Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31
Do you realize that conflict is an opportunity to glorify God? In conflict, more than a relationship is at stake. God’s glory is at stake. In humility, we need to acknowledge that conflict provides opportunities for us to grow. In other words, our attitude should be, “Thank you Lord for trials. I have much growing to do.” Conflict provides us with opportunities to help us grow to be more like Christ. It is also an opportunity for us to help others grow to be more like Christ!
Man’s chief end is to glorify God. If we let this radical concept sink into our minds and hearts, we will have found a primary tool in the fight against conflict. This world is about God’s glory, not our own glory. God does everything for the praise of his own name.
Theologians often characterize sin in two categories: sins of omission and sins of commission. Sins of commission are sins that we commit that are wrong. Sins of omission are sins that we do when we don’t do what we ought to do.
In conflict, there may be a temptation to commit sins of commission. These may be thoughts or actions. We are tempted to attack a person, take revenge, or gossip about someone. There are also temptations to commit sins of omission. This occurs when we do not do the good that we ought to (James 4:17). We fail to speak words of truth and love, which God requires of us. We may pretend there is nothing wrong, when we have a duty to act. Picture a husband who watches TV while the children need to be disciplined.
But if we truly see conflict as an opportunity to glorify God, our response will be prayerful, calculated, and wise. We will seek to obey God and be faithful to his commands, no matter what the cost. Instead of pretending that a conflict doesn’t exist or the other extreme, going full force into battle, we will seek to forgive others and speak the truth in love to our neighbor.