Reference Text: 2Samuel 13: 1-19
The central feature of febrile relationships is warped emotion whereby the passion of affection is heatedly (feverishly) directed at a wrong object or in a wrong manner. Typically, rationality is sacrificed for desire and propriety gives way to self-gratification.
This relational disease is essentially spiritual in nature while its physical manifestation is in the psychiatric dimension. In most cases, only one member of the relationship is sick with the disease but the effects are soon felt by the others who, then, can rightly be described as the victims.
The diseased person is no longer in touch with reality. He/she sincerely believes that he/she genuinely loves the victim(s), but in reality, what is termed "love" is a great need to appease the surging evil desire consuming his/her heart. Under the influence of the toxic desire, there could be expressions of acts of tenderness and goodwill towards the victim which are often exaggerated, unwarranted and inappropriate. Such acts may be deceptive enough to even mislead the victims into thoughts that the sick person actually loves them. But at the core, the acts are not premised on goodwill or caring affection for the victim but on an uncontrollable propulsion to be accepted and seen as relevant and loving.
As in our text, we see this malady most often between men and women especially centered (or meant to be centered) around sex. Sometimes, it is between friends and colleagues or even in the place of work between boss and subordinate. And also with organisations, celebrities and even religious settings like churches and prophetic leaders. A very unfortunate variety is that seen between parents and their children, most commonly between mothers and one of their sons which may, on occasions, lead to the sacrificing of other children for the sake of the son of the evil love.
A rather funny variety is that between fans and sports clubs especially when the game is soccer! It is not a laughing matter when a soccer "lover" kills himself or another person just because his club lost a match or he was prevented from watching the game.
What we are saying here is that in all cases of febrile love, hyperpyrexia will eventually ensue. Depending on the severity of the case, the result may be as mild as a few slaps and kicks. But then it may be a rape followed by deep apologies and expression of love (as in the case between Sechem and Jacob's daughter, Dinah) or by intense hatred and further harm as with the children of David we just read about. In Nigeria today, the victim may be unfortunate to be bathed in hydrochloric acid just because the taxi driver greeted the lover too familiarly. The possibilities are endless.
Treatment
Both the afflicted and the victim need to be treated. The victim must appreciate the abnormal nature of the relationship and flee! Now, fleeing does not necessarily mean physically running away from the sick person and abandoning him/her but rather removing yourself from the very circumstances which make you a victim. There may be the creation of physical gap but the more important gaps must be spiritual. This is a disease premised on lust and the solution is to flee by not giving it any space of operation.
The sick person too needs urgent attention lest the fever consumes him/her. This is not a condition that will respond to physical tepid sponging or even application of ice. The spiritual pyrogen called lust is not moved by such things. The anti-pyrogen needed is the Blood of Jesus that was shed on the Cross at Calvary.
So, whether as a victim or as the sick, spiritual empowerment is required through faith in Jesus Christ for personal salvation and deliverance from these evil works.
Are you, or someone close to you suffering from a febrile love relationship - either as the sick or as the victim? My counsel is that you go before Christ in prayer now for permanent resolution. The Good News is that He has paid for it all to save you.
This link should be helpful: http://fik.so/pray
God bless you.
