We would probably all acknowledge that not every Christian is easy to get along with. Sometimes it is personalities that collide. Sometimes unforgiveness enters the picture. Two people often have vastly different perspective on matters of importance. Others are just walking down a painful road, and we are unaware of how difficult it is for them. Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). The New Living Translation renders this, “making allowances for each other’s faults.” Living together in the community of faith carries with it the responsibility of getting along when it’s difficult. From this text in Ephesians 4 and a sister passage in Colossians 3, I see seven ways we can bear with one another in Love.
1. Always Start with Yourself: Be Completely Humble. Three times Peter reminds his readers to be humble (1 Peter 3:8, 5:5,6). As someone who is not perfect, I can treat another imperfect person with respect.
2. Treat Others As You Want to Be Treated: Be Gentle. The Golden Rule reminds us that we should be treating others gently, as we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12). Francis de Sales said, “Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”
3. Give The Other Person Some Time: Be Patient. When we are tempted to be impatient with others, we should remember how patient Jesus has been with us. Paul says that we should be clothed with patience (Colossians 3:12-13).
4. You Do Not Know the Pain of Others: Be Compassionate (Colossians 3:12). Our experiences in life impact who we are and how we relate to others. It helps us to realize that we do not know the whole story of the person with whom we may be having trouble getting along.
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6. You May Have to Let Some Things Go: Be Forgiving. In Colossians 3:13, Paul reveals the measure of forgiving others when he writes, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Contemplating our own forgiveness from the Lord reminds us how much we need to forgive others.
7. You May have to Try Harder: Make Every Effort. Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Bearing with one another takes a deliberate effort – and it is worth the effort!
Bearing with one another can be a challenge, but it is a part of our calling. If you have difficulty bearing with the faults of others in your church or family, remember that someone else is doing their best to bear with you in love.
John Dobbs
