8.10.12 "Conflict with Purpose"

"Conflict with Purpose"

Ezra 10:1-44
I Corinthians 6:1-20
Psalm 31:9-18
Proverbs 21:3

In today's scripture in Corinthians 6, Paul chastises Christians for going to court and suing one another any time they have a dispute. The last part of verse 5 through 7 say, "Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these arguments? But, instead, one Christian sues another and accuses his Christian brother in front of unbelievers. To have such lawsuits at all is a real defeat for you as Christians. Why not just accept mistreatment and leave it at that? it would be far more honoring to the Lord to let yourselves be cheated."

How's that for a today's memory verse? "It would be far more honoring to the Lord to let yourselves be cheated." What's that supposed to mean?

Think about unity today. It's important to understand that unity is not absence of conflict. The truth is that Unity is only achieved when there is Conflict with purpose. The New Testament shows clearly that we WILL have disagreements within the church. Why?

It's in our human nature to approach conflict with the intent of being proven "Right". With this perspective, we can go to great lengths to prove this. We can even go to court. Think of times you've fought with a spouse or family member over something very small, but it blew up into something big. Most of the time the argument is not about an issue, it's about who's right in the situation. My brother and I were in college, and were home on break when we had the biggest fight ever. It was fists and all... It was about drinking out of a coke bottle: which produces less backwash, lips around the spout, or lips in the spout? (even thinking about it right now, I know i'm still right!)

What if we were to approach conflict with the intent of being made "better" instead of "right"? What if, in times of relational conflict, we took our mind off ourselves and our pride, and looked at each situation as an opportunity to become more like Christ. What if that person who "rubs you the wrong way" is actually God's agent to mold you into the shape he needs you to be to use you?

"It would be far more honoring to the Lord to let yourselves be cheated." Am I saying we should be a doormat? No, we should be like Christ. I wouldn't call him a doormat. There will be times when you are 100% right, but the Lord is trying to teach you patience. He's trying to teach you to understand the importance of waiting on his Spirit.

The Lord really wants us to get past this need to be "right". If we seem to have a hard time learning the lesson, he loves us enough to let us repeat the test. If we don't aggressively pursue his heart in all situations, we can fail this test so many times we become hardened, and lose the ability to hear his voice. 

One thing I'm needing to do is, rather than giving in to the urge to be "right", I need to focus my energy on "what does this person need". That posture is SO hard for the human nature, but it is so healthy for the spirit. It's not an easy path, but it brings about the refining. It's gives a different perspective on conflict. In any situation, don't try to be right, try to become better. See what kind of work God completes in your life.




Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

Pastor Greg Lathe

Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ