Paying Tithe episode 11

#PAYING_TITHES_IN_DEBTH

EPISODE 11 (FINAL)

When they got home, Mercy quickly removed the envelope from her purse and tore it open. She brought out the money in it and counted it.

David: How much is it sweetheart?

Mercy: Ten thousand naira.

David: Well he tried na, didn’t he?

Mercy: What can we do with ten thousand naira and where will it take us?

David: Didn’t I tell you not to put your hope and trust in him?

Mercy: I am so angry that I feel like exploding, did you see how many people donated for the church building and for charity works, yet all he could give was ten thousand naira.

David: The money is for the Lord.

Mercy: Are we not his children? Isn’t the church supposed to lend a helping hand to its members in need? For how long are we going to keep being extorted?

David: I see no reason why you should be angry, after all, isn’t he your Pastor and the man that can do no wrong?

Mercy: I wish I knew better, I wish I knew better.

David: there is nothing you or anyone can do about it, you know that.
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Few Months later, Christiana did all she could do within her power to get her husband a job but her husband never wanted the kind of meager job she wanted him to do for it was too low and within his standard, she tried talking to him to accept it instead of whiling away his time and do nothing except spend his day in church but all of it fell on deaf ears. The only time she was buoyant was when she get paid and uses the money to buy food stuffs for the house and within two weeks, the money gets finished and she results in begging her neighbors for food or anything available to use to satisfy her hunger and take care of herself. She even resulted to talking to his Pastor and some elders in church but nothing was done about it for they didn’t see any wrong in what he was doing as long as it was for the church and also Nathaniel has been a pioneer member of the church right from the beginning, his devotion and eagerness to donate his little money worn the hearts of the people in church especially his Pastor who made him a leader in one of the units.

She was now known as the pregnant woman that likes begging for food in her neighborhood of which when she learnt that her neighbors are making fun of her, she became angry and waited for her husband to come home and get a piece of her mind.

Nathaniel: Hello sweetheart, how are you and my unborn baby?

Christiana: We are fine oooo, how was your outing today?

Nathaniel: ‘God is good’ went to the kitchen, looked around and saw no food, he decided to ask his wife ‘wont I have any food today’?

Christiana: have you ever given me money for food since we got married?

Nathaniel: What do you mean?

Christiana: What you understand.

Nathaniel: The Lord will take care of my needs then.

Christiana: Let him do so oooo. Let him come down from up above and do it because as it stands now, I am done with babysitting you. Everyone is making fun of me in this neighborhood because I married a man who is incapable of taking care of himself talk more of taking care of me and our unborn child. Every penny I make from now on will not go into feeding you or looking after you. Be a man and do what you have to do for yourself.

Nathaniel: ‘Alright’ he stood up, wore back his shirt and was about to head out before he was stopped by his wife.

Christiana: Where do you think you are going to?

Nathaniel: I am going to visit one of our brothers.

Christiana: Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Going to a brothers house to eat? Shame on you Nathaniel, shame on you. What did I even see in you that I agreed to marry you sef? Shame on you!
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Mercy: I wish we were given enough money, how are we going to commence my treatment?

David: I have told you not to place your trust and hope in man especially your Pastor. You don’t also have to blame him for not giving you enough money.

Mercy: It’s been weeks now, yet he has not come to pay me a visit.

David: Forget about that.

Mercy: But I served the church with all of my heart and soul, I paid my tithe, did charity, contributed to the development of the church, Is this what I get for it?

David: The problem with you Nigerians is that you served and worship your Pastors forgetting that your purpose is to God and not anybody.

Mercy: You don’t talk to Men of God that way. You are disrespecting God if you do

David: How?

Mercy: The way you expressed yourself now

David: Well, i did not insult any man of God and i will never do that. I’m only ensuring i pass a good message to you that you serve and worship your Pastors more than God Himself. That does not mean i disrespect any Man of God.

Mercy: But…..

David: don’t but anything and just listen, I have told you times without number not to hope on man but on God but you wouldn’t listen. Sometimes, you preferred what your Pastor said you should do over what I said, I am not saying your Pastor is wrong but all I am saying is that you should put your Family first before any Pastor or Church.

Mercy: But Pastor prays to God on our behalf.

David: Can’t you pray to God on your own? When you idolize men of God, it means you are worshiping them.

Mercy: We are only showing our respect and honour.

David: ‘in what way do you honor them? By doing things you can’t even do for your husband forgetting that your husband and you are one? Your Pastor will not be there for you in times of crisis except your family’ he held her hands and said ‘we can do this together, we should join our faith, pray and work on you getting better that is all we need not your pastor.

Mercy: Thanks sweetheart, thanks for been there.

David: ‘That is why I am your husband’ he said and gave her a peck.

David and Mercy, joined their faith together in prayers, with the support from her husband, she was able to commence treatment in a hospital even though they were told the chances of she walking again is very slim but they never lost hope and within the space of Eighteen months, Mercy’s condition started improving.
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After the birth of Lucy, Christiana made it a duty to take care of only herself and her child for she resumed work three months later. She couldn’t bring herself to explain her ordeal to her parents because she was warned against marry him.

Nathaniel also made it a duty not to bother or disturb his wife for food for he kept going to Pastors house or any of the youth leaders house when he is in need.

One evening, he returned from church and met his wife waiting for him by the door side at home with all her clothes and her baby’s clothes in her bag.

Nathaniel: What is the meaning of this and why are your bags packed?

Christiana: I think it is time you know what has been on my mind lately.

Nathaniel: What is it?

Christiana: I am no longer happy in this marriage.

Nathaniel: Is that why your bags are packed?

Christiana: Yes it is.

Nathaniel: You can’t be serious Christiana, our child is barely two years old and you want to take her away.

Christiana: This marriage is over, I am no longer interested, I am leaving to my parents’ house first thing tomorrow morning. My child and I will not and cannot be subjected to humiliation and starvation.

Nathaniel: I told you times without number that I am working on getting a job, I am not reluctant about it. God will do it. Trust me! Trust your husband Christina. ok?

Christiana: For how long Nathaniel, for how long? The N-Power programme government is doing, you refused to join. Learn a skill, you said you don’t want to learn any skill. You are good and intelligent but you don’t use your brain. You have a wife and daughter but you have never spent a dime on them. The little you have, you take it to church and disburse to them, Mr charity while your wife and daughter are here starving to death.

Nathaniel: I will do something about my situation, don't leave. Besides, God will open a miraculous door for me soon.

Christiana: I know better now and whatever you say will not change my mind. I am done with this marriage.

Nathaniel: I told you I will change.

Christiana: When you change, remember you have a daughter that needs a father. I won't fall into the trap of you changing. Since you will change yet you go back to your old ways. I can't continue with this kind of life. It is better I remain single, take care of my daughter than remain married to you and be miserable. Biko I cant.

Nathaniel: I have told you I will change but since you have made up your mind, no problem.

Christiana: 'Yes I have made up my mind and remember that your eviction notice is in one week. The earlier you start telling your church people about it the better. No wonder your brother washed his hands off your case' she said and hissed.

The following day, Christiana carried her baby and belonging to her Parents home. She never came back to Nathaniel for he never changed his ways. He was evicted from his house and he made it a duty to run shift by sleeping from one brother's house to another. His brother tried talking to him about his ways of life but he never listened saying that he is doing the work and purpose of God and the God he serves will do his will in his life at his own time and that is how his life has been till this day.

THE END

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