Being a Peacemaker

‘For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder.’ James 3:16

Paul wrote: ‘Live in harmony by showing love for each other. Be united in what you think, as if you were only one person. Don’t be jealous or proud but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves.’ Negative conflict causes problems. When we think too much of ourselves, our relationships become full of comparing and competing. 

When conflicts happen, we need to respond to it with love, humility and selflessness. We should aim to live in harmony. When God prompts us to ‘turn the other cheek’ or be the first to apologise or put someone else’s needs above our own, he gives the grace and wisdom to do it:

‘The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others… those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness’ (James 3:17-18).

Conflict that’s rooted in selfishness and jealousy needs to be avoided. Instead, we should try to be peacemakers.

Isaac Williams
Assistant Chaplain – Wyvern House