Difficult People

²⁷ But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. ²⁹ To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. ³¹ And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. – Luke 6:27-31

Everyone at some time or another has had to work with or be around a difficult person.  By difficult, I’m referring to a very selfish person who is argumentative, belligerent, flippant, or just rude.  I’m actually not referring to the teenagers in a home, although this fits many times.  For reasons unknown, except that they do not have the Spirit of the one true living God inside of them (or they aren’t listening to Him at the time), these people are difficult to be around and work beside.  The longer you are around them the more taxing it is on all your emotions and your patience gets shorter and shorter.  Eventually, if you aren’t constantly working to walk close to God you will become a person that is rude and build a solid emotional wall towards that person that no longer cares what happens to them but actually wants something to happen so that you will not have to be near them. 

This is not the lesson Jesus taught His disciples.  He did not teach us to not care about others.  He did not teach us to hope something happens to them for our benefit.  He did not teach us to be rude to others.  He did not teach us to build an emotional wall that isolates that person from our being.  If the Spirit of God is within us and we build a wall that shields others from us, how will they see Jesus?

I will concede that there are some relationships that a Christian should opt out of.  If being near someone constantly erodes your ability to maintain a close walk with God, then steps should be taken to limit the interactions with that person or people.  Only a foolish person would consider that a human relationship that might cost you a closer walk with God would be more important than that relationship with God.  There is no comparison between anything in this physical world and the value of our bonds to the heavenly world.

Personally, I am currently working with someone who does not listen to complete instruction because they believe that their way is best.  He has good ideas, but rather than take time to explain them and have the conversation, he just does what he thinks he should.  He works at a meticulously slow pace.  When he completes a task, it is a very good work, but he spends too much time pilfering around looking at his phone and taking smoke breaks.  He is less than honest on the amount of time doing the task seemingly in a way that takes advantage for him and his pay.  If others point out missing or needed supplies, he quickly blames others for any error.  Worst of all, when everyone jumps in to help and work long hours to do so, he is not overcome with gratitude, but often leaving during those late hours for personal hobbies.

I want what is best for this person.  I see potential in what he could do if he would apply his best to his time and to those around him.  However, I am not responsible for what he does and for what he refuses to learn.  I am not responsible for his attitude.  I AM responsible for mine.  I am to do good to those “who spitefully use you”. 

“Submit yourselves to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” – James 4:7

My job now is to confront this person with their actions: dishonesty, not generous, selfish, not working diligently as unto the Lord, concern for others.  Everywhere there is accountability in life.  I do not like being the guy who calls others into it.  My experience is they always react negatively and do not fall into repentance as God calls us to do.  But to do less is to not love him at all.

Jesus showed His love for us through sacrifice first and then in accountable confrontations intended to draw us closer to Him.  We must learn to do the same with those we are in contact with, so that we might lead them closer to God, even if they reject us at that time.  

Pray, dear Christian, that you will have patience and most of all love for those who are difficult to bear.  Endeavor to walk close with God during those times and let Him lead you as you must be alongside such people.