Bringing Your Disagreements Home
"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18 NIV). "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV).
I was commanded by the Lord to write this article after He gave us a revelation last week. This week's article will be brief and to the point. I pray we open our spiritual discernment and learn what the Lord is trying to teach us here.
Generally, life is not stress-free or free from quarrels and disagreements. This often takes place when there is an association or interaction. Furthermore, I have observed that, as people, our perceptions are often aligned with our experiences and emotional dispositions. Therefore, when that happens, it determines how we react to situations in general, and this cuts across cultural barriers. Therefore, what I'm trying to say is this: we would naturally side with people we love or are emotionally attached to, or even when we associate with, or if we don't want to feel out or be ostracised, disregarding even the disputed truth (Exodus 23:2).
As we know, in every quarrel or disagreement, the truth of the matter is being considered. Thus, the parties to the dispute will express strong views for or against the truth, and the 'emotionally wounded' party often takes the matter in dispute home and shares it with family, conveying his or her emotional appreciation of the matter and so creating a biased view in his or her support, leaving a dangerous one-sided opinion that has the potential of creating hateful feelings which is causing others to stumble and even corroding their priceless salvation.
Don't Encourage Family To Hate Or Dislike Those Who Oppose You
A few months ago, a pastor friend and colleague of mine worked on a car of an elderly man who is a pensioner. He explained to us that he would not be able to afford the price we charged him, and that he was willing to repay us in terms. I agreed to the lesser amount and the terms he was offering, as we had his car, but my colleague sharply disagreed with me on both, which led him to harass me.
As it was, I rebuked him while reminding him of his ministry duty towards the elderly and the poor in the community (1 Timothy 5:1; Proverbs 19:17). After the word of correction I gave him, the elderly man paid us, and I texted him more than once to come fetch his share of the money without any reply from him until the day about a few weeks ago that I sadly learned of his passing.
Now, Brethren, the Lord has given us full permission to write about him, and some children of God might learn from this and escape dying with unforgiveness. The Lord revealed to us that he took our quarrel home to his wife and others, thus poisoning them negatively about me (Not that I'm more concerned about myself), and so generating hateful feelings in his family for others.
Thus, in an open vision to my wife, Desiree, and in an audible voice, my pastor friend and colleague, in a place of torment, spoke to my wife to ask me to forgive him, which I did while he was still alive.
In conclusion, Brethren, we should be careful what we take home to feed our families spiritually. We know that our mishappenings and quarrels with others affect them emotionally and spiritually. Even if we share with our families our daily struggles, we need to do so with clear intentions in the absence of ill feelings and to teach them to bear with others and to maintain a spirit of forgiveness. We should guard against being a stumbling block to our own families and encourage truthfulness, purity of heart, and tolerance for others (Romans 12:9-21).
Blessed Regards
Brother Glenn
