Fretting about the good opinion of other people can paralyze a believer's productivity. Why do we care if the lost, or babes in Christ, or even friends or family see things as we see them? Usually this stems from a fear of man. It involves wrong priorities, and serving the wrong master. If possible, we should live at peace with all men, but sometimes that is easier said than done. If we find ourselves in conflict often, we should find out if we've created a dynamic where people can't approach us to reconcile. Have we proven ourselves to be critical and judgmental, selfish or self-absorbed? If we are 'never really at fault', or if we're only at fault 'because of other people's initial wrongdoing', well....we best expect to find ourselves alienated from others.
No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24
Too often people seek bonding with others on gossip or easy, red-meat issues. "This person is controlled by such and such, I'll get them to like me by bringing that up". Sadly, we can fuel the weaknesses in others by playing that game. We can avoid engaging our own minds on tough issues when we do this.
The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? Ps 118:6
Something else we can too easily do, which undermines our right thinking, is focus on the ONE person who ________ (made a judgmental comment, kept quiet showing their dissatisfaction, didn't attend, didn't say thank you). Why don't we discipline ourselves to look at the blessings? Recall who WAS there, dwell on who WAS understanding, or think of how all your fellow believers treated you. 💕
Perhaps 2021 should be the year to dwell on what God thinks of what we do, and leave other people's opinions to themselves.
Colossians 3
Not Carnality but Christ
1If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
Character of the New Man
12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
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