| Prov.
25:8-10 |
"Do not go hastily to *court
(Lit.
contend or bring a law suit);
For what will you do in the end,
When
your neighbor has put you to
shame?
Debate your case with your neighbor
himself,
And do not disclose the secret to
another;
Lest he who hears
it expose your
shame,
And your reputation be ruined."
 Note: This is the reason God
instructs us to settle our disputes privately with one another. |
| Prov. 26:2 |
"Like a
flitting sparrow, like a flying
swallow,
So a curse without a cause shall
not
alight." |
| Matt. 5:23-24 |
"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and
there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift
there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother,
and then come offer your gift." |
| Matt. 18:15-17 |
"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go
and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have
gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, take with you one or two
more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he
refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax
collector."
See (A Soft Answer Turns Away
Wrath) |
| Luke 12:58 |
"When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag
you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw
you into prison." |
| Luke 17:3-4 |
"Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins
against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against
you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I
repent,' you shall forgive him." |
| Rom. 12:14-21 |
"Bless those who
persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep
with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your
mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own
opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight
of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with
all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for
it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the
Lord. (Deut. 32:35)
'Therefore if your enemy hungers, feed
him;
If he
thirsts, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of
fire on his head.' (Prov. 25:21-22)
Do not be overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good."
See (I'm Sorry - Is Too Easy) |
| 1 Cor. 6:1-11 |
"Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go
to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that
the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are
you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge
angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have
*judgments (courts) concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint
those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame.
Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be
able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother,
and that before unbelievers! Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for
you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong?
Why do you not rather let yourselves be defrauded? No, you yourselves do wrong
and defraud, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the
unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor *homosexuals (catamites, those
submitting to homosexuals), nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And
such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were *sanctified (set
apart), but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit
of our God." |
| 1 Thes. 5:12-22 |
"And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who
labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and *admonish (warn) you, and to
esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among
yourselves. Now we *exhort (encourage) you, brethren, warn those who are
*unruly (insubordinate or idle), comfort the faint-hearted, uphold the weak, be
patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always
pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks; for this is the
will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do
not despise prophecies.
Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Abstain from every form of evil."
Note: It's clear to me that whether we did a
wrong to someone else, or they do a wrong to us, God always calls us as Christians to act
towards peace. When we know someone has been hurt by us we need only to
attempt to make it right in love. If they do not receive us, then
we have done what God calls us to do. Sometimes, however, we are not aware that
there is something in our personality that rubs someone wrong because they do
not share the problem with us. If this is let go for many years it can build in
them until they strike out at us with their words. This is why it is imperative that we
communicate with each other in love. We all know our shortcomings, but until we
are aware of a stress to someone else we can not address it. If you have
someone hurt you, and you realize it is an attack of the enemy. Forgive them. Let it go. Give them some space, and respond to them in love as soon as you
have opportunity. There is no need to lash back at them. God is perfectly able
to fight for you.
See (Pursue Peace - As Much As
Depends On You) |
