The Parable of the Four Boyfriends (Part 2 ~The Interpretation)

In truth, you have four boyfriends in your lives:

Your fourth boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your third boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it will all go to others.

Your second boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

And your first boyfriend is your soul. Often neglected in the pursuit of wealth, power, fame and pleasures of the world.

However, your soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

Matthew 16:26 ~And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? (New Living Translation)

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The Parable of the Four Boyfriends (Part 1 ~The Story)

By Kema Ching'ambu

There was a girl who had four boyfriends.

She loved the fourth boyfriend the most and adorned him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the third boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her second boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girl's first boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom.. However, she did not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone."

Thus, she asked her fourth boyfriend, "I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!", replied the fourth boyfriend, and he walked away without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked her third boyfriend, "I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!", replied the third boyfriend. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!" Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked her second boyfriend, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!", replied the second boyfriend. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the girl said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"


Click here to view the interpretation.

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Question & Answer

A Question

Acts 12 tells of The Apostle Peter’s imprisonment, the church’s fervent prayer for him, God’s angel freeing him from the prison, Peter knocking on the door of the church, the church unable to believe that their prayers might actually be answered (finding it easier to believe that Peter’s angel had been seen rather than Peter himself!) and then finally rejoicing in his deliverance.


God orchestrated this amazing story that we celebrate as miraculous still today. But don’t forget this miraculous story includes the guards who were executed by Herod the following morning for falling asleep at their posts. I’m sure their families had difficulty seeing this situation as miraculous and worthy of celebration. They may have had a hard time seeing God as good when their son or husband or father, proud of his ability to provide for his family as a prison guard, was executed. Executed for something God apparently caused:


Falling asleep on the job.


Do you believe God is good? Do you believe His plan is perfect? What if you were a follower of The Way praying for Peter’s release…and your brother or husband happened to be one of the guards? How would you react? Would your faith remain?

 
 
An Answer
 
We see only a single fragment of a single piece of a 1000 piece puzzle. God forbid we criticize the one who not only sees the whole but created it. We read only a single line of a 500paged script, God forbid we raise a finger against the one who wrote the story line, Romans 11:33.



As for whether my faith would remain, Spurgeon (known as the prince of preachers) was once asked whether the Christians of his day would stand amidst the persecution of the 1st century Christians. In his response he said God gives His people the necessary grace to cope with the challenges of their time. If one of the guards was my loved one, God would give me grace to cope and trust Him. He cannot allow me to face a temptation or trial too great for me to overcome. Moreover, He will prepare for me a way out (1 Cor 10:13).
 
What do you think?

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