Misplaced Trust

MISPLACED TRUST!

2^nd Samuel 13;1-14

Brother George had a problem.

Well, not really a problem: he was developing feelings for Sister Monica.

The irony is, she had no idea. To her, they were just friends.

They meet in Church every week, he would walk up to her after the Service to chat her up, crack some jokes that make her laugh heartily, pass a good comment or two on her hair or dress.

As far as she was concerned, he was just a nice brother, a good friend: she had never looked at him as a potential partner.

But Brother George wanted more.

He was developing strong feelings for her and it was eating him up inside. After Service he would walk up to her and if he sees her with some other Brother talking and laughing, he would feel a pang of jealousy. He knew he had no reason to be jealous, but he just could not help himself.

But then isn’t God a jealous God? Jealousy is NORMAL in such a situation, no…?

Brother George had always wanted to ask Sister Monica out on a date, but he had no idea how to. He would love to take her out for lunch or dinner, maybe to the cinema, but he was not sure how she would take it, neither was he sure how he would react if she declined.

Thus far, she had not given him a reason to believe she saw him any different from all the other Brothers in Church. He knew this.

After a few months of keeping his feelings to himself, he felt he needed to confide in someone. He called up his friend, Richard.

“Hey, Rich! How are you doing? We need to see asap, please! Something is brewing, I need to run it by you…”

Richard was not a Christian like Brother George. He would go to Church once in a while- Easter, Christmas, weddings, thanksgiving-- but he was not a committed Christian.

Brother George and Richard were both 26 years old (Sister Monica was 24), they had been friends since they were kids. George’s mother and Richard’s mother were best friends, they were like sisters. Sometimes, the young men introduce each others as cousins…

So, Richard came over the next day to see his friend.

“Hey, Bro! What’s up?”

Brother George told him about his feelings for Sister Monica.

“How do I let her know? I am really in love with her, I need to express my feelings for her: I can’t keep it to myself any longer!”

Richard sighed, deep in thought…

He knew Monica: they all live in the same Estate.

After a while, he said, “I think I have an idea….”

He shared his idea with Brother George.

And he bought it.

The next Sunday, they set the plan in motion: Brother George did not go to Church.

But Richard went.

After the Service, he walked up to Sister Monica and chatted her up. He asked her, “Have you seen George around? I’m looking for him.” Sister Monica looked around the auditorium. “We usually see and talk after service! It’s possible he didn’t come to Church today: if he were around, I’m sure he would have come over as he always does…”

“Yeah, he probably didn’t come to Church today. See you again some other time, Mo. Take care!”

Richard walked away.

The Plan was already set.

But Sister Monica had no idea what was going on…

Next Sunday, Richard was in Church again.

He walked up to Sister Monica again.

“Hello, Mo! How are you doing today? I was at George’s house last Sunday: he’s terribly ill! That was why he could not make Church last week. He is still recuperating, he didn’t come to Church again today…”

Monica was shocked! “O dear! I’m so sorry to hear this! You won’t believe I don’t even have his number! Can you please give it to me?” Richard obliged her, with a sly smile on his lips…

The Plan was working!

Sister Monica called him immediately. “Brother George! I’m so sorry to her about your illness! I had no idea! I just got your number from your friend, Rich… Ok… I don’t mind: I am free from 2pm today… Ok… I’ll have to go to the market for some ingredients for that… I’ll collect your address from him. See you soon!”

She cut the call and turned to Richard: please give me his address, I need to go see him this afternoon!”

Richard gave her and walked out of the Church Building, a wide smile on his lips…

At 4pm, Sister Monica was at Brother George house with some fish Pepper-soup. He was lying on the bed. ‘He has lost some weight”, she thought.

He asked her to help him sit up on the bed. She did.

He asked if she could feed him. She agreed to. She went into the kitchen to get a bowl to dish the Pepper-soup into…

Then Brother George grabbed her from behind!

Woah!

She didn’t see that coming!

“Brother George! Are you ok?”

“I am not, Monica! I’m in love with you!”

Sister Monica walked into a trap.

She thought she was just trying to help a Brother out.

But she ended up getting raped!

She had no idea George and Richard had planned it all, she was just too naive.

AND TOO TRUSTING.

In 2^nd Samuel 13:1-14, Tamar was raped by a brother she trusted. She felt safe with him, she had no idea a script had been written for her.  By the time she found out, it was too late.

That you have a pure heart towards that Brother doesn’t mean he has same towards you.

If Brother George’s friend, Richard were a Believer like him, he would not have given him this ungodly counsel.

Brothers and Sisters… inasmuch as we need the Spirit of Discernment in moments like this, we need to be careful, we need to be wise, we need to surround ourselves with godly friends.

Remember: “…evil communications corrupt good manners.”

-1 Corinthians 15:33.

Be guided!

Shalom,

Haruna Daniels