Hold Your Preferences Loosely

Don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

2 Timothy 2:23-24

THERE ARE CERTAIN truths of our faith that we as Christians should be unyielding about. These are the essential tenets of Christianity. Then there are secondary and tertiary issues that are important but not ultimate. Unfortunately, Christians can sometimes be tempted to go to the mat for things that are more a matter of preference than essential, and in so doing, we can cause strife in the church and distract from the focus of Christ’s mission in the world.

Jesus encountered this with the Pharisees, who adhered not only to the Old Testament law but also to several hundred rabbinic additions to the law, which they considered equally important. In fact, as is too often the case with people focused on religious performance, they were more fired up about the nonessentials than the essentials. As a result, they missed Jesus and His gospel.

As leaders in our homes, in our churches, and in the community, we must pray for the wisdom to know when we should show courage and stand up for what is worth defending, and when we should stay out of things, keeping the big picture in mind. It’s good to have certain convictions and preferences, but we should not hold them as tightly as we hold to the essential truths of the gospel. In other words, let’s keep the main thing the main thing.

BOTTOM LINE

Hold essentials deeply, hold your convictions firmly, hold your preferences loosely. And pray for God to give you the wisdom to know the difference.

Moment of Strength: Matthew 15:9