By When conflict comes, the godly act more godly. This was a phrase learned in the early years of a pastor’s ministry. Too often amidst conflict, pastors, who are to be more godly, sink to the same level of sinful responses in search of a response. The same is true for all Christians who are to be more godly than the world. Conflict brings the worst out of Christians instead of the best. Sinful responses to conflict stem from desires (James 4:1-2) that are sometimes as infantile as not wanting to lose the argument, not wanting to be misunderstood, or simply the desire to be heard and not be considered naïve.
Yet, the godly act more godly. Or to put it another way, it is better to be wronged, than to do wrong (1 Corinthians 6:7). Those who live by the Holy Spirit, are to walk in the ways of the Holy Spirit. Our first response in every conflict should be one of love for the other person and joy in the Lord’s grace as you pursue peace with patience and kindness, showing more good than is deserved in a spirit of faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-25).
May the Lord grant us the godliness to act more godly today.