Certain Members Find it Difficult to Say Anything Positive About Some People or Church Programs

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:33

for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Insights:  Some people have a natural bent toward negativity.  They never see the positive of a situation.  They can usually never even tell you how the situation needs to be fixed.  All they know is they don’t like.  Now there are times, they do give an answer as to how and fix a problem, and it usually has something to do with going back to the way things were.  Some other people, however, do not have a natural bent toward negativity, but their pain clouds their vision toward people and programs to such an extent that they are not capable of seeing the positive aspects of those groups.  In fact, they will begin to go overboard and start inventing things they don’t like about that person or program.  It was no different in Corinth.  Their dysfunction went so great that in chapter eleven we see them getting upset over the attire people were or were not wearing to church.  In chapter eight they a frustrated over the food people are bringing to the potluck dinner.  In this fourteenth chapter they are not pleased with all these people using their gift mix.  Now, in the picture of all eternity does our clothing preference or eating desires really matter?  Not really, but what happens in the life of a church in the midst of a “cold war” is they will focus on anything and everything but what really matters, the Gospel!  We will fuss over carpet.  We will fuss over the greeting time.  We will fuss over the color of the paint.  But we will under no circumstance go and share the love of Jesus with a lost and dying person.  A church in conflict will only see the negative, but Paul admonishes us in Philippians 4:8 to think about these things.  What things are those, well, let’s read Paul’s words, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”  Beloved, think as God would have you think.  Focus your attention on what He is doing and the good He is accomplishing and forsake this negative attitude.

Questions:

1. What is your natural bent toward, being positive or being negative?
2. Are you willing to start small and begin looking for at least one positive aspect in the person with whom you are in conflict?

Prayer: Father, I know that no child of Yours is as evil as I might think they are and I am not as good as I might believe I am.  So, Lord, move within my heart and give me the proper perspective by which to evaluate this life.  Give me Your sight and help me to see with love the positive aspects of other peoples lives.  Amen.