Avoiding Personal Conflict

Scripture Reading - 1 Kings 17:1-51

Key Verse - I Kings 17:30 "and he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner...."

There will be many times today when an opportunity for conflict will confront you. Sometimes the confrontation will come out of the clear blue sky, sometimes you will be able to see it from miles away, and sometimes you will actually invite it. Many lessons can be learned from the great story of David and Goliath. For many, it is one of the favorite passages in the Bible. There are four words found in I Kings 17:30 that I would like you to concentrate on. They are "he turned from him." David the youngest of 8 children born to his father Jesse, had been told by his father to take food to his three elder brothers who were on the battle front for Israel as they were fighting against the Philistine army. He was also asked to see how they fared. As David arrived to carry out his father's request, the Philistine giant, Goliath, was challenging the Israelites as he had done morning and evening for forty days. The Israelite army reacted in fear as they had done for the previous 40 days, everyone except David. The reaction that David had in I Kings 17:26 speaks of the bold faith David had in God "..who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" It was at that time Eliab, David's eldest brother confronted David with great anger. Why have you come, I know your pride? etc. With great wisdom David turned from Eliab toward another. He didn't become involved in the conflict. Had he became involved in an argument with his brother, possibly Goliath would not have been killed that day.

We can learn great things from this lesson. Personal conflicts can and do shift our focus from the Lord. Many times things are said that we wish we could take back and problems are seldom ever solved. They are for the most of times, compounded. When a confrontation comes before you today, take a step back and turn away from it, pray for a solution from God, and react to the potential conflict with Christ-like love. Your focus will be kept on Jesus if you practice this.

Be Blessed and Live in the NOW