| Our verse to DATE the Word on March 8 (3/8) is 1 Peter 3:8 |
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| 1 Peter 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.” HOW TO GET ALONG WITH OTHERS Teddy Roosevelt once said, “The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.” While I agree with Mr. Roosevelt, I also have this quote: To live above, with saints we love, that will be glory. To live below, with the saints we know, that’s quite a different story! Getting along with others is ……. How do you finish the sentence? I doubt any of you are answering with the word EASY. Getting along with others is….CHALLENGING. Can be difficult. Can be excruciating. We know that getting along with others is challenging simply because of how many books have been written to help us. For instance, Dale Carnegie wrote, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” in 1936 and it is still being sold. (I would add that it is a must-read for every teenager.) Dr. John Maxwell has sold millions of books to help leaders lead and some of the top sellers are on the subject of becoming a people person! In Steven Covey’s book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, 3 of the habits focus on PEOPLE SKILLS. There is no question that we all need help with getting along with others. Do you want some help on getting along with others and not having to go buy a $20 book (and then read it) or go to an all-day seminar paying $225 to learn to play nice? Well, we have the help we need in our verse for the date of March 8 (3/8). Let’s read it again (and maybe save you some money!) Peter says in 1 Peter 3:8 “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.” When I was a Campus Pastor at Liberty University, I would have posters made with this verse to have put in every Residence Hall room. At some point, every room had a conflict. In seeking to HELP ROOMMATES get along we placed 1 Peter 3:8 before their eyes. We also used Ephesians 4:32 which said, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” What can we learn from 1 Peter 3:8? 1. Be of the same mind. We must be unified. There has to be UNITY in the UNIT. As Christians, we are ALL on the same team. Like a football team, we DIFFER in assignments and roles but we are ALL on the same team. Like a great orchestra, we play different instruments but we play the same song. 2. Be compassionate – caring for each other – lifting one another up 3. Be loving as bothers. It has the idea of having the other person’s back. And never forget that the time a person needs love the most is when they deserve it the least. 4. Be tenderhearted. This has the idea of seeking to understand. 5. Be courteous to one another. The idea is to always be RESPECTFUL. Treat each person with dignity. 6. Add Kindness from Ephesians 4:32. Kindness is active goodwill. 7. Add Forgiveness from Ephesians 4:32. Forgiveness is the glue that holds all relationships together. As Christ forgave you forgive. While the books can be helpful, I can tell you that the best guidance for how to get along is found in 1 Peter 3:8. With the addition of Ephesians 4:32 and Philippians 2:4 that tells us to esteem others better than ourselves and look out for the interest of others before looking out for ourselves we have the essential ingredients to GETTING ALONG WITH EACH OTHER. The challenge is….no, it is not the other person. The challenge is with us. The challenge is PUTTING INTO ACTION 1 Peter 3:8. When we humble ourselves and start practicing these instructions we will start seeing better results in our relationships! Verse to DATE the Word on March 8 (3/8) is 1 Peter 3:8. It says, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.” Continue strong getting along with others, And remember to DATE THE WORD |
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