ascertain is that he was the treasurer to the group of disciples.  He was the one who kept the money bag for the group of followers. And he often stole money from the bag. (John 12:6, ERV). So we see he was a very greedy man, and this greed put him in the position where he would eventually compromise his integrity, his friendship and ultimately his life! Ladies and gents, be careful about greed because if not nipped in the bud, can put the love we should have for our friends at a compromising position.

2. Not everyone in your friendship circle phileos you. Note that Jesus picked Judas Iscariot to be one of his disciples (Matthew 10:4) In this case, Judas was in Jesus's closest circle of friends in order to fulfil God's plan. However the lesson we can draw from this is that not everybody that calls you friend necessarily loves or even likes you. 

“But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me". (Luke 22:21) In my opinion it's safer to keep your circle very small, as it eliminates the likelihood of having false friends. This is something that will com with age. Asking God to  sift our friends is also a very useful thing to do (albeit painful!) 

On the flip side, please also ensure you are not that fake friend, showing fake phileo!

3. Sometimes when we say or do things to hurt our friends, our actions or words cannot be undone! 

When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders.  “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.”

“What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”

Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:3-5)

Please, please be determined to treat your friends with love ALL the time. A simple action or word can set a chain of events in motion that can lead to destruction!

Has anyone been to Cockfosters before?

I hope you have enjoyed this installment of Study Time, and have learnt something new today. Our friends and family members play a big part in shaping who we are. And learning to display love to them at all times will not only develop us as people, and pleases God, but also nurtures and edifies them.  

If you have any questions on the material I have shared please drop me an email at souljournersstory@gmail.com, or post your comment below!