Loving a Believer

Chapter 6: Being a Smart Listener

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Nakaupo kaming lahat sa kama at nagkukuwentuhan. I was hugging a pillow while listening to their conversation. I wasn't really that wordy to join them. However, I was enjoying while listening to them. But at this moment I felt a bit sleepy, honestly.

"Ate Michelle, kailan mo balak magka-love life?" Karen asked Ate Michelle.

Michelle let out a chuckle and said, "I don't know."

"Wala ka bang manliligaw?" Ate Christy asked her.

"May mga nagpaparamdam, but I don't entertain them."

"Why?"

"I just don't like them."

"Sino ba ang gusto mo, Ate Chelle?" Karen asked.

Michelle fell silent like she lost her words to say. Ate Christy, Karen and I looked at each other.

"Uhm, I like someone, but I still trust God's will. Kaya, hihintayin ko 'yung time na God will convict me to allow someone to court me."

Ate Christy nodded and said, "Tama naman 'yan. Darating din ang time na icoconvict ka ng Lord kapag pwede na. Unbelievers ba ang mga nagpaparamdam sa 'yo?"

"Some are unbelievers, pero mayroon din namang Christian. They are from other churches. Nakilala ko sila noong sa camp at concert. Should I let them court me?" she asked.

"If Christian naman, okay lang. But still, kailangan pa ring ipagpray kung will ng Lord," Ate Christy said.

"Paano ba, Ate, kapag unbeliever? Kaagad ba hindi 'yun will ng Lord?" Karen asked.

"Based on the Bible, yes, hindi will ng Lord sa mga Christians ang unbelievers." Ate Christy looked at me. "Pero sa case ni Kuya Storm mo at Fara, they made things right." She smiled at me.

"So, pwede pa rin na unbeliever, basta maayos lang?"

Ate Christy shook his head. "Hindi lahat ng mga nag-aasawa ng unbelievers, naaayos. Kaya, kung talagang gusto mong magpatuloy sa paglilingkod sa Diyos, sumunod ka sa gusto ng Diyos." She looked at me again. "Kinahabagan ng Lord si Fara kaya nakakilala siya at naayos pagsasama nila ni Storm. Maraming Kristiyano na nag-asawa ng unbelievers ang nalayo sa Panginoon. Huwag mong isugal ang pag-ibig, dahil walang Kristiyanong sugarol, " biro niya sa bandang huli.

They laughed. I just smiled. I didn't get why gambling wasn't allowed to Christians. I remembered Dad. Dad was a gambler in a casino.

"Why gambling isn't allowed?" I asked.

"The word 'gambling' isn't mentioned in the Bible, but there are some verses in the Bible that will refute it. Luke 12:15 says, 'Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because a person's true life is not made up of the things he owns, no matter how rich he may be.' and Proverbs 28:20 says, 'Honest people will lead a full, happy life. But if you are in a hurry to get rich, you are going to be punished.' "

"So it's not allowed because gambling will make you greed for money and hurry to get rich, which is not the Bible's principle?" I clarified.

She nodded her head. "Doon din nagsisimula ang pag-ibig sa salapi na siyang pinagmumulan ng lahat ng kasamaan. That is mentioned in 1 Timothy 6:10. Ang sugal kasi parang hinahangad mo ang pagmamay-ari ng iba sa paraan na may isasakripisyo ka na bagay na mayroon ka. Parang gagawin mo ang lahat para lang makuha iyon. Kaya naman 'yung mga sumusugal na hindi pinapalad, wala nang natitira sa kanila, dahil sa sobrang paghahangad sa isang bagay na hindi naman talaga para sa kanila. Sila rin ang talo at nagdurusa sa bandang huli."