AUGUST 7, 2014
Difficult
People
Read: Ephesians
4:1-12
Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called . . . bearing
with one another in love. —Ephesians
4:1-2
In the book God in the
Dock, author C. S. Lewis describes the kind of people we have trouble getting
along with. Selfishness, anger, jealousy, or other quirks often sabotage our
relationship with them. We sometimes think, Life would be much easier if we
didn’t have to contend with such difficult people.
Lewis then turns the
tables on us by pointing out that these frustrations are what God has to endure
with each of us every day. He writes: “You are just that sort of person. You
also have a fatal flaw in your character. All the hopes and plans of others
have again and again shipwrecked on your character just as your hopes and plans
have shipwrecked on theirs.” This self-awareness should motivate us to try to
show the same patience and acceptance to others that God shows to us daily.
In Ephesians, Paul
exhorts us to arm ourselves relationally “with all lowliness and gentleness,
with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (4:2). The one who is
patient is better able to deal with a difficult person without becoming
provoked to anger and retaliation. Instead, he or she is able to endure,
exhibiting grace in spite of upsetting behavior.
Are there difficult
people in your life? Ask God to show His love through you.
Some people can be
difficult to love,
And so we do not even
try to care;
But God says, “Love them
just as I’ve loved you—
You’ll bring Me glory
as My love you share.” —Cetas
See others as God sees
you.
Insight
Paul never gives
instruction without reminding readers of the reason for it. Today’s
encouragement to bear with one another (Eph. 4:2) is rooted in the necessity of
recognizing that the Spirit unites us in one calling, one Lord, one faith, one
baptism, and one God (vv.3-6). We are to be patient with others so that the
body of Christ may be edified (vv.2,12).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
