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 property. These relations can be between individuals, groups, businesses, organisations, tribes, and so on.

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

In clearer terms this means 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 either be written or oral. A contract states terms of agreement – that is, parties agree on what they want to see or don’t want to see 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”  or  “if you make all As in your exams I will take you to Disney Land”.  A mother may say to the daughter, “if you eat all your vegetables I’ll let you watch your Dora movie”. These are oral contracts.

Oral contracts include:
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 me, I will remain faithful to you and I will proclaim your goodness to others”.

It is an error and it is misleading usage to use the term Covenant interchangeably with the term 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 is an exchange of goods, services and property – A covenant is an exchange of persons.

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, or what is done to you or what is not done to you; it is about receiving strength and wisdom from above to be faithful and to fulfil 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.

Contract or Covenant? Which one do you have with God, with your wife, your husband, your friend or family member ? Please meditate, give your answer and recalibrate in the place of prayer.

Shalom – KJO