Dear Sisters/Brothers,
I have been going through a storm(s), that have beatin me a bit. My Spirit and my Heart was wounded, and the feeling exhausted me Mentally and Emotionally/Spritually. I found myself in the middle/crossfire, of Christianity and business/principal. I found it hard as the person involved is Church Family, and a relative as well. The business side of me operates by principal and someones word. The Christian part of me found that there is a fine line between acting upon an action that was not very Christian like by the person, as well as they didn't keep their word. They hurt my Heart as well as business, as I was counting on them, trusting in them/their word/agreement. I took what they said to Heart and was offended by their actions, and words. We sometimes have the tendency to treat others as they treat us, to argue/slur/fight back. They had thrown some slurs, brought up things that had nothing to do with business/their obligation or the actually situation/circumstance. At that point, I took majority of what they said personal and there for acted upon my feelings/hurt and touched the border of treating them back as they treated me verses how God wants/tells/expects us to. I have learned that sometimes it is best not to work with Family/Friends/Church Family, and it is hard to operate business in a Christian way when others are involved. I do fine when I operate my business without a partner other than God, He is my partner/president in charge, He makes it all happen I only assist Him. I try to operate the way He wants--Gods way, and found that even in business we need to be equally yoked. I thank God, and my Pastor for helping me to look at all in a Christian way, and doing what I was expected to as a Christian as a final result. We need to think WHAT WOULD JESUS DO, when we are put into a situation! Below I have copied the Bible Study that I was studying that morning prior to my situation it rang a bell that morning, as allot of what is stated below had been going on in the prior weeks that led up to the situation, please take what I have wrote, and the study as advice and think/act with caution. We should be Honest in all ways to all, even in business. Disagreements can arise by opinions/thoughts as most of us have different opinions/versions of who/how/why/what/when, etc...
Proverbs 26:20-22 (KJV): 20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Proverbs 26:20-22 (AMP): 20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases. 21 As coals are to hot embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man to inflame strife. 22 The words of a whisperer or slanderer are like dainty morsels or words of sport (to some, but to others are like deadly wounds): and they go down into the innermost parts of the body (or of the victim's nature). Thoughts for the Day These verses from Proverbs Proverbs 22:10 (KJV): 10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Businesses and churches could avoid a lot of problems in their environment if they heeded this advice. Of course, before the party was dismissed, they should first be approached about repenting when they have been caught lying or gossiping about others. However, after talking to them and warning them about their actions, one should follow through with some kind of disciplinary action. Some Christians are deceived into believing that in the name of love, we should continue to put up with people who are trouble-makers. People who are slanderers make fun of others behind their backs and some people who like gossip will treat their words as "dainty morsels" or "words of sport." However, the victims can be severely wounded from these verbal assaults according to Verse 22. The Lord gives instructions about dealing with those who are sinning against others in the church. The first line of action is to try to win the brother or sister by going to them alone and speaking the truth in love. If they refuse to hear us, then we are to take two or three witnesses and confront them again. If they refuse again, then their sin is to be made known to the whole church (the pastor should be involved in this part of the process). If they again refuse to repent, the church is to no longer offer them Christian fellowship. Gossiping and tale bearing should be among the sins that are dealt with in this manner.
Matthew 18:15-17 (KJV): 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican.
People in the workplace should be first warned by their superiors, and then fired, if they continue stirring up strife by continually bad mouthing others. This kind of discipline should always be administered in a fair and just manner, and not based on personality differences. Firing someone should be a last resort, but a necessary one, as a little leaven will leaven the whole lump. Reaching out to help and correct, is the first thing we should try in our businesses and our churches. However, if this is not received, firmer methods must be used; if not, "the one bad apple in the barrel will cause the others to rot." God deals with His own children in like manner. Although God is very merciful, kind, and patient, He must then deal with persistent rebellion in a stronger manner to prevent a greater ill from coming upon us. He will also deal with the one who is making it difficult on all of the rest of His children. At some point He will discipline and cut off the one, for the purpose of sparing the whole. He does this for the greater good of His entire church.
Romans 11:21-22 (KJV): 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. Here are Paul's instructions to the church at Corinth in regard to a man who was sinning in the church. 1 Corinthians 5:6-11(KJV): 6 About the condition of your church] your boasting is not good [indeed, it is most unseemly and entirely out of place]. Do you not know that [just] a little leaven will ferment the whole lump [of dough]? 7 Purge (clean out) the old leaven that you may be fresh (new) dough, still uncontaminated [as you are], for Christ, our Passover [Lamb], has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of vice and malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened [bread] of purity (nobility, honor) and sincerity and [unadulterated] truth. 9 I wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate [closely and habitually] with unchaste (impure) people--10 Not [meaning of course that you must] altogether shun the immoral people of this world, or the greedy graspers and cheats and thieves or idolaters, since otherwise you would need to get out of the world and human society altogether! 11 But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.
Proverbs 22:10 (KJV): 10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Corinthians 5:6-11(KJV): 6 About the condition of your church] your boasting is not good [indeed, it is most unseemly and entirely out of place]. Do you not know that [just] a little leaven will ferment the whole lump [of dough]? 7 Purge (clean out) the old leaven that you may be fresh (new) dough, still uncontaminated [as you are], for Christ, our Passover [Lamb], has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of vice and malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened [bread] of purity (nobility, honor) and sincerity and [unadulterated] truth. 9 I wrote you in my [previous] letter not to associate [closely and habitually] with unchaste (impure) people--10 Not [meaning of course that you must] altogether shun the immoral people of this world, or the greedy graspers and cheats and thieves or idolaters, since otherwise you would need to get out of the world and human society altogether! 11 But now I write to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of [Christian] brother if he is known to be guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater [whose soul is devoted to any object that usurps the place of God], or is a person with a foul tongue [railing, abusing, reviling, slandering], or is a drunkard or a swindler or a robber. [No] you must not so much as eat with such a person.
The Lord gives instructions about dealing with those who are sinning against others in the church. The first line of action is to try to win the brother or sister by going to them alone and speaking the truth in love. If they refuse to hear us, then we are to take two or three witnesses and confront them again. If they refuse again, then their sin is to be made known to the whole church (the pastor should be involved in this part of the process). If they again refuse to repent, the church is to no longer offer them Christian fellowship. Gossiping and tale bearing should be among the sins that are dealt with in this manner.
God Bless You,
GODS SERVANT
