Seeing Eye to Eye
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2000
Seeing Eye to Eye
Proverbs 16:2, "All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the
LORD weigheth the spirits."
Our point of view upon matters of right and wrong, is tremendously
important; but, the rightness or wrongness of our spirit is of greater
importance.
It is the finite, imperfect knowledge and understanding of man that is
many times behind seeing things differently than our neighbor, brother,
sister, or fellow church attendee. Oh, yes, it is also true that many
disagreements and disputes are fueled by pride, bigotry, envy, jealousy,
hatred, and other sinful motivations.
It is God Who knows perfectly whether our disagreement or dispute is due
to ignorance or errors in thinking (that is on our part, on the part of our
opponent in dispute, or on both parts). He also knows perfectly whether it
is due to wrongness of spirit. Furthermore, God knows whether one may be
legitimately contending for what is right but with a wrong spirit and vice
versa.
It is the eternal, self-existent God, Who knows the condition of man's
heart. He knows the motives, and understands the "spirit" or attitude that
we have about something. He knows whether one's spirit is right, while
one's thinking may be wrong. He knows too when one's spirit is wrong,
though his thinking may seem impeccable. Though it is advisable to be as
right as we possibly can be in our thinking, it is absolutely essential to
make sure that our spirit (attitude and motive) is right in the sight of
God.
Therefore, I say that whether we see eye to eye is not so crucial as
having a charitable, agreeable disposition. We are more likely to help
(even to persuade) someone by having a right spirit than by having a right
argument. Also, such a right "spirit" will help us to be more willing to
listen attentively to those who oppose our own position. Why, we may
actually become open-minded enough to see that what we thought was right was
really wrong.
Last, but not least, we would do well to let God be the Judge or
"weigher" of spirits; since we know that we could be mistaken. It would be
far better to be a little too easy on others than to be too hard. God, Who
knows the worst about us, has had the most mercy upon us. Shouldn't we aim
to be merciful to others?
"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and
mercy rejoiceth against judgment." (James 2:12, 13)
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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