In his first letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:10, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” His clear hope is that there would be unity in the church.
Unity is vital in any organization, whether it’s a church, a business, or a family. The price of unresolved tension and disunity is high.
1. Without unity, it is hard to focus.
In a work environment, the ability to stay focused is essential to the success of the organization. When unresolved conflict lingers, team members are unable to give the necessary attention to the work. Team members are distracted by strong emotion such as anger and jealousy.
2. Without unity, the culture becomes toxic.
Without unity, people will stop collaborating. They will stop sharing information in a timely manner, and they will not be as helpful to each other. The collective wisdom, creativity, and skill of the team will not leveraged for the benefit of the organization, and eventually, team members can actually begin to work against one another.
3. Without unity, there will eventually be a break up.
Most people cannot persist very long in an environment where there is consistent tension and turmoil. Even if the paycheck is consistent and the benefits are good, people will leave. This explains the 50% divorce rate in our country.
4. Without unity, the organization will fail to fulfill its purpose.
With high distractions, a toxic culture, and consistent break ups, the organization will struggle and eventually dissolve. It will never be able to do what it was designed to do because the conflicts within were never dealt with. The doors of the organization eventually will close.
The author of Hebrews warns us in Hebrews 12:15, “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” When conflict within an organization or family goes unresolved, a root of bitterness has room to grow in the soul. This bitterness eventually bubbles up to the surface and causes great pain, not just in your life, but in the lives of everyone close to you.
How do we keep the unity in the church that Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians?
I believe the answer is very simple.
We must keep short accounts by making reconciliation a priority.
Jesus made this step very clear in two different passages:
- Matthew 5:23-24, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
- Matthew 18:15, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
Whether we are the offender or the offended, we are told to go to the other person in order to reconcile the relationship. In Matthew 5:23, Jesus is saying that reconciliation is more important than attending a worship service. He would rather see us at peace with other people than to stand and sing to Him! So, don’t wait. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:24, “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
My encouragement to you is to act now. The cost of unresolved conflict is too high. Make reconciliation a priority and put it at the top of your to-do list. Protect harmony. It will save you from much pain in your organization and in your personal life.
Questions to ask:
1. With whom do you currently need to reconcile?
2. Why haven’t you gone to them yet?
3. Will you do it today before the sun goes down?
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