Who Is Jesus? Part 3Намуна

How Do I Deal with Conflict?

In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus teaches us a way of dealing with conflict that is completely contrary to the culture. As His followers, He challenges us to handle disagreements immediately, directly, and humbly.

But how often do we do the exact opposite of what Jesus was saying? Instead of dealing with things immediately, we hold grudges and harbor bitterness. Instead of dealing with things directly, we’ve talked to about 10 other people by lunch. Instead of dealing with things humbly, we come up with every reason we are right and they are wrong. The problem with this all too common approach? Everybody ends up worse off than they started. 

But Jesus showed us a better way. And His radically different approach is a callback to the Sermon on the Mount. 

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your  brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24 NIV

Jesus tells us that, as His followers, we are called to deal with conflict by pursuing reconciliation immediately. It’s not enough to refrain from attacking people physically or verbally when you’re upset; that’s a given. Instead, we should be motivated by reconciliation so much that we are willing to go to great lengths to make things right. 

Jesus’ audience would have understood that leaving their gift at the altar and returning to their own village would be an 80-mile journey! 80 miles on foot, no car, no guarantees. We are called to be the kind people who quickly and humbly go to great lengths to make things right. 

This is Jesus’ radically different way of dealing with conflict.