An incident occurred sometime ago, a squabble of trivial things in a prison cell in Ontario. Two cell mates were fighting over a bag of chips or a cigarette. One of them got killed by the other, the other was supposed to get released a little while later. Because of the fight, he was charged with manslaughter and had to stay there for a few more years. We could see both of them were too emotional over small things, it wouldn’t be worth the fight.
The story offers an accurate picture of human nature. We possess a reflexive “need” to be right, and we’re prone to stubbornly cling to that instinct in rather destructive ways!
So happy for us, God lovingly chooses to soften stubborn human hearts. The apostle Paul knew this, so when two members of the Philippian church were squabbling, he loved them enough to call them out. (Philippians 4:2). “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the LORD. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.”
Paul asked them to “help these women,” valued coworkers with him in sharing the gospel. It seems peacemaking and wise compromise call for team effort.
Obviously there are times to take a firm stand, but a Christlike approach will look a lot different than an unyielding cell mates! So many things in life aren’t worth fighting over. We can squabble with each other over every trivial concern until we destroy ourselves (Galatians 5:15) “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” Or we can swallow our pride, graciously receive wise counsel, and seek unity with our brothers and sisters.