Many live under the assumption that everyone they meet should like them.\u00a0 I have no such unrealistic expectations.\u00a0 How could everyone like me?\u00a0 After all, I don\u2019t like everyone I meet.\u00a0 This includes Christians and non Christians.\u00a0 Of course, as Christians, I think we should make an effort to get along with everyone, including (or should I say especially) each other, even if we don\u2019t see eye to eye on everything.\u00a0 However, there is no need to put ourselves in situations where we come in constant contact with someone we don\u2019t work well with if we have other options.<\/p>\n
Such was the case with Paul and Barnabas.<\/p>\n
Both Paul and Barnabas were dedicated servants of God.\u00a0 After Paul\u2019s conversion he had a difficult time convincing Christians of his sincerity.\u00a0 And rightly so!\u00a0 Was this not the man who had been a vicious persecutor of Christians?\u00a0 It was Barnabas who persuaded the disciples to give him a chance (Acts 9:26) and a friendship formed between the two of them.\u00a0 They even went on a missionary journey together.<\/p>\n
Joining them on this journey was Barnabas\u2019 cousin John Mark (Colossians 4:10).\u00a0 For some reason John Mark decided to return home to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13), while Paul and Barnabas completed the mission.\u00a0 John Mark\u2019s decision did not set well with Paul. \u00a0When another missionary trip was planned and Barnabas suggested taking John Mark again, Paul balked at the thought.\u00a0 So much so that a \u201csharp contention\u201d developed between the two of them (Acts 15:36-41). \u00a0They couldn\u2019t reach an agreement, so they agreed to disagree and split up. \u00a0Paul took Silas on his journey, while Barnabas went with John Mark.<\/p>\n
Now here were two servants of God who couldn\u2019t agree on an issue.\u00a0 This wasn\u2019t a deep theological or doctrinal concern, yet it was a difference of opinion on how to proceed with the work of God.\u00a0 They decided to go their separate ways.\u00a0 We hear nothing about them bad mouthing each other or putting one another down.\u00a0 They merely agreed to disagree.<\/p>\n
The Bible says nothing about who was right and who was wrong in this instance.\u00a0 Some commentaries say Paul was too stubborn.\u00a0 Perhaps, but others feel Paul was guided by logic while warm hearted Barnabas was influenced by John Mark being family.\u00a0 Both Paul and Barnabas were praying to the same God for guidance and both reached a different conclusion. The point is that in some situations there isn\u2019t a right or wrong \u2013 just a different point of view.<\/p>\n
We hear nothing about Paul and Barnabas working together again.\u00a0 Yet years later Paul mentions Barnabas fondly in 1 Corinthians 9:6 as co-workers for Christ.\u00a0 It seems Paul and Barnabas maintained a mutual respect for one another, which is difficult to do even when you agree to disagree with someone.<\/p>\n
Paul even had a change of heart about John Mark.\u00a0 In 2 Timothy 4:11 he says, \u201cGet Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministering.\u201d\u00a0 Circumstances change and so do people.\u00a0 How many of us find ourselves eventually valuing someone we once had little regard for?<\/p>\n
Because we all have different strengths and weaknesses, not everyone we meet is going to like us, nor are we going to like everyone we meet.\u00a0 And no matter how hard we try we will not get along with everyone.\u00a0 The sooner we realize that, the better off we\u2019ll be.\u00a0 But developing the art of agreeing to disagree can avoid conflict, prevent hasty conclusions, and allow time to reevaluate situations.\u00a0 We don\u2019t have to eye to eye on every issue to live heart to heart.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Many live under the assumption that everyone they meet should like them.\u00a0 I have no such unrealistic expectations.\u00a0 How could everyone like me?\u00a0 After all, I don\u2019t like everyone I meet.\u00a0 This includes Christians and non Christians.\u00a0 Of course, as … Continue reading