Text: Bí o bá fẹ́ jẹ́ Òsákà, kí o jẹ́ Òsákà; tó o bá fẹ́ Òsókò, kí o jẹ́ Òsókò. Òsákàsókò ò yé ọmọ ènìyàn.

Meaning: If you choose to stand for one cause or belief, stand firmly and wholeheartedly by it. Divided loyalty or double mindedness is confusing and shows a lack of integrity. You cannot stand with two opposing sides at the same time and expect to be trusted or understood.

In Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s Chambers, there was a quote that deeply resonated with the essence of loyalty. It read something like this: “A disloyal person is a saboteur. We are committed to the cause of democratizing the practice of law in Nigeria. Be part, be apart, or be parted with.”

Loyalty is not a casual commitment; it is a defining trait of character. Disloyalty, or divided loyalty, is a sign of instability. The Bible underscores this in James 1:8: “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Divided loyalty leads to instability and chaos. Worse still, it endangers not just the person involved but also everyone and everything connected to them.

This brings to mind a story I heard growing up in Ondo. There was a man who suspected his wife of being unfaithful with another man. After investigating, he discovered that she often met her lover at a farmland. Filled with rage, he armed himself and set out to catch them in the act.

On his way, he encountered a female servant of the man his wife was involved with. She was by the stream, washing clothes. He asked her directly, “Is your master at the farmhouse?” She confirmed that he was. Fueled by this information, the enraged husband continued to the farmhouse.

However, the servant, knowing the implications of what she had disclosed, took a shortcut to warn her master and the woman of the looming danger. She described the man’s weapon and his furious intent. The adulterous couple fled into the bushes, leaving the farmhouse empty.

But the servant did something puzzling: instead of fleeing with them, she returned to the stream and resumed her position as if nothing had happened. When the husband arrived and found the farmhouse empty, he became suspicious. He confronted the servant, who had confirmed the couple’s presence earlier. Consumed with anger, he shot and killed her.

This story introduces a sobering truth about loyalty: divided actions and unclear allegiances often lead to tragic outcomes. This tension between loyalty and decision-making is the heart of The Jonathan Dilemma, a test of character where loyalty demands a tough, definitive choice.

Jonathan, son of Saul, faced this exact test. He was caught between his love for his father and his loyalty to David, whom he knew was God’s chosen king. Jonathan even told David, “You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you” (1 Samuel 23:17). Yet, despite this knowledge, Jonathan remained tied to Saul’s failing regime.

Jonathan’s decision was extraordinarily difficult. Leaving Saul would have meant turning his back on his father, his family, and his legacy. Yet, it was a decision he should have made. The Jonathan Dilemma teaches us that life and loyalty do not favor easy calls. Tough calls, while costly in the immediate, pay ultimate dividends for those who make them, both personally and for posterity.

When Jonathan died alongside Saul in battle, David’s lament in 2 Samuel 1:25-26 revealed the depth of their relationship and his expectations for the future:

“How the mighty have fallen in battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;
you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,
more wonderful than that of women.”

David’s grief reflected not just the loss of a beloved friend but the shattering of a vision. David clearly expected that he and Jonathan would reign together. Jonathan’s earlier declaration in 1 Samuel 23:17 gave voice to this shared hope. However, the final decision to leave Saul and team up with David could only be made by Jonathan. Tragically, he could not bring himself to sever ties with his father, and as a result, he died under the old order.

Jonathan’s tragedy lies in his inability to fully commit to what he knew to be true. He knew David’s destiny, yet he remained in Saul’s shadow. In doing so, he missed the opportunity to reign alongside God’s anointed king. His divided loyalty cost him not only his life but also his place in a new, God-ordained order.

The Jonathan Dilemma is a test we all face at some point. It is the moment we must decide whether to remain comfortable or take a stand for what we know is right. Divided loyalty, whether rooted in fear, self-preservation, or emotional ties, leads to devastating consequences. True loyalty requires the courage to act decisively, even when the cost is high.

As Jesus said in Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” And again in Luke 9:62: “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Loyalty demands single-minded focus and unwavering commitment. Easy calls may seem to resolve the situation in the moment, but they lead to incalculable consequences in the long run. Tough calls, though painful, forge paths to lasting rewards for the caller and their posterity.

The Jonathan Dilemma teaches us that loyalty isn’t about ease, it’s about strength. It’s about choosing courage over comfort and conviction over convenience.

The Question:

How will you face your own Jonathan Dilemma? Will you remain tied to the old order, or will you take the bold step toward what you know is right?

…Generational Impact Propelled by Love for Humanity