*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*SETTLING A DISPUTE? (2)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Matt 18:15-17
*Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.*
*But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.*
*And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
God wants parties to a dispute, both the offended and offender to love one another enough to seek reconciliation regardless of fault.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
God is aware of the presence of disputes, Luke 17:1. Though not, His perfect will (ref Luke 17:1b), He offers peace and reconciliation regardless of fault, 1 John 4:20.
While disputes have their places, so do peace lovers and peacemaker have their places.
Paul warns of unbelievers settling disputes for believers. He admonishes there are wiser and peace loving people in the Church without going to the people outside the Church or the law courts, 1 Cor 6:4-6.
Jesus offers both the offender and the offended to speak privately. If the other does not agree, the afflicted party could go and bring a witness or multiple ones. If there is no progress, Jesus teaches that you tell it to the Church. If, upon all these, there is no progress, He teaches that such a person be treated as an outsider, Matt 5: 15-20.
Jesus is most practical in offering solutions to disputes. He wants the problem fixed. Peace, resolution, and reconciliation are key.
So, how can we fit into Jesus' plan in settling disputes?
There is the offender, and there is the offended.
The key approach to fulfilling Jesus' plan does have a lot to do with the peacemaker.
This is why the peacemaker occupies a major part of His sermon on the Mount called 'The Beatitudes', Matt 5:1-9.
Yesterday, we started by looking at two cues on how to settle disputes.
Today, in furtherance of Jesus's word
we will look at four more attributes of peacemaking.
First, make sure you are in a good position to settle disputes. Be wise!
Old age is not wisdom. Greatness, riches, influence are not wisdom, Job 12:20, 32:7, 9.
Of a truth, a poor youth can be wiser, Eccl 4:13, so also a poor wise man (presumably of age), Eccl 9:15.
Ask God for special God-given abilities to settle disputes.
There are God-given abilities to settle disputes, and these people provide safety when consulted, Prov 11:14. People who appreciate their counsel are safe, Prov 11:14.
People who do not obey their counsels perish, Prov 29:1.
Whether you agree or not to their counsel, peacemakers are blessed before God, Matt 5:9.
Second, let the guilty know his guilt and repent. Let the offended be pacified. Persuading the offender to apologize is good, but do not force it.
A good-hearted person will apologize and repent from the heart.
While it is important that the offender apologizes and apology is recommended for the purpose of reconciliation (ref Matt 5:25), apologies or regrets have often been abused. Why it may not be the root solution to a dispute is because of the state of the heart, Jer 17;9.
People can appear to regret their action but remain most dangerous, 2 Cor 7:10.
Third, advocate peace and the fear of God in both parties.
Let both parties, especially the guilty know that God sees all things and let the offended know as written by the Apostle Peter; *For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.*, 1 Pet 2:20.
There are things we take, not because we are fools but because we are wise.
Fourth, beware of favor's and gifts.
If you are disposed to one of the parties because of the favor you get from him/her, you can not judge righteously, Exd 23:8, Deut 16:19, Is 5:23, Prov 17:23.
In general, to those who like offenses, let us live in peace.
Though Jesus says offenses shall come, you do not have to be a cause of offenses. There is a curse from Jesus to offenders. Lk 17:1 *Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!*
Stop starting, igniting, or escalating offenses. Stop evil and do not participate in it, Exd 23:2.
Broker peace, if possible, be at peace with all men, encourage reconciliation, Rom 12:18
When called to settle a dispute, do it wisely. If unwisely done, there will be consequences that can be unpleasant.
*Remorse corner.*
Forgiveness is key to any Christian, but parties to a dispute, especially people at fault, must know that when you lose good people through a dispute, you may not get the real and good people you lost in them again.
*Call to Word action.*
Every true mediator to a crisis is wise
Eccl 9:16 *Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength:...."*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Be careful. Do not cause more trouble than the one brought to you for a solution.
*Prayer.*
Lord, help me with God-given gifts to settle disputes amicably in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day.
God bless you.
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