This week has been quite interesting. I found myself in conflict with a person who has been a great friend and confidant for years. I was really grieved at how our friendship seemed to be eroding. It takes two to start a friendship, and both parties play a role in any dissolution. Lately, I’ve been coming to grips with the fact that every person seems right in their own eyes. I’m justified in my feeling and she’s justified in hers. That’s just the way it goes.
I thought about it all night, and in the morning as I was tidying up, a verse came to mind. “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 and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). I think the interesting thing about this verse is that it doesn’t say anything about how I am feeling. It’s not talking about whether or not I have ill feelings towards someone, but rather, ill feelings towards me.
Now, anyone who knows me knows that I stay in church. But, what if, God would rather that I stay home until I had settled things with my sister. We can get really religious in the fact that we are a “tither and a giver.” But, what happens if our tithe and offering is not acceptable to God when we are in conflict with one another? I think it is possible that we can tithe faithfully, but still be robbing God if we aren’t walking in love toward his children. What if we are “planting seed” and God doesn’t want it because we haven’t cultivated our love.
Needless to say, I was trying to work this issue out before midweek service. I’m grateful that God knows how to restore relationships because he did work it out for us. We were able to settle the matter amicably. I just can’t help but to wonder what church would look like if we heeded the voice of scripture. I’m sure some pastors would fear that both church and the offering plate would be empty. But, I doubt it. I think. The church would look a whole lot more like Christ. People would really know that we are Christians by our love.
I thought about it all night, and in the morning as I was tidying up, a verse came to mind. “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 and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). I think the interesting thing about this verse is that it doesn’t say anything about how I am feeling. It’s not talking about whether or not I have ill feelings towards someone, but rather, ill feelings towards me.
Now, anyone who knows me knows that I stay in church. But, what if, God would rather that I stay home until I had settled things with my sister. We can get really religious in the fact that we are a “tither and a giver.” But, what happens if our tithe and offering is not acceptable to God when we are in conflict with one another? I think it is possible that we can tithe faithfully, but still be robbing God if we aren’t walking in love toward his children. What if we are “planting seed” and God doesn’t want it because we haven’t cultivated our love.
Needless to say, I was trying to work this issue out before midweek service. I’m grateful that God knows how to restore relationships because he did work it out for us. We were able to settle the matter amicably. I just can’t help but to wonder what church would look like if we heeded the voice of scripture. I’m sure some pastors would fear that both church and the offering plate would be empty. But, I doubt it. I think. The church would look a whole lot more like Christ. People would really know that we are Christians by our love.
