MYSTERY BOX
- Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Today’s Readings:
Habakkuk 1:2-3,2:2-4
Psalm 95:1-2,6-9;
2 Timothy 1:6-8,13-14
Luke 17:5-10
My siblings shared an unfortunate story which happened at a wedding event recently. The sadness of it reminds me of our struggle to grasp the power of faith. At this wedding, just like people do at most Nigerian weddings, there was a games session where some contestants were sent into the crowd to look for and return with certain items; shoes, bags, car keys and so on. The winner is usually rewarded. In this particular game, the contestants were asked to go into the crowd and fetch a car key. The one who returns with a car key will get a reward. One of them goes into the crowd and returns with a car key, to cheers and applause. It was now time for her reward.
So, she was presented with two gift choices: a sum of five thousand naira (the equivalent of 3 dollars) or a mystery gift in a box. She requested the money without thinking. The Master of the Ceremony (MC) tries to convince her to consider the mystery box. The crowd bellows in assent. She changes her mind and requests the box instead. But the MC again says, What if I raise the stakes and give you more money in place of the content of the box. She doesn’t bulge. But the MC insists and raises the money from 5k to 10k, then 20k, then 50k and then 70 thousand naira (the equivalent of 45 dollars).
At this point, the money was looking more tempting than the box, and so she ditched the box for the money. The MC asks her if she is sure about her decision. She is tired at this point of all the gains and settles for her money. But before she leaves, the MC says, Let us find out what you could have won if you had taken the box. What we didn’t know was that the gift in the box was donated by a friend of the groom who works in the oil and gas sector. He had enclosed the sum of 500 dollars in the box. People immediately brought out their phones and started punching their calculators. The money is worth more than 10 times what she settled for.
There are several lessons we can learn from this:
Faith is a mysterious gift, and often we are unsure of its power, so we settle for what feels familiar and safe.
Faith means that we place our lives in the hands of God and trust in His providence.
Cultivate your relationship with the Holy Spirit. He will replace your timidity and fear with power, love and self-control (the ability to delay gratification for future gains).
Faith needs to be nurtured, fanned into flame. Once it grows, it is unquenchable.
Build your faith through sacred reading and good works.
If the word of God dwells in you as a seed, you shall receive divine speed and blessings.
Show proof of your faith by your service to God and your neighbour.
Do good consistently, even when no one is watching. You are training yourself for the day when you will be required to show proof publicly. If you stay ready, you do not need to get ready.
Work on your weaknesses. Replace your vices with virtues required of us by the Almighty God, and do not postpone your conversion.
Carry yourself with dignity. You are the biggest prize, and God has placed more value on you than money can buy.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! You are welcome to the body of Christ. Prayerfully seek out a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor, or priest.
Prayer:
Eternal Father, thank you so much for the gift of faith.
Let your Holy Spirit fan my faith into flame.
Strengthen me to serve others for your sake.
May your grace strengthen me always. Amen.
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