Getting Along

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.”

Let me repeat this, very slowly this time.

If possible,

So far as it depends on you,

Be at peace with all people.

These are not my words.  They come from the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:18 and were written by him more than two thousand years ago.  Paul penned them under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and they carry full scriptural authority.  In other words, if you believe, as I do, that the Bible is fully inspired, without error, complete, and trustworthy in instructing us how to live our lives, you must accept this, not as a suggestion, but as a command from God himself.  If you don’t believe these things about Scripture, I hope you can at least trust the wisdom of Paul’s words.

This is not a call to passivity.  This is not a call to surrendering of our values.  This is not a call to accept that which is unacceptable.  It is simply God’s instruction to us to do all within our power to get along with other people.  I realize that Bible scholars and learned theologians could expand and expound on anything I say here, but that is not my intent.  I am writing to put in terms that I can understand just what Paul is teaching and how it should impact my life.  After all, that is a primary purpose of Paul’s letters, to simply tell us how to better follow Christ and to live in a way that brings Him glory.

Paul says, “if possible.”  He is making it clear that there will be times when we cannot be at peace with another person.  There will always be someone who simply don’t want to get along, someone who is so self-centered and self-serving that any kind of relationship is impossible.  Not only do they not want to get along, but they also choose to embrace division and conflict.  You know them and so do I.  All we can do in this instance is avoid them and pray for them.

But, in most instances, there is no excuse for you and me to stop trying. That’s the second phrase in this command, “so far as it depends on you”. I am only responsible for my own actions and attitudes.  Paul is telling me that I need to be intentional in my efforts to coexist with others.  And I’m not simply to coexist, but I am to do my best to get along, and to seek to be a positive voice in a sea of negativity.

I’m not called upon to only be at peace with people I like, people who agree with me, or people who behave in a way that I would consider appropriate.  Some people annoy me.  As a matter of fact, a lot of people annoy me.  But, on the other hand, I can be as intolerant and selfish as anyone else.  When people don’t accommodate me as I think they should, it may offend me and make me difficult to get along with.  But as a good friend reminds the mission teams he leads, “If someone here annoys you, rest assured that there are people who are annoyed by you.”  I have come to understand that I do annoy certain people.  If you’re one of them, I apologize, and I’ll try to do better.

Is it always easy to get along? Of course not.  If it was, it wouldn’t be necessary for Paul to encourage us to do our best to do so.  No, getting along with others is not always easy, but it is possible.  We may have to forgive people, we may have to ignore the faults of others, and we may have to put aside our preferences, our opinions and feelings to do as Paul instructs us.

Jesus was mistreated, mocked, ridiculed and crucified.  Yet, through all this, he loved people and did not hold their faults against them.  He understood our weaknesses, our struggles, and our sinful nature.  Yet, he was willing to set aside the glories of heaven, endure suffering and die for the unlovable.  That includes you and me.

I could go on, but I’ll simply say this.  If He is our example, and He is, then I don’t think it’s too much to expect me to seek to be at peace with others.  I need to try harder. Do you?

Be blessed…and be at peace.