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Loving Someone You Can't Stand

From today’s Montana Street bulletin, comes the following above titled article, written by Brother Alan Smith, minister for the Helen Street congregation in Fayetteville, North Carolina:

Doctor: “I see you’re over a month late for your appointment. Don’t you know that nervous disorders require prompt and regular attention:? What’s your excuse?”

Patient: “I was just following your orders, Doc.”

Doctor: “Following my orders? What are you talking about? I gave you no such order.”

Patient: “You told me to avoid people who irritate me.”

Unfortunately, we don’t always have the option of avoiding people who irritate, people who hurt us, people who offend us. In fact, sometimes those who irritate us the most are found right in our home (or in our church building). So, how should we deal with them?

Milton Jones has written a wonderful book entitled, “How To Love Someone You Can’t Stand,” which I highly recommend.

In his book, Jones lists six godly principles which are derived from Romans 12.

• Manage your mouth …. Bless and don’t curse (Romans 12:14).

• Put yourself in the other person’s place and try to understand their feelings, thought and position (Romans 12:15).

• Never, never, never take revenge (Romans 12:17).

• Plan ahead to do something beautiful (Romans 12:17).

• Don’t just win the war, win the peace (Romans 12:18).

• Make room for God (Romans 12:19).

The bottom line, is that we do not overcome evil with evil, by retaliating and seeking to “get even.” The only way to overcome evil, is with good (Romans 12:21). It is never easy to respond to those who do us wrong in a way that is godly. A godly response can only be accomplished by following the example of Jesus Christ — only then, can we truly have an influence on the world around us.

Peter provides us with these closing thoughts in 1 Peter 2:20-21 NASB:

“For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps.”