Go To Them, (but it's their problem)

 I am not inspired to write today, but nearly every person who teaches about writing says that if you are going to be a better writer that you have to write, even when you don't feel inspired. This is where I am today. I have lit my candle, a subtle reminder to myself that I need to focus on writing and here I am. I am going to look through my notes on possible subjects for humorous/ironic Bible thoughts and we will see where it goes...

As I write this I am preparing a message for Sunday about the root cause for murder. It is our attitudes and what is in our hearts. In Matthew 5:21-26, Jesus talks about how our words and deeds will get us in trouble with the courts but it's what's in our hearts that gets us in trouble with God. 

In the middle of this discussion on murder and attitudes, Jesus says if "Your brother has something against you...go and be reconciled to your brother." What stands out to me here is that it doesn't say if you have done something wrong, which is actually covered in verses 25-26, but if the other person is offended. This puts the responsibility on us when the person with the attitude problem is someone else. This just doesn't seem fair. It's their problem after all, right? Not according to Jesus.

If someone has something against us even when we are innocent, we have a responsibility. God doesn't want just us to be right with him but others also. We are our brother's keeper. The selfish motive is if you resolve the issue the chances of being murdered are reduced, even if it's just killing our reputation. 

I will mention here there are people in our lives that if we go to them it will make everything worse, then I believe God would not want us to go. This is where I agree with AA's step 9, "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."  There are people who if we go to them will actually make them even angrier, so going to them would cause them to sin more, therefore we shouldn't do something which would cause them to sin.

Yes, it would be easy to say, that's their problem, but it's not that way in the kingdom of God. I think this is ironic and a little funny especially if you think about it this way: You want not to be murdered? then try and have a good relationship with those around you. Yes it seems obvious, but we don't always do it, which is ironic.