Are You Someone Who Cultivates Peace?
Christians must be peacemakers.
Whether or not a Christian is a peacemaker is an indicator of their trust in God.
Isaac had wells of water that rightfully belonged to him, stopped up by the Philistines.
The man [Isaac] began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. Now the Philistines had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, and they had filled them with earth. And Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we.” (Genesis 26:13-16)
Instead of fighting with the Philistines, even though he was more powerful and in the right, he decided to “give ground” and move on (Genesis 26:17). The Philistines continued to fight over other wells Isaac dug, and he continued to give ground until the LORD “made room” for him in the land (Genesis 26:18-22).
What can we learn and apply from Isaac?
Peacemakers Accept Wrongs Done to Them.
The apostle Paul reminded Christians not to return evil to those who treated them with evil.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)
When Christians are treated evilly or are wronged by others, they are not to respond similarly. Why? Because we are commanded to put forth every effort to live peaceably with all people.
Peacemakers “Give Ground” on Matters of Opinion.
A couple of chapters later in Romans, Paul reminded Christians not to “destroy” one another over matters of firmly held opinions or judgments.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin. (Romans 14:19-23)
Christians in the first century held strong opinions over whether or not a Christian could eat food that had been offered to an idol (1 Corinthians 8:1-13). Paul urged Christians to be mindful of others and concluded:
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble. (1 Corinthians 8:13)
Peacemakers Never Compromise God’s Word.
Even if people don’t like hearing God’s Word, a Christian cannot compromise the truth.
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
Just because someone doesn’t like something God’s Word teaches doesn’t mean Christians can “soften” their stance. Christians must continue to proclaim the Word of God, even when people don’t like it. A peacemaker does not compromise the truth.