Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 14:29, But Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. Look now, how my countenance has brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.”
In life, regardless of whether we are Christians or not, we will have moments where we will have to confront others. There will be opportunities to resolve conflicts peacefully or cause strife and division. As God’s children, as born again Christians, we are to always seek the path of peace, regardless of the offense. What Jonathan said about his father was true. However, his approach could have been better. Although he ate honey in the presence of the people, in contrast to King Saul’s command not to eat anything, and though the people made him aware of it, his sentiments regarding his father’s decision may have been better express privately to King Saul himself. His statement could have caused the people to become bitter against the king and possibly further complicate the difficult circumstances they were already in. Quite often, I have seen, in churches, that God’s people are too quick to publicly criticize God’s chosen servants, whether pastors, deacons, or other church leaders. Far too often we say things publicly that should be confronted one on one, privately, with the person who caused the offense, but instead, we turn it into gossip, or use it for our own selfish attempts to cause division because we think we know better than the ones who are in leadership positions making the decisions. The Word of God makes it clear that God hates division. In Proverbs 6:19, we are told that God hates “one who sows discord among brethren”. Furthermore, Colossians 3:12-15 clearly says, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” In Matthew 18, Jesus gave a step by step process for dealing with offenses. In verses 15-17 He instructed, “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.” In 1 Timothy 5:19, God’s Word gives us guidelines for accusations made against church leaders. It reads, “Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.” In the case of King Saul, there were far more than two or three witnesses who could attest to his less than wise decision. However, Jonathan was in a good position, as his son, to bring the matter to him privately. The bottom line is that whenever possible, the first and best approach in resolving conflict is to go to the person who committed the offense and try to deal with them one on one, before bringing others in, so that we can do everything possible to settle the matter as peacefully as possible, without causing division, for the glory of God.
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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