Understanding Godly Interactions
When we work to get an understanding, it will enable us
to effectively interact with one another. Sometimes we come in
contact with people who we feel have major issues. We all have issues, but our issues diminish the more we submit
ourselves to God. We may feel that a person who has been molested or
subjected to some other form of cruelty should have gotten over it after a
certain amount of time. We may think to ourselves, isn’t 30 years long
enough to get over that? The old adage that time heals all wounds is
simply not true. A person will go to their grave with the same issue
if they fail to confront and deal with
it. The Bible tells us that those of us who are strong should bear the
infirmities of the weak. In some cases, we need to empathize with what people have been
through in their life. Then you will need to understand the psychology and physiology behind their trauma in
order to be familiar with the known effects of what they have experienced.
Then you can understand the reason why they behave the way that they do
and can effectively minister to them.
Laying hands and sending people on
their way will not solve most issues. Something has to be done on the part of the individual in order to
become free of their issues.
In some cases, the individual has to be made aware that the
trauma that they have suffered has had a severe
negative impact on them and their behavior and they have to acknowledge it before they can begin to heal. Various people will handle
the same issue differently. One woman who has been raped will develop
a strong hatred for men. No man regardless of how well he treats
her will gain her trust. Every man will have to pay for what one
individual has done. Another woman who is the victim of rape will become promiscuous because there may be a distorted sense of pleasure that is
associated with the violation that
has occurred. Still, yet another woman will blame herself and believe that she was deserving of the mistreatment that she has experienced and that she
should not expect to ever be treated
with any amount of dignity and respect. All of these women have
responded negatively to the same act but each woman’s response was completely different. Since
people respond to the same things differently, we cannot use a generic solution for everyone. We
need to first pray concerning the person that we are dealing with and for the
proper solution to effectively minister to them. Then we will need to
familiarize ourselves with the issue
that the individual is dealing with. A thorough understanding is
needed to ensure that we give the proper attention to the person without making
ignorant and damaging statements. Although this journey through life
is a personal one, we do not travel it alone. We are
constantly encouraged to fellowship
with one another and come together in unity.
In all your getting, get understanding.
The Bible tells us that it is good when brothers dwell
together in unity. Science has proven that when we develop a bond and a strong relationship with people,
we take on each other’s characteristics and traits. You may notice that
if you are around a person long enough, the two of you will utter the same
sentence or words at the same time. Some women who live together and have
a strong bond have been known for their menstrual cycle to line up with one
another. Many times, we suffer from the
can’t help its; either because of the things
that we allow into our lives or the company that we keep. I heard
someone mention recently that whenever you are dealing with some issue in
particular, take inventory of what you
are watching on television and what music you are listening to. In
addition, you have to be cautious of ALL
of your affiliations. If none
of your closest friends are saved, something
is wrong with your salvation.
We draw closest to those with
whom we have more in common with.
The PRACTICE of salvation is more important than the PROFESSION
of salvation.
