When I got to work the next morning, my colleagues were eager to hear about the outcome of the interview. I took my time to narrate everything that happened to them.

“The interview was tough but by the grace of God, I was among the successful ones.”
They both shouted in joy.

“You will not allow me to finish what I’m saying before you start shouting.”

“Sorry. Please continue,” they pleaded.

“After informing us that we were successful, the chairman came up with another issue. He stated that to work in his company we must become members of his church.”

“What!” Chike exclaimed. “What kind of working condition is that? Anyway, what was your response?”

“I told him that I cannot leave my church.”

“I thought as much,” Chike encouraged me.

“When I told him that, he increased my basic salary to N150,000.”

“One hundred and fifty what! Kingsley tell me that you are joking.” Peace screamed in excitement.

“That is the truth,” I answered her.

“How much was the basic salary before the chairman increase it,” Peace inquired.

“It was N100,000.”

“You mean that you almost lost a job worth more than a hundred thousand naira because you were told to change church? Imagine if you add the allowances they will pay you, the outcome will be huge. My brother, you made a mistake but thank God that all things have worked together for your good. Our merciful God has used your mistake to increase your salary. Congratulations.”

I was surprised that she was congratulating me and so I proceeded to find out what she was congratulating me for.

“I am congratulating you for the new job. Please when you resume work there, don’t forget me. Speak to the chairman on my behalf. I am tired of the suffering here.”

“But I didn’t accept the offer. Though the chairman increased the salary, I maintained my stand.”

As I said that, Chike who has been smiling sheepishly as Peace was talking suddenly became furious.

“Kingsley, what did you just say? You did not accept which offer? You must be out of your mind. Do you have a covenant with poverty? If I were your father, I will disown you!”

“Chike stop insulting me,” I shouted back at him. “What is your business in this matter?”

“Did you say that I’m insulting you? That sounds funny to me. You are yet to experience insult and you are complaining. You better call the chairman on phone and tell him that you were dreaming when you rejected the offer. Kingsley, why are you selfish and wicked? Every time, you will be crying that your parents and siblings are suffering. I never knew you were pretending. I was already celebrating that God has answered my prayers through you. At least when you resume work there, I know you will never forget me.”

“Chike you are a double edged sword,” I fired back at him. “You are so complex and difficult to understand. Initially, you supported me that I should not leave my church because of the new job.”

“I didn’t know the details then. Did I know that more than a hundred thousand naira was involved? Though you never wanted to leave your church, the situation has changed. When you saw the amount of money that was involved, you should have made use of your sense. The bible said that wisdom is profitable to direct.”

“You amuse me. How much is this money that I am to sell my salvation for? Let me make something clear to you, money can never be a master to me, it will remain a servant. Even if I decided to change church today, money would never be the reason. If that company wants to employ me, they should allow me to worship in my church. But if they insist that I must leave my church that means the job is not the will of God for me.”

“Can you listen to yourself? So, suffering is the will of God for you. Let me give you a candid advice though you might see it as an insult. You need both medical and spiritual checkup. I am convinced beyond reasonable doubt that something is wrong with you.”

As Chike was ranting, we saw our boss car approaching so he kept quiet.