The friend who borrows money and vanishes when it's time to pay back

My sister called me this morning, she was crying. Her friend of ten years borrowed ₦150,000 from her in February, said it was for her shop rent, promised to pay back in two months. Five months later, the woman has changed her number, blocked her on WhatsApp, and is now telling people in the neighborhood that my sister is the one owing her.

I have seen this story too many times in my counseling experience. Our people say, if you want to lose a friend, lend them money. But the thing that disturbs me is the brazenness. This woman is now wearing new gears every Sunday in church, posting trips on Instagram, yet she cannot refund ₦150,000. And when my sister confronted her after service, she said, and I quote, "God will provide for you, why are you disturbing me?"

I told my sister, ndo. But I also told her, this is a lesson. Some people are not your friends, they are just waiting for an opportunity. The thing about life is, money exposes people faster than any other thing. It shows you who is genuine and who is just using you. I am not saying don't help people, but learn to give what you can afford to lose. If the person pays you back, thank God. If they don't, you have not destroyed yourself. But the audacity to block someone after they helped you, then to lie about it, that one no be friendship, that one na wickedness.