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Felicia couldn’t understand why everyone around her seemed happy and content with life. She, on the other hand, was a born-again, tongue-speaking, single and miserable lady. It had been three years since she gave her life to Christ but she still felt like things weren’t working out as she had thought they would.
She was beginning to wonder if she made the right choice by giving her life to Christ.

She left a pretty indecent secret profession to live the life of a Christian. Being a call girl for over seven years had taken care of her bills and left her with a lot of cash to play around with but now, she had to wait for a miserly salary of N50,000 at the end of every month.

Her salary wasn’t enough to sort out her rent, feeding expenses, monthly transportation fare and her miscellaneous expenses. Life was getting hard. Wasn’t the Christian life supposed to be a life of divine encounters and financial miracles?

All her old friends already owned houses in big cities in the country and they went on lavish shopping trips with their sponsors.
Why was she not enjoying this new life? Was she being a fool for living a life that pleases God? Why were the other girls in her former clique prospering? This didn’t seem fair.

Have you ever been in Felicia’s shoes?

Have you ever wondered why sinners prosper while the righteous sometimes seem to have a less lavish life?
Now, I’m not saying that the righteous don’t prosper but “have you ever been in Felicia’s shoes? Wondering what’s wrong with you?” Wondering if this Christian life is totally worth it?

Maybe you’ve been celibate for years with not so much financial freedom and extravagance and then you watch some of your wayward friends prospering financially. Or it may just be that guy in your office who keeps changing figures for his financial gain. You are aware that his hands are dirty but he seems to be the one getting promoted and you sit watching him rise to the top while you are being passed for your promotion every year.

Or maybe it’s your very unfaithful friend with a secret string of concubines who seems to have the prettiest marriage with the most loyal spouse who lavishes him/her with love and affection but then you look at your own marriage with discontent and bitterness. You wonder why your ungrateful spouse constantly accuses a very faithful you of infidelity and then refuses to support you and your kids financially.

It can be any of these scenarios or even worse. I’ve been there but you know what? God has assured us that He knows that these things will happen but He has a reward for those who remain faithful till the end.

God cannot be mocked.

Success in the eyes of men may not be success in the eyes of God.
Good success comes from the Lord and it brings peace…rest.

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you[a] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Proverbs 10:22 NKJV)
22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich,
And He adds no sorrow with it.

Have you ever seen a criminal guard his money? The anxiety, the fear, the suspicion and unrest…It’s not something to be envied.
When God blesses you, He gives you rest.

It’s of no use envying sin. Sin always comes at a price.

Romans 6:23 (ERV)
23 When people sin, they earn what sin pays—death. But God gives his people a free gift—eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We sometimes misinterpret this Christian walk by thinking that it will be a smooth sail. The truth is that, there will be tests, trials, temptations, tribulation but the good news is that we already have the victory in Christ Jesus so we will overcome it all.

John 16:33 (KJV)
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Don’t ever be tempted to go back to the life of sin you once left. Embrace your new identity in Christ and stick to your faith.

The grass always looks greener on the other side because someone is tending it and you’ll always be convinced it’s better until you find out what is used to tend it. Not all lavish lifestyles are happy lifestyles. Do not be deceived.
Not every happy photo tells a tale of joy. Don’t be deceived.

I once heard of a story of a woman who was repeatedly abused by her husband for years without anyone knowing about it. She always went on frequent trips abroad and came home with new clothes and accessories. She was the envy of all her friends. They all thought she had it all; a beautiful house, a generous husband and all the money she could lay her hands on. Then one day, she revealed the truth behind all her frequent trips abroad. She was being physically abused by her husband who would sometime throw her down the stairs and then send her abroad for treatment so no one would know what he was doing to her. She would spend weeks/months abroad recuperating while her husband absorbed the glory of being a generous spouse.
Be careful what you believe.

The only truth you should believe is what is in the written Word of God.
Contentment is important in the life of a Christian. It’s not bad to want a good life, but it is wrong to idolize an idea. Covetousness is just a stone throw from discontentment.
When you see someone sinning and prospering, don’t envy them, rather pray for them to repent and experience Christ.

As Christians, we don’t envy sin. We pray for the unsaved to get saved and we do what we can by showing them love, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and leading them to the One who can redeem them from their ungodly life.

Don’t encourage the sin. Don’t envy the sin. Be patient and trust God. The rain won’t last forever. The sun will always shine after the storm.
So, if you are going through a tough time, don’t desire a shortcut that would lead you down a path of regret and shame, trust God’s faithfulness, get busy with what He has given you (your gift/talent/skill) and thank Him for where He is leading you.
God rewards. God is faithful.

Malachi 3:13-18 (CEV)
13 You have said horrible things about me, and yet you ask, “What have we said?”
14 Here is what you have said: “It’s foolish to serve the Lord God All-Powerful. What do we get for obeying him and from going around looking sad? 15 See how happy those arrogant people are. Everyone who does wrong is successful, and when they put God to the test, they always get away with it.”
Faithfulness Is Rewarded.
16 All those who truly respected the Lord and honored his name started discussing these things, and when God saw what was happening, he had their names[a] written as a reminder in his book.
17 Then the Lord All-Powerful said:
You people are precious to me, and when I come to bring justice, I will protect you, just as parents protect an obedient child. 18 Then everyone will once again see the difference between those who obey me by doing right and those who reject me by doing wrong.

God is not unjust; He would not forget your labor of love and sacrifices. He wants to honor you. He wants to bless you. So, trust Him and keep spreading the love of Jesus everywhere you go.
God bless you.

Have an amazing weekend!

Sylvia Chika O.
www.spreadfaith.org