The Junk Drawer: The Middle Ground - Thursday
James 1:19
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (NIV)
When I left home for law school, which feels like a lifetime ago, I truly had no idea what I was getting into. Any thoughts or preconceived notions I had about law school or practicing law were misguided if not completely wrong. If someone had warned me that the purpose of law school is to teach me how to “think like a lawyer” rather than focusing on the skills I need to practice law, my approach would have been much different.
While I didn’t recognize it while it was happening, I definitely learned how to argue. I went from being a conflict-avoidant person to an instigator of arguments. If someone said the sky was blue I argued the sky was green and I didn’t relent until my opposition apologized for being “wrong”. I was unbearable to be around. I had everyone walking on eggshells. People became so overly cautious with the words around me that their anxiety became palpable. I become what we call a “Right Fighter”. Born out of insecurity and driven by pride, my worth was found in “being right”. My value was in winning the argument.
Nevertheless, being a right fighter came at a cost. I may have won the argument but it was always at the expense of my relationships. The Holy Spirit, in all His goodness, humbled me and boy did it hurt. However, I’m thankful for it. I learned that you can be “right” or you can be righteous, you can further your kingdom or you can further God’s Kingdom.
In the gospels, Christ found himself at the center of many arguments, whether it was from the Pharisees, the Roman governor, or his own circle of followers. However, he turned arguments into discussions. Rather than trying to manipulate or dominate his opponent, Jesus asked questions to connect and get at the truth. He wanted others to understand where they stood in relation to Him. As I’ve heard it said before, “Discussions are always better than arguments, because an argument is to find out WHO is right, and a discussion is to find out WHAT is right.”
Thursday’s Reflection
Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (NIV) Conflict is a natural part of life. When you find yourself in the midst of conflict are you seeking to find out who is right or what is right? Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom to seek understanding and peace in the midst of conflict so that God may be glorified.