Dis-Harm-N-Me
Sunday’s Monday
Dis-Harm-N-Me
I feel like I’m supposed to address a huge elephant in a multitude of rooms today and sadly it gone unattended for way too long. It seems its very survival depends upon being ignored either through fear of offending or the dread of confrontation. This elephant resides inside each one of us and has the ability to make or break happiness. It starts as a sort of damaged ego and when left alone becomes a green-eyed-monster controlling our thought processes and that my friend, becomes the perfect breeding ground for Satan to grow uncertainty, bickering and animosity. Everything needed to bring harm to my attitude which directly affects my relationships. I have found in following Jesus, everytime I have been faced with differing opinions, God’s is the only one that counts.
I have also discovered (reluctantly) that my opinions are just that, “my opinions” and that doesn’t always make them right or lofty, it simply makes them mine. Being of this world I tend to think my ideas are the best and when someone disagrees with that, I tend to get a little offended at their gall. For me it causes disharmony within my own mind, as I take an offensive approach to protect my own pride. A battle rages within my own mind justifying and rationalizing my actions (appropriate or not) as they are usually made in the spur of the moment. For the most part I isolate myself from any situation that causes that causes contention. Ergo, dis in dictionary.com reads disparagement, insult or criticism; harmony is agreement; accord; harmonious relations; disharmony is lack of harmony; discord.
Our world is filled with disharmony and has been ever since there was two or more people. We will not all agree on the same things all the time because we are individual thinkers. The old testament tells us in 1 Kings 18:21 (ESV), 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. Disharmony had had turned to indecision with the people of that day and they refused to resolve their issue.
The state of disharmony can become a way of life with people thriving on the friction, drama and ill will. Much like the people of Samaria, who had nothing to say in answering Elijah proposal. However, there is hope as God has the ability to change, minds, directions and lives for the better. But this is a double edge sword, in that the enemy of our soul also knows how to use disharmony to rob, steal and kill our joy in Christ. The bible addresses this in Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV), 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. I heard a statement on a movie once that sometimes fit me like a glove and it went, “you’d be right, if you weren’t so wrong!”
This is a concept that has taken God years for God to grow in me! And it all started with realizing I am not the only one on planet earth with overwhelming pride. Pride has given me a ton of anguish, a horde of sleepless nights and indescribable pain. As well, I am not the only one with a working brain, therefor the world is filled with ideas, in which make mine the minority (in the scheme of things). As my pastor says; everyone you meet know things, you don’t know and people you don’t which shows a need for each other. Jesus showed me this verse very early in my journey in following Him; Proverbs 12:15 (ESV), The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. This has really opened my eyes over the years when I find myself in the position of being so right (in my mind). I have learned to listen with an open mind in an effort to remove the dis in my harm n me!
A hard lesson, well worth learning is found in 1 Corinthians 12:7-8 (ESV), 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit. The bottom line is the only right answers and decisions come from our consultation and cooperation with God first, then each other. These verses pretty much say it all, 1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV), 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
My prayer this week is that we will all find the harmony of Mary in our decisions! Luke 10:38-42 (ESV), 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Amen! May none of be busy for the sake of being busy!
HAVE A BLESSED WEEK BY BEING A BLESSING TO OTHERS!
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