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Oct 10, 2024 06:00am

Agree to Disagree

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See, there’s this beautiful red stove. We spent several years deciding if we should buy it or not. And we finally agreed, yes! We discussed how cozy it would be snuggled up in front of the fire on a winter night. Dreamy, right?

To this day, that stove has never had a fire in it.

I thought we were both on the same page. I thought we were just waiting for the right moment to break it in. But apparently, what I thought was wrong.

He says it’s for emergencies only. I disagree.

Are we still married? Haha yes! Do we still love each other? Yes! Do we still like each other? Yes!

Maybe one day there will be a fire blazing in that stove…

People are going to disagree, would you agree?

It happens. We can’t all be on the same page all the time. We each have different perspectives and opinions that factor into our decisions, and those don’t always align with others.

Right now, you’re probably thinking about a disagreement you had with someone. They often end in frustration, anger, animosity towards one another, resentment, and unforgiveness.

But it doesn’t have to.

You can agree to disagree. You go your way, and I’ll go mine.

Acts 15:36-41
“And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.”

Paul and Barnabas were missionaries, traveling together for years preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. They agreed on many things and were a great team. But when they decided to return to some of the churches they had visited before, they had a disagreement.

Barnabas wanted to take his nephew John Mark. Paul did not. At an earlier time, John Mark had been with the pair and, for some unknown reasons, had left them in the middle of their journey. Paul felt strongly about him not returning with them, but Barnabas felt just as strongly about including him.

The disagreement was so significant that the pair decided to split up.

You go your way, and I’ll go mine.

But, even though they disagreed, the work continued. Barnabas took John Mark and sailed to Cyprus. Paul took Silas and headed to the churches as planned.

Our disagreements don’t stop the will or the work of God. His name will continue to be preached and shared no matter what. What was going to be one missionary journey was now two. These two men took someone with whom they could disciple and do ministry. And both men would be instrumental in the advancement of the Kingdom of God.

The question is, when disagreements come, are we going to choose to quit? Will we allow anger and resentment to take over? Or will we agree to disagree and continue with the work God has given us?

“Love one another, even as I have loved you.” – John 13:34

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:2-3