2 Timothy 2:22-26
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
"Don't have anythng to do with foolish and stupid arguments." How would your life change if you could take this advice to heart? How many of your problems and quarrels with other people come from this trap? If we're honest, don't most conversations on politics turn into this: foolish and stupid arguments?
Sadly, no matter what community you belong to, this will always be a challenge because if there's a community there are people there. This is a problem that can only be caused by people, you and them. Others aren't the only source of this problem. Often times you are. Just like them, you are a selfish arrogant sinner. This is why Paul gives Timothy, and us, the advice to avoid foolish and stupid arguments.
Paul is encouraging us to guard ourselves from being drawn into this nonsense. The guidance he gives us to help guard against this is to remember: you are the Lord's servant, be kind to everyone, and approach the situation as a teaching opportunity. Essentially, he is telling us to keep our emotions in check and love the other person enough to want to lead them back to Jesus. We want to instruct them in the truth so as to help them turn away from their sinful attitudes and behaviors.
When these situations come up with other people it is helpful to remember that the quarreling person has been caught in a trap of the devil. In that moment, he has taken them captive to do his will. What they need is for us to be compassionate and patient with them. We need to care enough to lovingly instruct them in the truth to help them escape the trap they have been caught in. We can not do this if we allow ourselves to get caught up in a quarrel. Satan loves division, especially in Christ's church.
This teaching of the Apostle Paul is a key way to squash conflicts before they get started:
Love obstinate people enough to instruct them in the truth with the hope of leading them to repentance.
The goal is to lead them to Jesus, and remind them they are forgiven for his sake, so they can grow in faith and wisdom.
James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
God bless
Jason Fredrick
No comments:
Post a Comment