HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 75
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macy, and depth of relationship; or it can bring anger, bitterness, and broken relationships. How you deal with conflict will literally shape the direction of your life.
How does conflict start?
• 2 SA MU E L 1 5 :6 -1 2 | Absalom . . . stole the hearts of all the people. . . . And the conspiracy
gained momentum. (See note on page 285.)
Conflict begins when you aren’t getting what you want so you confront someone to try to
get it. You want someone’s behavior to be different, you want your way on some issue, you
want to win, you want some possession, you want someone’s loyalty. The list can go on
and on. When the other person isn’t willing to give you what you want, you find yourself in
conflict that can sometimes lead to open warfare.
• A C T S 1 5 :3 9 | Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated.
Conflict begins when two opposing viewpoints are not willing to find common ground.
• E ST H E R 3 :2 -6 | But Mordecai refused to bow. . . . [Haman] was filled with rage. . . . He
decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. . . . He looked for a way to
destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire.
Conflict begins when your pride is hurt and you seek revenge.
• R O MA NS 7 :2 2 -2 3 | I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within
me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still
within me.
Those who follow Christ experience conflict within themselves between the old sinful
nature and the new spiritual nature.
• MAT T H E W 2 3 :2 3 -2 4 | “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you
Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your
herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy,
and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. Blind
guides!”
There are times when you must actually initiate conflict in order to speak for truth and
justice. Jesus confronted the Pharisees not only for their hypocritical behavior, but also
because of their destructive influence as teachers and leaders.
What are some ways to resolve conflict?
• G E NE SI S 1 3 :8 -9 | Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or
our herdsmen. . . . Take your choice of any section of the land.”
Solving conflict takes initiative; someone must make the first move. Abram gave Lot first
choice, putting family peace above personal desires.
• G E NE SI S 2 6 :2 1 -2 2 | Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute
over it. . . . [He] dug another well. This time there was no dispute.
Solving conflict takes humility, a desire to see peace more than personal victory.
• 2 SA MU E L 3 :1 | That was the beginning of a long war between those who were loyal to
Saul and those loyal to David. (See note on page 275.)
Solving conflict involves compromise, finding common ground that is bigger than your
differences. If neither side is willing to take the initiative or show the necessary humility
to seek common ground, conflict will result in a broken relationship or even war.
• NU MB E R S 1 2 :1 -2 | Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite
woman. They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through
us, too?” (See note on page 133.)
Solving conflict requires that we focus on the real issue. We focus only on resolving the
problem, not attacking the person.
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Conflict begins when good confronts evil. The two cannot peacefully coexist. One must
triumph.
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• R O MA NS 7 :1 9 | I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong,
but I do it anyway. (See note on page 1018.)