How can we stop quarrels once they begin? - Quarreling - TouchPoints

1 Corinthians 1:10Now, dear brothers and sisters, I appeal to you by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop arguing among yourselves. Let there be real harmony so there won’t be divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

Unity helps dissipate quarrels.

Genesis 26:17-22So Isaac moved to the Gerar Valley and lived there instead. He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac renamed them, using the names Abraham had given them. His shepherds also dug in the Gerar Valley and found a gushing spring. But then the local shepherds came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well “Argument,” because they had argued about it with him. Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a fight over it. So Isaac named it “Opposition.” Abandoning that one, he dug another well, and the local people finally left him alone. So Isaac called it “Room Enough,” for he said, “At last the Lord has made room for us, and we will be able to thrive.”

We can be persistent in pursuing peace in our relationships.

Matthew 5:25Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail.

We can make the resolution of conflict a priority.

Proverbs 15:18A hothead starts fights; a cool-tempered person tries to stop them.

Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger.

We can remain calm.

Genesis 13:7-9So an argument broke out between the herdsmen of Abram and Lot. At that time Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land. Then Abram talked it over with Lot. “This arguing between our herdsmen has got to stop,” he said. “After all, we are close relatives! I’ll tell you what we’ll do. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want that area over there, then I’ll stay here. If you want to stay in this area, then I’ll move on to another place.”

We can be humble enough to arrive at an unselfish solution.

Numbers 12:1-2While they were at Hazeroth, Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because he had married a Cushite woman. They said, “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he spoken through us, too?” But the Lord heard them.

We can refuse to bring other peripheral issues into the conflict resolution.

Colossians 3:13You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

We can make allowances for one another and forgive one another.

1 Corinthians 6:7We may sometimes need to accept injustice and move forward.

Acts 15:36-41After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return to each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are getting along.” Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not shared in their work. Their disagreement over this was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and the believers sent them off, entrusting them to the Lord’s grace. So they traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the churches there.

Although we may not always be able to come to a full agreement, we should continue to serve the Lord realizing that God can use even our disagreements for his good.