In my “Spiritual Parenting 2018” series, I mention in Habit 4 (Be Disciplining) that “there will be conflicts”. This inspired me to dig up a lesson I did for a Single Men’s training program a few years ago. How we resolve conflict affects our unity as a brotherhood, forgiveness in our marriages, and repentance in our relationships. My lesson is presented in a series of blog posts to follow.
So let’s get started, with a passage that describes several types of conflict: 2 Timothy 2:14-26.
14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth
2 Timothy 2:14-15, 20, 23-26 New International Version (NIV)
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.
23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
The context of this passage is Paul instructing Timothy on how to handle certain conflicts that had arisen in his ministry due to false teachers. While confronting false teaching is the main point, Paul mentions several types of conflict as he shares his thoughts:
- 2 Tim 2:14 “quarreling about words”, which may result from differences of opinion
- 2 Tim 2:15 “correctly handling the truth”, or dealing with disputes about scriptures and godly living
- 2 Tim 2:20 “gold and silver, wood and clay”, or arguments about what is good vs. bad, or right vs. wrong
- 2 Tim 2:23 “foolish and stupid arguments”, which Paul says are things not worth arguing about
- 2 Tim 2:25 “repentance, leading them to a knowledge of the truth”, which is dealing with sin and sinful behavior
Other conflicts are mentioned throughout the Bible, but the ones mentioned in this passage in 2 Timothy are a good list for us to study.
Ask: what kinds of conflict are you dealing with in your relationships? friends, marriage, family, work, church?
Practicals:
- Pray about the top conflicts you have in your life, and for those involved in those conflicts.
- Find other scriptures that mention conflicts. Who was involved? What were the main issues? Were they similar to what Paul listed in 2 Timothy 2? How was the conflict resolved? How was God involved in the conflict and it’s resolution?