Romans 12:16-18: “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty. But associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”
Chuck Swindoll has said in his New Testament Commentary on Romans: “Isn’t it interesting that both Jesus and Paul instructed us to watch our speech? The heart is a well and the tongue is a bucket. The lips can only draw from what is in the heart, and an untransformed heart contains an insatiable desire to protect its own rights.”
Isn’t it easy to be loving to others that think precisely or similar as we do? But what about those sandpaper type people that we have to interact with daily? That is where the challenge lies. There are people I am rubbing up against that I haven’t figured out if they are more a Goliath or a Saul in my life. My reactions to them are not always the best, lack love and patience, and then I suffer from pangs of guilt afterward and I am filled with regrets due to my natural response. Can you relate?
Paul’s advise to us in dealing with people that are bent to be argumentative and cruel, is just to let it go. We are to use the pause technique and not revenge. We are to look at ways to be kind to our enemies (Rom. 12:20). There are those times that we must defend ourselves (malicious lawsuits, slander, etc.), but God is our shield, defender, and protector. One’s own humility will speak volumes, but it has to be put into drive in order to move forward.
I had the privilege of listening to Joe Manby, CEO of Sea World, at a Work Is Worship seminar I attended. He stated that he runs his company on one principle: Love others. He stressed talking last in a conversation and listen to understand. When disagreeing tell the person “I want to understand your point of view. How did you come to that opinion?” He asked the following questions:
- Who do you need to be kind to?
- Who do you need to have a tough conversation with?
- Who do you need to forgive?
Almost every speaker in the “Work Is Worship” videos reference the same principle of leadership: Love Others. They all mention showing love like 1 Corinthians 13 states. These scripture verses are not just intended for wedding ceremonies.
Showing unconditional love to those we work with, our family members, people we come in contact with, is the core of being Christ-like. If we forgive others the way Christ forgave us, that will dissolve grudges, bitterness, and requires loving that person despite their sin.
We all have a basic need of knowing we are valued. It goes back to that deep inner need to know we are loved, appreciated, exciting, and liked.
Who can you help bring out the best in someone else today?
How can you stop a retaliation when spoken or treated offensively?
What situation do you need to let go?
It all goes back to loving God more than anything else. He is the source of peace and love and not someone’s opinion of us. Paul told the Corinthians: “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor. 10:5 KJV. How our imaginations run fast and furious, don’t they? Often times our imaginations are not reality – they are a lie, and it is not coming from Jesus. This happened to me again this past week. I had to point the finger back to myself and say: “Let it go.”
Listen to Lauren Daigle’s song Rescue, from the album Look Up Child. Let the words of this song go with you today.