Can’t We Get Along?

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: (Philippians 2:14 KJV)

Really?  All things? Without grumbling or begrudging? Without debating or disputing? Surely our Lord didn’t mean Christians should do . . . exactly what Paul wrote, did He?

Maybe it has something to do with the previous verse:

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13 KJV)

When we are working God’s will, how can we be murmuring or disputing with others working His will? Aren’t those our brothers and sisters in Christ?

Suppose we run across someone we can determine through biblical examples and verses that God’s will is not being followed? Should we murmur about them and dispute with them? Actually, I can’t find a good biblical example of our Lord doing more than quoting scripture.

Think of His answers to Satan:

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4 KJV)

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. (Matthew 4:7 KJV)

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Matthew 4:10 KJV)

So, if there should be murmurings and disputes, perhaps we should be quoting scripture, too:

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35 KJV)

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. (1 Thessalonians 4:9 KJV)

Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (1 Peter 1:22 KJV)

Peter continues with this thought:

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (1 Peter 3:8-11 KJV)

I need these reminders as I face some murmurings and disputes that contain no brotherly love. When these touch one of my loved ones, the temptation is deep to forget that love is the basis of all God’s commandments:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40 KJV)

Love. The foundation upon which God has built His kingdom, the goal He sets before us and the goal I seek to attain. I need reminding. Thanks be to God that His Spirit provides that, too:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26 KJV)