Title:- Bursting Contentious Bubbles With Math
Acts 15:37-39
Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another.
We should of course contend earnestly for the faith. However, maybe not so earnestly for our own opinions and desires. Extrapolating from our text for today, some say that despite the contention, God was good in any event, as now two missionary teams were being sent out. One team to Cyprus and the other to Syria and then on to Silicia. On the other hand, some say that only Paul was in the right, after all it was he alone who was eventually commended by the brethren to the grace of God for Barnabus had already picked up his ball and sulked off home. Tell me, whom do you think was in the right here and does it matter anyway?
Well, of course it matters. The truth is that this fierce disputation led to many people being hurt and a useful and profitable team being split up and I tell you folks, everywhere Paul went, when his former team mate Barnabus was asked after, Paul would have to explain his absence and recount the unfortunate incident. How very embarrassing!
Ogden Nash the U.S. writer of humorous poetry concludes his poem entitled 'I never even suggested it' by saying “I recommend to you this morale: In real life it takes only one to make a quarrel.” Now that’s worth thinking about!
In any relationship, when your own thoughts and desires come before the other persons, remember this equation.
Pre-determination + insistence = contention and separation.
Listen:- A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city , And contentions are like the bars of a castle. Proverbs 18:19 NKJV
Pray:- Lord, keep me open to Your will. Keep me tuned to Your voice. Lord come blunt my prickly spirit, that I might maintain the unity of Your Holy Spirit in the bond of peace. In Your great name I pray, amen!
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