The Monday Morning Debrief: Working out our differences

This past week the NFL and the Players Union worked on a new 10 year agreement that ended an over 130 day lockout.  Now, why the Democrats and Republicans cannot come to an agreement on our national debt is a different story but that’s a different post for someone else to write on a different blog.  This agreement came at a time in which, for the most part, the entire preseason and season was saved and America will have it’s most popular sport in full this year.

But just as the NFL worked out their differences between the Owners and Players, the NBA is having a real hard time making any progress with their differences.  In fact, many of the experts are predicting that the Owners and Players of the NBA are at such strong odds that it is very likely that the whole season could be lost this year.  That would be devastating for the NBA, especially after such a great season where its popularity took a huge increase.

So how does harmony between owners and players apply to ministry?

Over the course of your ministry career you will encounter many different conflicts with people.  You will encounter conflicts with parents, students, other leaders, and other staffers. How you choose to handle these conflicts will either result in an enhancement of that relationship(s) or the destruction of it.   It can also result in a positive for your ministry or it has the real possibility to bring your ministry down and cause a real hinderance to people hearing God and impacting their life.

In the Bible it speaks to relationships and conflict resolution quite often.  Check out a list of those references here.   Of the ones listed, some ones that I would like to point out are:

• Matthew 5:9 (ESV) – “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
• Leviticus 19:18 (ESV) – “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”
• Luke 17:4 (ESV) – “And if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
• Proverbs 15:1 (ESV) – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
• 1 Corinthians 13 (any translation)

The reality is conflict is going to happen no matter what walk of life you are in.  But as the NFL just showed us, you can work out your differences, no matter what they are about or how far apart the sides are from agreement.  It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t so quick process, but the owners and players made it happened. They worked long hours and well into the night many days to get it right.  And because of all their efforts, it worked out and football will be played this year and the years to come.

With this in mind, TAKE A MINUTE and examine the relationships you are in now.  Are you in any conflict at the moment that is unresolved with one of the above groups?  What do you need to do to resolve it and to help put it back on a healthy path again?

Now know you may try your hardest to resolve the conflict and work out your differences with that other person, but a conflict cannot be resolved, in large part because of the other person.  That’s ok.  You can’t control how other people are going to respond.  As long as you have sought the Lord and are at peace with how you have responded, you have done all you can.  Continue to pray that God softens this person heart and that restoration can happen, but you move forward, knowing you tried all you could.

As I’m sure you all know, Satan will use anything and everything to bring down God’s work.  So we always have to be on guard and always have to be examining our heart.  Conflict will happen.  It’s how we choose to handle it that will make all the difference in the world.

Thoughts, comments or questions?  Post a comment so that we can all benefit.