Majoring on the minors …

There’s a story of two church congregations located just a few blocks away from each other in a small town. They thought it might be better to merge and become one united, larger, and more effective body rather than remain as two struggling churches. It was a good idea … but they weren’t able to pull it off.

The problem?

They failed to agree on how they would recite the Lord’s Prayer. One group preferred “forgive us our trespasses” while the other group insisted on saying “forgive us our debts.”

So, as the local newspaper reported, “One church went back to its trespasses while the other returned to its debts.”

Unity in the body of Christ and relating to others with Christlike love and peace will never come when you major on the minors, putting your focus and demands on things that are not essential. The Apostle Paul gives us clear direction to yield with love and honor toward others …

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves,” Philippians 2:3.

“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them, Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other,” Romans 12:9-10.

Are there relationships in your life where you are majoring on the minors? What could happen if you put your focus on the essentials (such as “love each other with genuine affection”) rather than the unimportant?

Scotty