Which of These 3 Categories Best Describes You?

I wonder how much grief we'd avoid if we truly tried to see things from other people's perspectives. I'm not talking about accepting people's false biblical beliefs. That's never a good thing.

But it's easy to slip into a mindset where we magnify negatives, misunderstand motives, and ignore extenuating circumstances. 

I don't want to put people in a box, but I think there are three general categories:

1. Prickly people, who are genuinely hard to get along with because they refuse correction and most of the time they behave selfishly.

2. Normal people, who are growing in their faith. They still struggle with selfishness and immaturity, but they're learning, and they accept correction.

3. Abnormally nice people who have matured in their faith and rarely act selfishly.

Most of us fall into category #2, and if we want to be in category #3, we need to:

1. Give others the benefit of the doubt if we're unsure about a situation (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

2. Give others grace and forgiveness when they fail, knowing we also fail at times (Ephesians 4:32).

3. Acknowledge our sins and admit when we're being selfish (1 John 1:9). 

Jesus summed it up this way:
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12

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For more insights:

Are You Proving Your Faith in Family Relationships?

In many ways, these relationships are the "proving ground" of our faith. 

Difficult Relationships: Important for Our Growth

We aren't in heaven yet, and this life provides challenges to help us mature in our faith. 

Bridges or Boundaries?

If we want to grow spiritually, we'll learn how to deal with challenging relationships.

I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. And find out about the two free Bible studies with purchase HERE. You can read the first four devotions in the book by clicking "look inside" on Lifeway or Amazon. In addition, you can buy the book in Kindle format on Amazon and as an ebook on other sites.

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