An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. ~Proverbs 18:19
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. ~Matthew 18:19-20
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yoke-fellows, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. ~Philippians 4:2-3
What was going on with these two women, Euodia and Syntyche? Whatever it was, it was bad enough that Paul, writing from prison, interrupts his loving thank you letter to the Philippian church to address it. Were they spreading gossip about their version of things around in the community and destroying the reputation of this fledgling church? Were members of the church choosing sides and creating a division? We really don’t know the details. What we do know is there were two women who weren’t getting along, tarnishing the ministry and Paul is telling the church, help these women get along! It’s your responsibility!
Was the church successful? We don’t know and it really doesn’t matter. What does matter is that Paul charges the church with the responsibility of doing all it can to attempt to resolve conflict. Notice here that Paul does not side with one woman over another. He knows that there are two sides to the story, as we discussed on Wednesday.
He is charging the church to address the issues, not ignore them, or sweep them under the rug, or let the women go or send them away. He is saying, work on it! These are your sisters in Christ. This is a family matter! Help them get along for the sake of the peace of your fellowship.
Jesus says that it is when we agree in His name that He is with us, but He cannot work with a divided house. First things first, resolve the conflict, then I will bless. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled. Then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
Conflict is a big deal to God. He knows that it is one of satan’s major tools to render the church weak and ineffective. Any military person will tell you that if the ranks begin fighting among themselves, the battle is lost to the enemy. Satan does all he can to keep us offended over petty issues and unwilling to work together so that he can continue advancing as much as he can, taking over those that the church should be helping. Conflict destroys ministry. It’s as simple as that.
A word to those who are too easily offended: it is your responsibility to extend grace, to stop making mountains out of molehills and distracting the church from the cause of Christ. If the offence is legitimate, let your church family help you work it out. Do you really want to be the cause of a weakened ministry? You don’t have to be that unyielding. You don’t have to live with barred gates.
Consider Christ and how He dealt with our offense against Him. He extended His love and forgiveness anyway because the cause was too great not to. Is your offense greater than that? Remember His instruction to go to the offender and try to work things out. Don’t stay away, don’t gossip, and don’t try to sweep it under the rug. These are not healthy responses. But do be intentional about promoting peace for the sake of the ministry of Christ.
“Can’t we all just get along?” These words could have been spoken by Jesus instead of the man who witnessed riots as the result of his rough handling caught on camera. God wants His children to get along as every parent wants their children to get along. So much of what we squabble about and allow to cause rifts is really so little and could be dealt with so much better than is so often the case today.
The time is coming, and it may be sooner than we think, when we are going to need the strength of our collective community to stand strong against the opposition that is coming. We need to begin healing the rifts rather than widening the gaps over those little differences.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” Let’s all work to answer Jesus’ plea together.
Prayer: Father, I commit to the ministry of reconciliation between me and my brothers and sisters. If I am offended, give me grace to either overlook it, or to have a loving conversation with the “offender” to seek understanding and restore peace. This is love. And if I have offended anyone and I learn of it, may I be humble to ask forgiveness, for the sake of the ministry. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Love One Another
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. ~Matthew 18:19-20
I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yoke-fellows, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. ~Philippians 4:2-3
What was going on with these two women, Euodia and Syntyche? Whatever it was, it was bad enough that Paul, writing from prison, interrupts his loving thank you letter to the Philippian church to address it. Were they spreading gossip about their version of things around in the community and destroying the reputation of this fledgling church? Were members of the church choosing sides and creating a division? We really don’t know the details. What we do know is there were two women who weren’t getting along, tarnishing the ministry and Paul is telling the church, help these women get along! It’s your responsibility!
Was the church successful? We don’t know and it really doesn’t matter. What does matter is that Paul charges the church with the responsibility of doing all it can to attempt to resolve conflict. Notice here that Paul does not side with one woman over another. He knows that there are two sides to the story, as we discussed on Wednesday.
He is charging the church to address the issues, not ignore them, or sweep them under the rug, or let the women go or send them away. He is saying, work on it! These are your sisters in Christ. This is a family matter! Help them get along for the sake of the peace of your fellowship.
Jesus says that it is when we agree in His name that He is with us, but He cannot work with a divided house. First things first, resolve the conflict, then I will bless. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled. Then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
Conflict is a big deal to God. He knows that it is one of satan’s major tools to render the church weak and ineffective. Any military person will tell you that if the ranks begin fighting among themselves, the battle is lost to the enemy. Satan does all he can to keep us offended over petty issues and unwilling to work together so that he can continue advancing as much as he can, taking over those that the church should be helping. Conflict destroys ministry. It’s as simple as that.
A word to those who are too easily offended: it is your responsibility to extend grace, to stop making mountains out of molehills and distracting the church from the cause of Christ. If the offence is legitimate, let your church family help you work it out. Do you really want to be the cause of a weakened ministry? You don’t have to be that unyielding. You don’t have to live with barred gates.
Consider Christ and how He dealt with our offense against Him. He extended His love and forgiveness anyway because the cause was too great not to. Is your offense greater than that? Remember His instruction to go to the offender and try to work things out. Don’t stay away, don’t gossip, and don’t try to sweep it under the rug. These are not healthy responses. But do be intentional about promoting peace for the sake of the ministry of Christ.
“Can’t we all just get along?” These words could have been spoken by Jesus instead of the man who witnessed riots as the result of his rough handling caught on camera. God wants His children to get along as every parent wants their children to get along. So much of what we squabble about and allow to cause rifts is really so little and could be dealt with so much better than is so often the case today.
The time is coming, and it may be sooner than we think, when we are going to need the strength of our collective community to stand strong against the opposition that is coming. We need to begin healing the rifts rather than widening the gaps over those little differences.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” Let’s all work to answer Jesus’ plea together.
Prayer: Father, I commit to the ministry of reconciliation between me and my brothers and sisters. If I am offended, give me grace to either overlook it, or to have a loving conversation with the “offender” to seek understanding and restore peace. This is love. And if I have offended anyone and I learn of it, may I be humble to ask forgiveness, for the sake of the ministry. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Song: Love One Another
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