To abuse means to treat in a harsh or harmful way. As a pastor, I have come across many people in abusive relationships. In marital situations, I have seen people use money and sex as a tool to abuse their spouses. I have seen parents verbally abuse their children and I have seen politicians abuse the very people who elected them to office by stealing from the public purse and denying them development. I have also seen pastors abuse their church members financially and sometimes sexually through coercion and manipulation by using “thus saith The Lord”
What causes people to be abusive? They don’t fear God.
Nehemiah 5:15
“But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.“
In Nehemiah’s time, the politicians and even their servants exploited the masses financially but Nehemiah did not do the same when he came into office. He gave the reason why, “so did not I, because of the fear of God”
When you fear God you will not abuse people. This is because of the recognition of a higher power above you who is omnipresent will hold you in check even when there is no human supervisor.
Our God is a consuming fire and He is watching you so be afraid and behave well.
Kakra Baiden
