Introduction:
Your Christianity will be tested to the limit by your ability to get along with one another…
If Christians cannot get along with each other, what hope is there for those who know not Christ?
We need to learn how to get along with each other.
• At home
• In the church
• At work
• At school
• In the broader community
“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
However, it is easier said than done. ?
HOW can we get along? As always, the Bible has the answer.
** Let me teach you 5 principles about getting along:
1) Walk in the Spirit
Truth: Carnality is the number one reason for strife!
“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3)
A person that struggles to get along with others is carnal. That is, they are living according to their sinful flesh, not according to the Spirit of God within them. They are immature and disobedient.
Carnality is the number one reason for strife
SEE Galatians 5:17 “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”
If you walk in the Spirit, you will get along with almost anyone!
ILL – I cannot be a good husband without being a good Christian. It is simply not possible.
• I cannot love my wife unselfishly
• I cannot forgive her unceasingly
• I cannot serve her with humility
• I cannot submit to her willingly
• I cannot lead her carefully
• I cannot disagree with her graciously
E.g. Picking out a lounge suite: could have been strife!
If I am walking in the flesh, and not submitting to the Spirit of God, then I will be a selfish, ungrateful, unkind, careless, angry, rude, overbearing, and unforgiving husband.
Carnality is the number one reason for strife
You need to walk with God and walk in the Spirit if you are serious about getting along with people.
2) Treat people well that treat you poorly
SEE Romans 12:14, 17, 19-21
If I cannot treat people well that have hurt me and offended me, then I am not much of a Christian.
I cannot be reactionary – I must live and act on purpose. I cannot allow the actions of others to determine my actions; I must allow GOD and His Word to determine my actions.
SEE Matthew 5:43-48
Remember: “He who angers you controls you.”
ILL – David could have killed Saul on at least two occasions. Why didn’t he? After all, it would have been self-defence. David always treated Saul with respect and honour, even though Saul mistreated David and even tried to kill him.
Answer: David was a man after God’s own heart.
1 Peter 3:8, 9 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.”
I can tell how good a Christian you are by how well you treat people that hurt you and mistreat you.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23)
We must guard and protect our hearts.
SEE Hebrews 12:14-15
Guard your heart against:
• Bitterness
• Anger
• Envy
• Jealousy
• Malice
• Hatred
• Pride
• Revenge
• Selfishness
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let ALL bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
Explain bitterness: Feelings of hurt and resentment rooted in past mistreatment. These feelings and issues have not been resolved, & forgiveness has not really been practised. Result: PROBLEMS!
You need to constantly monitor your heart and spirit to make sure that deadly things like bitterness are not infecting you.
If you want to protect the health of your relationships, be sure to protect your heart.
4) Bridle your tongue
SEE James 3:2-10
LET US ALWAYS SEEK TO SIN NOT WITH OUR LIPS:
“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” (Psalms 39:1)
Nothing will wreck your relationships as quickly and as surely as a loose tongue.
Also, nothing is evidence of a weak spirituality as much as a loose tongue: “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.” (James 1:26)
We generally get into trouble when we talk too much!
“Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
If you can’t control your tongue, hold your tongue.
Let me give you a GREAT BIBLE TRUTH that will help you to get along with almost ANYONE:
STOP TALKING
• When you are tempted to criticise, stop talking.
• When you are tempted to complain, stop talking
• When you are tempted to condemn, stop talking
• When you are tempted to gripe, stop talking
• When you are tempted to gossip, stop talking
• When you are tempted to discourage, stop talking
• When you are tempted to hurt, stop talking
• When you are tempted to judge, stop talking
• When you are tempted to attack, stop talking
• When you are tempted to retaliate, stop talking
• When you are tempted to find fault, stop talking
• When you are tempted to tear down, stop talking
• When you are tempted to be negative, stop talking
• When you are tempted to be foolish, stop talking
Proverbs 29:11 “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”
5) Be a peacemaker, not a peace breaker
What did Jesus say? “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
How can you be a peacemaker, not a peace breaker?
• Never allow yourself to gossip or criticise another believer
• Be first to say “I’m sorry”, even if you think you are in the right
• Give people the benefit of the doubt
• Overlook or minimise the faults in others
• Deliberately see the good in people
• Pray regularly for people that hurt or offend you
• Put others first
• Always treat people with honour and respect
• Let your tongue be governed and guided by grace
• Speak the truth in love
• Do not allow your feelings to be easily hurt
• Do not go to bed angry at anyone
• Control your spirit with the help of God’s Spirit
• Repent of any pride, stubbornness or bitterness
• Stop bringing up past transgressions
• Forgive, even if forgiveness is not sought
• Admit often you are in the wrong
• Be patient and longsuffering with people that irritate you
• Judge not! Let God be the judge
• Do not avenge yourself; vengeance belongs to God
• Overcome bitterness and hatred with mercy & forgiveness
• Let all your actions be governed by charity: unconditional love
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” (Romans 12:10)
Conclusion:
Getting along with people is really about being a good Christian…
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
1 John 4:7, 8
How do we get along with each other?
1) Walk in the Spirit
2) Treat people well that treat you poorly
3) Guard your heart
4) Bridle your tongue
