How To Get Along with Others: Pt. 3 — Morning Devotions

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I’m talking today, as I did yesterday, about how to get along with other people. Country music singer Garth Brooks had a song with the lyrics, We bury the hatchet, but leave the handles sticking out. We’re always digging up things we should forget about. How true that is.

How To Get Along with Others: Pt. 2 — Morning Devotions

It’s really like what Proverbs 20:22 says: Don’t say I’ll pay you back for this wrong. Wait for the Lord, and He will deliver you. I think that’s probably why CS Lewis hit it on the head when he said, Everyone says that forgiveness is such a lovely idea until they have something to forgive. So true forgiveness is hard to extend because it demands that we’ve got to let go of something, and you know what we’ve often got to let go, and that is the right to repay.

Changing the script of the world

That’s why Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:5 says that love keeps no record of wrongs. That’s why he says that. We need to let go of some of those wrongs.

Realise that it’s always a right thing to do. It’s always right to do what’s right. It’s obvious, isn’t it? I mean, it says in Scripture, be careful to do what’s right in the eyes of everybody. That’s Romans 12:17. Now it’s, I guess, easy to misunderstand that statement. It’s not our job to make everyone happy, but it is our job to live good lives ourselves by doing what is right. So we’re to be careful to do that. It means to take thought beforehand. Think about it.

How are you going to respond to certain situations after all, we have the power to respond the way we want, and I think too many of us sort of live in a haphazard way. We shoot from the hip when God actually says, just slow down. I want you to think about what you’re going to say. So this word right, be careful to do what’s right. That’s in Romans 12:17. The word right means beautiful or precious. When we wonder, or ponder rather how to do that which is precious to God, then people will take notice of God.

So I guess here’s the principle – live in such a way that we can make an honest accusation against you.

So that’s why I think the Bible also says to you know to be it possible, if it is possible, as far as depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

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The key then is to do everything you can if it is possible, as far as depends on you. So have you accepted the part that is involved, your part in whatever happened to that relationship? Are you willing to make things right from things that have gone wrong, or have you forgiven that person or forgiven the wrong that’s been done to you?

So if the other person says, look, I’m not prepared to come to this if they will not be reconciled, there’s not a lot you can do about it actually. Perhaps you could say, well, my response is my responsibility. The only person I can change really is me. I can’t answer for what you’re going to do. Rabbi David Nelson tells the story of two brothers who went to their rabbi to settle a long-standing feud, and the rabbi got the two to reconcile the differences, shake hands.

And as they were about to leave, he asked which one or each one rather to make a wish for the new year, and the first brother turned to the other one and said, I wish what you wish for. And at that the second brother threw up his hands and said, See, rabbi, he’s starting it up again.

Well, I like what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13:11. Finally, brothers, goodbye. Aim for perfection. Listen to my appeal, be of one mind and live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

So as you think perhaps this morning of the person that you’re in conflict with, have you made an effort to be at peace? Do you remember that saying? It takes two to tango, and we could perhaps rephrase that by saying it takes two to tangle. So if you’re feeling like having revengeful feelings, the thing to do is to relinquish it when we’re hurt, we want to hurt that person.

But the Bible says, do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. It’s written. It is mine to avenge. I will repay, says the Lord. So really it’s up to God. God’s called us to be peacemakers, not prosecutors. So there it is. We need to understand that God can do it. God is the one who can judge. No one’s going to get away with it anyway. God will make sure that justice is done in His way and in His time.

So isn’t it wonderful that God is gracious and merciful to you?

Let’s Pray

Thank you, dear Lord, for these things. Help us, Lord, to get on with people. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

(How To Get Along with Others: Pt. 1 — Morning Devotions)

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