Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:2-8, Colossians 3:12

In the book of Philippians, Paul asks two women, Euodia and Syntyche, to come to peace with each other. Stop nurturing resentment, he tells them, and think about what is “honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy” in the other person.

God’s spirit empowers us to love others and to hope for the best, just as we ourselves are embraced by the love and hope of God. Our natural reaction in conflict situations is often to assume the other person is hopelessly wrong—ignorant, stubborn, selfish, foolish. Why bother trying to restore our relationship—it will never work. But the love of God—for us and for them—gives us true hope that both they and we can change for the better.

It may help if we remember that many changeable factors contribute to the way people interact on any given day. The other person—or we—may have had a poor night’s sleep, a fight with a loved one, a financial setback or other life issues. We may have different ways of speaking or acting that give an incorrect impression. For example, a joke may come across the wrong way, or a word may be taken as an insult, even if it wasn’t meant that way. And we have different preferences for handling stress. Some like to have time alone to think, while others like to resolve things quickly and publicly.

The good news is that with God’s help there is hope. What seems like an intractable conflict today may become an opportunity for a deeper relationship tomorrow. Focus on the factors that may help move things forward, rather than impugning the other person’s motives. With prayer, we can ask God to help us be gentle and humble, see the good in others and let go of our anxieties.

Prayer: Jesus, help me to see those I am irritated with, hurt by or in conflict with, with the hope and love that you provide. May I be slow to anger. Instead of judging them, may I be a blessing to them. Amen.

Further Exploration: Click to read more from the Theology of Work Project about resolving conflict in Philippians.

Author: Theology of Work Project

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