25-09 - Flipbook - Page 115
September
August 2025
Try to be more understanding
8Be kindly affectionate to one another.9
Romans 12:10 NKJV
Often the reason a relationship fails is not because of a difference of
opinion, but a lack of understanding. Why aren9t we more understanding? For three reasons:
1) Selfishness. Somebody quipped, 8There9s two sides to every question
3 as long as it doesn9t concern me personally.9 Paul writes: 8Be kindly
affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another.9
2) Fear. Prejudice is often the fear of what we9re unwilling to try and understand. When it comes to new ideas you9ve two options: open your
mind and grow, or reject them and stay the same size. We tend to
compare what we don9t understand with what we think we do 3 like
the people who told Columbus the earth was flat. When it comes to
building relationships you9ve got to be willing to do what you9ve not
yet done.
3) Differences. It takes more than one colour to make a rainbow and
one musician to make an orchestra. When you take time to appreciate the differences in people, you discover we all share the same
hopes and fears. Harry Truman said, 8When we understand the other
fellow9s viewpoint and what he9s trying to do, nine times out of ten he9s
just trying to do right.9 Basically, we all share the same hopes and fears.
Two of our most common problems are 8gift-envy9 and 8giftprojection.9 One happens when we compare our talents with others
and feel inferior. The other happens when we expect others to feel
equally passionate about what we do. The Bible says, 8There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord9 (1 Corinthians 12:5
NLT).
Bob and Debby Gass
