Decisions Part 2, current example

Last year I had this post about how we have to decide things on a daily basis and how we can do it in a right way as Christians. Ever since I wanted to sit down and put some thoughts up here but I either had not the time (or I didn't take the time for it) or it was so much that I was thinking about and experienced according to that matter, that I didn't know how to sum it up. So I will have this post and probably another, last one, to conclude the topic.

So let me explain my current situation about a decision I think I should take. It's about a relationship to a certain man, let's call him Mr. Smith. He's a colleague and we are good friends. Ten years ago we worked together, now - during the past 7 years - I am at a different place but in the same house and so we still have lunch together every day. Sometimes I feel I should draw back from this friendship because he is married and somehow I know he wants more. He does not take actions to make it clear but now and then he drops certain hints that are definitely suggestive when we are alone... It's probably the old "Harry and Sally" - question (can men and women be just friends?). On the other hand, he really takes care - like: last week I had to have a suspicious mole cut out and he remembered that I had mentioned it a couple days earlier. That day he sent me a text and asked me to let him know if that "mini-surgery" went fine although he was sure that it was not a big deal, he just wanted to know I was well afterwards. When I am not at work he always calls me at home to hear how I am doing.
And yes, that makes me feel good, someone is taking care of my well-being. On the other hand it makes me feel bad because I am obviously taking his attention and he often enough notes that his wife should never know of it. That's the point when I feel like I'd love to run away.

I admit that I always tried to avoid to think about my situation during the last years. But the past two or three weeks it stood out bold and I thought I should take action and "break up" that friendship. First, I just wanted to have it come to an end so that I would feel better according to what I believe is the right thing to do. But the more I pray and study I think I should wait for God in this case. 

A week ago I read in a devotional specifically that we should not end friendships just because we feel bad about it. It could cause difficulties that would take years to fix. We should God have take care of it.
Today I read that our obedience always costs something for our neighborhood. We willingly obey Jesus because we love him, but our obedience will cross the plans of those around us and hence will bring up difficulties.

So, what?

Sometimes the Bible doesn't give us an answer on specific things like "you should stop meeting Mr. Smith" but it holds a truth that always shows the same patterns. And this will always help us to take the right decision. Not based on feelings or shady signs we may pray for and/or might interpret into certain situations. We don't believe in signs, but in a living God, don't we?

Joseph fled to escape Potiphar's wife. It caused difficulties (sent him directly into prison). But he obeyed God which definitely crossed her plans. But he had to respond quickly in his situation, she draw him into her bedroom.
Reading the text again I referred to in the first place about not ending a friendship out of our feelings, I see, that it speaks about how God sometimes puts us in a situation that is not clear and we should not fill that empty space with actions that come from our uncomfortable feelings about it. Like Abraham. He was waiting for the promised son, who didn't show up and so he took an action to "help" God.

In my case, there's no chance we will get close to any bedroom and there's no reason for me now to take an action more than ever just because I feel more uncomfortable now than before. Also, usually we are not alone in the same room for more than a couple of minutes.
But I definitely will not allow suggestive talk in the future, which I failed to forbid often enough in the past. Above all, I pray that I will not deny Jesus in any way I behave, as I did by just remaining silent too many times. I already started to change my way of interaction and as a result I didn't get a phone call today (I am sick home)...

Somebody paid for me (and I don't have to give it back)

Today we went out for lunch. It was a Greek Restaurant and we had very delicious greek starters and different kinds of grilled meat afterwards. I was pretty sure that we could pay with (credit-)cards, but when it was time to ask for the bill the waitress told me that I could pay cash only. Suddenly we had a problem...

We decided one of us should stay at the restaurant and the other one should go and find an ATM nearby to get some money.
We still were discussing that point when suddenly a man - one of the guests (a STRANGER!) not far away from our table - approached and said: Excuse me, I heard what your problem is. How much money do you need? Would 20,- EUR be enough? I can give you 20 € and whenever you come back to this place you can give the money back to the waiter and he will give it to me.

For one moment I thought: STOP - what kind of show is that - am I dreaming? A stranger is coming to us, asking if he can pay for us? Not knowing if he will ever get it back? But YES, it was true!!!

So we could pay and OF COURSE we went straight to an ATM, got some money and went back to that friendly man to pay our debt.

I still can't believe what happened today and I realized that this is almost the same what Jesus did for me, no, he did much more - because I don't have to pay back, what he did for me.

It is such a big deal, when a stranger offers you 20 EUR, just for nothing and you can pay it back any time. Now imagine what Jesus did - he came to the world (we remember that at christmas time) and died to save us... how can this be payed back???