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Saturday, July 7, 2012

Contracts vs Covenants

By Kemi Oluwakomiyo Jorge-Oyewusi


A contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties. The keyword is 'legally binding'. Even though, not all contracts are legally documented, the agreements are valid.

Contractual relations exchange goods, services and or property. This relations can be between individuals, groups, businesses, organisations, tribes. 

A contractual agreement usually takes place when a person comes in contact with what he attaches value to, and he is willing to give something of equal value in exchange for it. So also when a person, group or business know that he/they are in possession of something that can add value to others he/they will attach value to it and exchange it for the stipulated value.

A contract is simply, "if you do this for me, I will give you that" , or "if you give me that, I will do this for you". Contracts are agreements of exchange of value.

A contract can be written or oral. A contract states terms of agreement, that is, what both parties have agreed to take place or not to take place as they exchange value.

We engage in oral contracts on a daily basis, for example, a father says to his son " if you wash my car every morning I will take you to watch football every Saturday" ; "if you make all As in your exams I will take you to Disney Land". Or a mother says to the daughter, "if you eat all your vegetables I'll let you watch Dora". These are oral contracts.


Wife to husband - "if you buy me that lovely bracelet, I'll cook your favourite meal for you tonight". "if you give me what I want, I will be nice to you, if not, this home will be hell".
Man to God - "if you give me that job, I will become a regular in church and join the ushers team, if you don't, I will never come to church again".
Woman to God - "if you give me a baby I will serve you diligently all my life, if not I'll remain a benchwarmer".
"Christians" to God - "for as long as you bless us, we will remain faithful and we will proclaim your goodness".

It is an error and misleading usage to use Covenant interchangeably with Contract. The difference between Contract and Covenant is the difference between PROSTITUTION and MARRIAGE, it is the difference between SLAVERY and SONSHIP.

A contract is legally binding - A covenant is spiritually binding.
A contract is a deal - A covenant is a promise
A contract is signed - A covenant is sealed
A contract is for a stipulated period A covenant is forever
A contract is a relationship of convenience. A covenant is a fellowship of destiny fulfilment.
A contract says "give me that in exchange for this". A covenant says "I'm all yours, you are all mine".

A contract says "if I've had enough I will walk away". "if I do not like your face anymore or i do not like what you do I will stop giving you value".
A covenant knows that it is destiny to walk in that agreement without wavering. It is not about how one feels or what one feels, it is about receiving strength to do ones part.

In a contract, two parties can agree to terminate, or one can cancel on the basis of incompetence or dissatisfaction with value being given. A consumer can cease payment if they believe they are not getting the service being paid for.

In a covenant, when one party fails, the other party is long-suffering and he reaches out to help the failing party meet up on the agreement. 

COVENANT:

The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning. (Psalm 25:14 AMP)

According to ancient bible days; A covenant is a solemn blood sealed agreement between parties, that is made binding by oath.

A covenant defines each party and their position in the relationship, then it gives the details and terms of who or what each will be to the other and lastly comes the seal which is usually blood. A covenant establishes and regulates a relationship between parties.

Covenants are born out of a need. God instituted covenants to establish His purposes with ease and without obstruction. A covenant is a vehicle that moves one into the agenda of God, thereby bringing the perfect will of God into play in ones life.

People go into covenants to accelerate their destinies. A covenant comes about when a person or group of person need to accomplish what they believe will make their lives and destinies outstanding.
 
Covenants are sacred and are very important to God. He does not take them lightly, nor does He make them loosely. Covenants are binding. God moves in the lives of His elect by covenants. Covenants are used by God to safeguard His inheritance and to ensure and assure His expected end for them.

Covenants are spiritual. Covenants are relationships. A covenant is a walk of solid agreement. A covenant is a relationship of commitment. A covenant is a relationship of responsibilities.

Covenants ensure focus. A man who walks by covenant is a man focused on the fulfilment of his destiny. Covenants are destiny establishers. A man who walks by covenants has his destiny facilitated.

Covenants are supernatural enablers. A covenant is an exchange of strengths. A covenant ensures that you have what you need to take you where you need to be. Covenants carry the unction of ease. Excellence in life and ministry is made easy through covenants.

The secrets of successful and victorious living are locked up in God's covenants. Covenants with God come by knowing Him and having a relationship with Him. A covenant walk with God is a deep relationship walk with Him, reserved for those who fear Him.

There are diverse covenants for different areas of life. When God walks with a man by covenants, that man is an untouchable. A covenant walk is a wise walk, it is a victorious walk. A covenant walk is the walk of an overcomer.


Contract or Covenant? Which one do you have with God, with your wife/husband?

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