Life skills to achieve harmony

July 23, 2021 (Friday0

 

As a follower of Jesus, I understand the need to balance the external with the inner being. We often have trouble with the distinction and tend to judge on the external. The reality is more complicated.

 

It is possible to be a follower of Jesus, yet have not matured toward some (if any) external skills. It is possible to have external sales, yet not be a true follower of Jesus. It is possible to be internally dying spiritually, yet have every form of godliness. I wish I could give you advice about understanding this situation…

 

Paul on the other hand identified some external skills in Colossians 3:12, “Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” [CEB] He uses the expression “put on” like clothing. He does this in context of Jesus, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” [Romans 13:14 ESV] In a sense, these two verses are mirror images.

 

On one hand, there is provision for the flesh. On the other hand, there are skills that propel the follower of Jesus away from selfishness. The skills of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are direct counters to selfishness. Rather than feed the desires of the flesh we focus on the need and good of others.

 

Paul continues, “Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other.” [Colossians 3:13 CEB] The idea of being tolerant means we “make allowance for each other’s faults.” [NLT] I like to think of it this way, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” [2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV] As clay jars clicking together going down the road of life, we tend to acquire a chip or crack or two. So, give each other grace for our faults because we are basically crack(ed) pots anyway.

 

There is a faulty thought that roams the church. Remember when Jesus said, “love your neighbor as yourself?” Here’s the problem; Jesus was answer a question from the Old Testament. The individual should never be the standard, Jesus is always the standard. In fact, Jesus amends the law stating, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” [John 13:34 ESV] We are not to love others as we love ourselves. We are to love others and Jesus has loved us.

 

Paul tells us how this works, “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” [Colossians 3:14 NLT] The godly life skills that counter selfishly gratifying its desires all are rooted in love.

 

I like the image of “harmony.” In harmony, say like a band, we are not all playing the same instrument or the same notes. When I played in the orchestra, even the same instruments did not play the same notes. Harmony does not mean sameness, it means complementary.

 

Writing the last sentence I had to look up the spelling of “complementary” because there is also a “complimentary.” The spelling without the “I” means “combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each other or another.” [Oxford] Get it?

 

Harmony requires us to give up our fear and love others as Jesus loved (and loves) them.