In opposition

Remember the main point I tried to make last time? It went like this:
If you want to experience the joy and depth of community, you’ve gotta work on unity.
One of the questions I asked specifically was
Where can I make a start pursuing unity?

Let’s start talking about some of the hindrances I’ve encountered on that pursuit and also some hopefully useful suggestions for overcoming them.

When hitting against things like jealousy or prejudice the question I’ve asked myself was: how can I tackle this “in the opposite spirit”…Now, is that another one of those nice little Christian phrases? Maybe, but so much more than that, as I've come to believe. I think it’s at the heart of the message of the cross as Jesus has lived it out for us to learn from. And that it’s to do with living the life of the Spirit rather than giving in to our foolish appetites. I also think that it’s a really good way of learning to become mature children of God, who, whether we like it or not, does discipline us for that purpose.

And all time favourite apostle Paul sums it up nicely when trying to persuade us to “live in accordance with the Spirit” and have our “minds set on what the Spirit desires as the mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace”, This is in Romans 8, verses 5 and 6.

Let me illustrate what it might look like practically – bearing in mind the context we’re focusing on is to do with building unity into our relationships.

Hindrance No 1: being deceived by jealousy
Have you ever found it hard when someone you’re beginning to form meaningful relationship with is seeing success in an area you’ve so far only experienced failure in? Maybe thought they don’t really deserve it? Or contemplated backing off the relationship because it’s just too painful?

A massive killer, isn’t it, to living in unity with them, cause what’s happening is that you’re bound to interpret at least part of your relationship through that lens of feeling jealous. Worse even, you might look at them through it, too. Essentially, what you’ve got is a crack in your relationship, even though you may not be in outright conflict with them.

Well, here’s for some opposite spirit remedy if this is something you’ve ever felt your soul has suffered from:
No 1: Remember, remember, remember and speak out thanks for
all the good things God has invested in you, like your family, your job, your creativity, your athletic ability, your health, your language skills, whatever it may be.
No 2: Invest what’s been invested in you, go out there, be a giver. I promise it’s a soul saver that, as it’s living out of the faith that comes from recognizing God’s blessing and turning that into action. Plus, there’s always the bonus of a double whopper promise made by God (look up Luke 19 or Matthew 25 for the rather fascinating context); that “whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance”.

Apart from that, my strong assumption is this; you’ll start being able to not have to focus on that which your brother or sister (cause that’s what they are!) has or does, but on how you can bless them with what God’s given you.

If jealousy is something you have long tackled in your life, be looking forward to the strategies for hindrances no 2 and 3 ☺