September 5 – Getting Along

Proverbs 16: 7    (NLT)

“When people’s lives please the Lord,
    even their enemies are at peace with them.”

I found this verse intriguing.  When I please the Lord, my life will reflect His values.  So how does that keep peace in my life with the folks around me who might see me as competition, or someone to ‘knock out of their way’ for whatever reason?  Let’s take a look at a few examples of God’s characteristics and how we might reflect them.

God is forgiving, so that means I should be a forgiving person too.  So if I’m a person who doesn’t carry grudges, and if people know when they make a mistake, I won’t hold it against them forever – I think they will likely be able to get along with me more than if  I tend to hold everyone to account all the time.

God is loving, so that means I should be known as a loving, caring person. If I have a reputation for caring about the people around me in my family, my neighbourhood, at work or wherever – then I think they will likely be able to get along with me most of the time.  At the least, they aren’t likely to pick a fight with me over something because they know most people see me as a nice person.

God doesn’t value “stuff” above everything else.  There are many verses in Proverbs that mention that good judgment or kind words are better than silver or gold.  If people I come in contact with realize that I’m not placing getting ahead financially or acquiring a large home, or whatever other stuff could be valued as my priority in life, then they will likely find me easier to get along with.  There isn’t that competitive spirit that rubs folks the wrong way.

God is creative.  If I’m the person who is willing to accept others’ ideas, or if I’m the person who loves to come up with new ideas, people are more likely to want me as part of their team.  They know they can count on me to help find solutions to problems or any situations that need some kind of remedy.  Or if I can’t personally come up with the ideas, they know I’ll support those who can. 

God is honest and fair/just.  If people around me know that I tell the truth, and that I care that things are fair; if they know that I’m not just out for my own advantage; if they know they will get a fair hearing on whatever issue – they will feel safe being with me.

See how that works?  Yet, I don’t think it guarantees a 100 % peaceful, serene life.  Look at Jesus; He was God in a human body and what did we do to Him?  Crucified Him – that’s what.  So there are always going to be those people who get angry when they are faced with the values and characteristics of God.   However, I do think that as Christ followers we should be known as “good” people, people who reflect God’s character, and when we do, life does tend to be more peaceful.  

So as I think about this verse today, I’m praying that all of us will figure out the ‘not-God-like’ characteristics we have so that we can work at getting rid of them.  And that 

we will try to make sure our personalities do reflect God to the people in our lives.

Our song for today is The Goodness of God by Bethel Music.