04/12/2024
BREAKING UP RELATIONSHIPS
“Dealing With Anger” from the Christian perspective required noting that we are one. One Father, One Son , Jesus Christ and One, Holy Spirit. We can't have the same mind and have reasons to be divided.
If we think in this general sense we may fall into errors. So in the text Christ spend time to established the fact that we shall always be different from one another.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” The reasons for the murder is not stated but murder will bring the offended before the judge
One will imagine what the court will go through in a murder case. The victim, now gone leaving a vacuum. Being denied of his or her human rights. The tendencies of such individual bringing progress to humanity. Biblically, a murderer must appear before the judge for Judgement.
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[c] will be subject to judgment.
We must not take judgement as something abnormal. Once Christ said, “ who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment” he is not saying, offending persons can just go on with bringing offences while the offenders do nothing.
Taking things into healthy perimeter Christ said “Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
Christians are healers not destroyers. We are soul winners not people losing friends. Christ place the offended and offending into the same position. If you are offended and you are not pursuing peace then you belong to hell. Now we can reconcile this claims with the story of the unforgiving servant.
When we see things from God’s perspective. We will explain that you can't support a system you are fighting it.
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Christians are relationship builders not breakers. That brother or sister you offended, you ought to go an make amendment. It is from this angle of you being the offending person that Christ offer a way out .
Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
Now, that is what judgment is all about. Giving back what you took. If you are the offended taking things to the court in a healthy society is never a way of breaking relationship but a social responsibility to see that justice is serve.
What Christ meant by “ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Things don't follow the worldly order in the kingdom of God. The offended and the offending are brother and sister of the same father.
All sins are sins against the creator just as all crimes are crime against humanity.
We shall expect that when you bring nonchristian into a conflict then living with people can sometimes lead to a lot of misunderstandings because everyone sees things from different perspectives. The question may be modified but the answer is the same thing. Christians are soul winners of sinners or backsliding saints.
Now when the tendency to get angry that is always high in non Christian and Christian society comes our ways, we can't break up our relationships.
Accordingly to the devotional “Jesus expects Christians to handle misunderstandings in a different way from unbelievers. He expects them to exhibit self-control whenever they are angry and resort to insulting those who annoy them.”
In a movie, two Christian sisters got into a fight on emptied gas cylinder. One sister had used the gas up without informing the owner. Once, the owner discovered it, she flame up and the got into a fight.
It was a non Christian that came to settle them. At the end of the settlement, the non Christian was invited to their church bible study. An offer she turned down.
Our lives and living are tools for evangelism. We can't be a Christian without showing that in real moments. So Christ emphasizes that reconciliation is more important than offering sacrifices.
You bring a gift offering or service to God but his creature, one individual who had offended you is yet to be forgiven. My brother and sister Christ advised those having misunderstandings to keep their sacrifices on the altar, go and reconcile with their enemies before coming back to offer the sacrifices.
One will this Christ is just a mere carpenter. He further instructed them to settle matters out of court because the court will definitely cause more havoc than heal relationships. This will happen with non Christian who distaste the name tag their crime or offences bring on them or for Christians who will lose opportunities to be soul winners having won or lose a case at the court.
Appearantly, we must learn to settle our differences in the Christian way so as to honour God. This is the only was for the offended or the offending.
*QUESTION:* Have you been able to settle your differences with those who offended you or the people you offended?
Now, we can go on and really settle our grievances with church members, fellow Christians and non Christians.
You are not heaven bound whether as an offended, not forgiving or the offending, who is yet to ask for forgiveness.
Commentary From ECWA FOOD For the Day
WEDNESDAY, 4 DECEMBER 2024
