Do Your Best To Be At Peace With Everyone
August 29th, 2006
Corey Rose
Rom. 12:18 (NASV) If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
We live in a world filled with conflict. We certainly don’t have to look hard to find it. We can see it as our nation “fights” a war. We can hear it as a couple does battle with each other next door. We can watch it as a friend’s child rebels against her parents or see it unfold as a parent exasperates his children. We can observe it in long-time friendships or short-time acquaintances. We can watch it unfold between a boss and his employees or a coach and her athletes. We can even find it in churches. Heard of any church splits lately?
And what’s worse, we can even see this tendency toward conflict in ourselves, often more than we’d like. You know what I mean? When we desire to fight it out versus work it out with someone, maybe even someone we really love. When we have the feeling that we must be right because they have to be wrong. When we somehow think that it’s the other person’s responsibility to make it right, because it can’t possibly be ours. When we basically say to the one we are fighting, “You want to make peace with me? Maybe. You want me to make peace with you. Good luck.” And then comes Rom. 12:18 - “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” As one version puts it, “Do your best to be at peace with everyone.” Yeah, but what if I’m right? It doesn’t matter. It’s still up to me to try to make peace with them. But what if they won’t listen? It doesn’t matter. The ball is still in my court to try to make peace with them. But what if I can’t stand them? It’s still my responsibility before God to try to make peace with them. But what if they are anti-Christian? If possible, so far as it depends on me, be at peace with them.
God, as far as it depends on me, help me to be at peace with those around me. Life is too short and valuable to do otherwise.