“Catching Flies and Gaining Brothers”


BIBLE READING: 2 Corinthians 12-Galatians 3

Due to the problems in the church at Corinth, the church needed a good dose of conflict resolution.  Paul had already tried with his first letter, then again with his second letter and has now tried with a third and still much of their problem remains.  As Paul closes out his letter to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 13, he offers one final attempt at repairing those broken relationships.  “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13.11).  These same words of wisdom can aid us today as we seek to get along with others as well.  As we journey through this life, we will all certainly have to deal with difficult people.  Many times, the difficulty has nothing to do with sin, rather with personality conflicts.  Although we may not be able to control their reactions, their words or their emotions, we can work at controlling ours.  So many times, we seek to react with the same type of hatred and anger that people may have thrown at us.  However, this does nothing to help the situation or mend the relationship; it only seeks to further drive a wedge between us.  Yet if we sought to be a people that aimed for restoration, our intentions just might become the remedy for which we have been praying.  The word “aim” Paul uses, denotes an intent to “repair” or to “mend” something that was broken.  Although we might say that we want to “repair’ or “mend” some broken relationships, many times our efforts and actions do not reflect that desire.  Instead, our primary initiative must be that we seek to become a people that seeks unity, that promotes peace and agreeability.  Paul isn’t suggesting that we accept religious error, rather accept the principle of peace and love over hatred and bitterness.  The result being we may gain a friend, as well as a brother. Someone once put it this way “You will catch more flies with honey that you will with vinegar”.

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