Bible Society of South Africa
Xanthe Hancox

Friendship – Day 5

Barnabas and Paul – let’s agree to disagree

Itekisi yeBhayibhile

UMSEBENZI WABATHUNYWA 15

UPawulos noBharnabha bayahlukana

36Ekuhambeni kwexesha wathi uPawulos kuBharnabha: “Makhe sityelele amakholwa kuzo zonke iidolophu apho sasikhe salishumayela khona ilizwi leNkosi, siqonde ukuba aphila njani na.” 37UBharnabha wafuna ukuba kuhanjwe noYohane Marko, 38kodwa uPawulos yena akathandanga ukuba bahambe naye, kuba ngokuya babehambe naye kuqala wajika esithubeni, wabashiya ePamfili. 39Baxambulisana ke ngale ndawo, bada bagqibela ngokwahlukana. UBharnabha wahamba noMarko, basinga eSipro ngesikhephe.

UMSEBENZI WABATHUNYWA 15:36-39XHO96Vula kumfundi weBhayibhile

UMSEBENZI WABATHUNYWA 15

40Waza yena uPawulos wakhetha ukuhamba noSilas. Ke amakholwa abanikela ezibeleni zikaThixo, bemka.

UMSEBENZI WABATHUNYWA 15:40XHO96Vula kumfundi weBhayibhile

This is what many people remember most about Paul and Barnabas – the argument that ended the friendship between two great men of Christ. How could this happen!

There is an unspoken and damaging expectation that Christians never get angry or fight. Paul and Barnabas remind us that conflict is inevitable among even the best of people. It only gets ugly when people handle it poorly. Could it be that when we are stirred up, we forget to ask God for help?

A little further along, we read that Barnabas and Paul each went their separate way but, most importantly, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. (Acts 15:40)

It is apparent that there was discussion and prayer among the believers. This is how our differences need to be worked out – in love and prayer, and with the support and prayer of the community of believers, not in secret or by ignoring the situation. The important thing is to keep focused on doing the will of Christ. That is what Paul and Barnabas both did. As a result, perhaps even more work was accomplished for the Lord, because of the manner in which their disagreement was handled. In any friendship, disagreements will happen, it is inevitable and Christians are not exempt from this. What matters is how we handle them.

Bible Society of South Africav.4.25.3
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