Fruitful Living
The Sermon on The Mount (Part III)
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” Jesus warned as He began His public ministry in Galilee” – Matt. 4:17. “His message quickly spread, and huge crowds came to hear Him from Galilee, from nearby Syria and the Decapolis, and from as far away as Jerusalem, Judea, and east of the Jordan River” – Matt.4:24-25
INTRODUCTION
We publish this week, part three of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 where Jesus teaches a large group of potential followers what it really means to follow Him and be a part of God’s kingdom. The sermon as we have already intimated, contains a powerful and practical revelation of the principles and standards by which God expects Christians to live. Living up to these standards is only possible through faith in Jesus, the Son of God.
FASTING
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:16-18
LAY UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. – Matt. 6:19-24
DO NOT BE ANXIOUS
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. – Matt. 6:25-34
JUDGING OTHERS
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. – Matt. 7:1-6
ASK, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! – Matt. 7:7-11
THE GOLDEN RULE
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[q] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. – Matt. 7:12-14
A TREE AND ITS FRUIT
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. – Matt. 7:15-20
I NEVER KNEW YOU
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ – Matt. 7:21-23
BUILD YOUR HOUSE ON THE ROCK
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” – Matt. 7:24-27
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
THE WORD OF GOD!
Stay blessed!
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By Dr. Joyce Aryee, the author
Fruitful Living
Polygamy in Islam (Part 2)
CONDITIONS for Polygamy in Islam
Islamic law sets forth clear conditions that must be met for polygamy to be practiced. These conditions aim to protect the rights and wellbeing of all involved.
Justice among wives: The foremost requirement is that a husband must be able to treat each wife with fairness and justice. Allah (SWT) warns:
“But if you fear that you will not be just, then [marry only] one…” (Qur’an 4:3).
Justice here encompasses equal financial provision, time, and emotional support. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Whoever has two wives and inclines entirely towards one of them, he will come on the Day of Resurrection with half of his body leaning” (Abu Dawud, 2133).
This Hadith underscores the importance of avoiding favouritism, highlighting the weight of responsibility a man assumes in a polygamous marriage.
Financial capability: A husband must possess the means to adequately support each wife. Allah (SWT) states in the Qur’an:
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has made one of them to excel the other and because they spend out of their property…” (Qur’an 4:34).
Financial capability is essential to ensure that all wives and children are properly cared for.
Creating an environment of mutual respect and consent: While not obligatory, it is encouraged for the husband to seek the consent of his first wife before entering into a new marriage. The example of the Prophet (PBUH) shows that he would always be open and communicative, addressing his wives’ concerns and upholding respect among them.
Responsibility of a Husband in a Polygamous Marriage
A husband in a polygamous marriage has immense responsibility, which requires wisdom, patience, and faith.
Providing equal time and resources: Each wife is entitled to equal time, material provision, and attention. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would allocate his time fairly, ensuring that each wife felt valued and respected.
Aisha (RA) narrated that he would seek permission before spending extra time with any wife, even in times of illness, to demonstrate his commitment to fairness.
Upholding good character and compassion: The Prophet (PBUH) emphasised kindness, saying, “The best of you are those who are best to their families” (Tirmidhi, 3895). A husband in a polygamous marriage must strive to uphold this ideal by displaying kindness and understanding toward all his wives.
Example of the Sahaba: The companions of the Prophet (PBUH) also practiced polygamy with compassion and integrity. Many of the Sahaba married multiple wives, ensuring that each of their wives was cared for, both financially and emotionally. Their approach reflected their commitment to fulfilling their responsibilities fairly, following the example of the Prophet (PBUH).
(…To be continued)
By Imam Alhaji Saeed Abdulai, 1BN – Michel Camp
Fruitful Living
Cultivating and maintaining Godly relationships (Part 1)
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”– John 13:34-35 (NIV)
FROM the very beginning, God designed us not to walk through life alone, but to be connected—first to Him, and then to one another. Relationships are the framework of our existence, and the quality of these relationships directly impacts our spiritual, emotional, and even physical wellbeing. But in a world that often distorts the meaning of true connection, we face a challenge: How do we build and maintain relationships that reflect God’s heart?
Today, we will explore the concept of Godly relationships—what they are, why they matter, and how we can cultivate and sustain them in every area of our lives. Whether in friendships, family ties, professional circles, or mentorships, our relationships are meant to be living testimonies of God’s love and grace. As followers of Christ, we are called to live in a way that sets us apart, and one of the clearest ways we can do that is through how we relate to others. Jesus Himself said that it is by our love for one another that the world will know we are His disciples (John 13:35).
WHAT GODLY RELATIONSHIPS MEAN
Godly relationships go beyond surface connections; they are rooted in;
•love,
•service,
•forgiveness,
•and the desire to see others grow in their relationship with God.
Relationships, in all their forms, are central to the human experience. Whether within the family, friendships, work relationships, or romantic partnerships, how we connect with others reveals much about who we are and what we value.
For believers in Christ, relationships are not merely social contracts or exchanges of convenience; they are divine assignments—opportunities to manifest God’s love and character to a world in desperate need of true connection.
Godly relationships are built on;
•Love,
•Trust,
•Integrity,
•and Purpose.
They reflect God’s nature and bring healing, encouragement, and accountability. More importantly, they demonstrate to the world the essence of God’s kingdom, where love, humility, and service to others are paramount. Cultivating and maintaining such relationships is a lifelong endeavour that requires wisdom, patience, and reliance on God’s grace.
The Foundation of Godly Relationships
I want us to dive into several key points that will help us understand what godly relationships look like and how we can nurture them.
1. Godly Relationships Are Founded on Christlike Love
The first and most important point is that Godly relationships are rooted in Christlike love. This is the foundation upon which all other aspects of a relationship are built. When we talk about Christlike love, we refer to the sacrificial, selfless love that Jesus demonstrated. It’s a love that goes beyond emotions and convenience—it is a commitment to care for others even when it’s difficult.
Jesus said in John 13:34- 35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Christlike love is our testimony to the world. People don’t just see our faith by what we say, but by how we love.
This love is patient, kind, forgiving, and always seeks the good of the other person, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 13.
- By Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
