| Romans 12:18 – “So far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” |
We live in a world of irritations.
Those who cut us off in traffic sometimes get our unseen irritation as we instruct them from our car.
And then there are those annoying “hold” times we have when we call a customer service number. We tend to think it is anything but service.
But what about personal slights?
People who say something hurtful?
Or when they forget to come to a prearranged event?
Or make comments about appearance or age that seem to judge us?
We all have them.
So then, hear the story of the bear and the bees.
A bear searched the woods looking for honey to eat.
He came on a fallen log in which was a honeycomb but without the swarm of bees
He nosed around in the log to see if any bees could be found and there were none.
As he poked his nose into the tree, one of the swarms returned from the clover field.
They saw the bear getting into their hive, so they flew at him and stung him sharply.
The bear lost his temper in an instant and attacked the log tooth and claw to destroy the nest.
But that brought only more bees which stung even more.
The bear had to run, and the only way to save himself was to dive into a pool of water.
When Aesop said that story, his “moral” was “It is wiser to bear a single injury in silence than to provoke a thousand by flying into a rage.”
Paul may never have seen a bear chased by bees, but he knew the principle.
He counseled the Romans: “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”” (Romans 12:16–19, ESV)
Think about those words…as far as it depends on you, live in peace.
Much of our peace is not based on others but our response to the irritations of life.
The less we pick at a problem, the sooner it goes away.
Perhaps we need to give people some slack. After all, are they not as flawed as we? And we hope people will just overlook some of our irritations?
Today, something will get under your skin. Just remember. It may not be a swarm of bees, but they can sting just as much. Let it go.
Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
