Confront and Support

Conflict in the workplace, ministry, or even marriage is inevitable because you are working closely with one another. God has wired each of us with different personalities that can view circumstances differently. One person can see a situation and conclude something totally different from another.

There are times when differences and conflicts in the workplace just cannot be resolved. It doesn’t mean that one person or the other is evil or sinful. It just means that the difference of opinion or the personality clash has no solution. After John Mark had disappointed Paul once before, Paul didn’t want to give him another chance even though Barnabas wanted John Mark to join them on a later journey. In the end, Paul and Barnabas agreed to disagree about including John Mark, and they parted company.

There’s a postscript to this story. In 2 Timothy 4:11, Paul wrote from his prison cell in Rome and told Timothy that Mark had been helpful to Paul in his ministry. Sometime after the disagreement between Paul and Barnabas, John Mark redeemed himself and became a valued partner in Paul’s ministry. In fact, as Paul faced execution in Rome, he wanted his friend John Mark at his side.

Whenever there is disagreement, make sure you maintain the support of the person even while you disagree with their position. Avoid personal attacks and implying the motive behind someone else’s position. This will allow you to disagree and still maintain a relationship.

Question: Is there someone with whom you have a conflict? How can you demonstrate the hope of Christ in this situation?

Father, help me handle conflict while still supporting the relationship.