Week 34~ Romans 12:16
‘Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to
associate with people of low position.‘
Living in harmony with one another is clearly our ideal- or
is it?
There are a great many people who do not appear to really
want peace and harmony in their homes. We witness them constantly arguing with
their partners, friends or shouting at their children. We also see this
depicted in countless soap operas and for those who remain glued to their TV
sets, sadly, they may believe this to be normal.
A lack of harmony is equally likely to stem from a lack of communication,
especially if one or both partners are working long hours spending little time
with each other or being too tired to enjoy one another’s company. Working long
hours also includes time dedicated to housework and childcare!
To be harmonious you usually have to be on the same
wavelength as the other person, which makes the suggestion of associating with
people from another class very interesting/challenging. Obviously in some jobs
we are called upon to interact with all types of people, however socially we
choose our friends who in general reflect our own lifestyle.
The text above refers specifically to people who are lower
than us on the social ladder but sometimes it is equally difficult relating to
people who are in a higher income bracket, especially as their social skills tend to reflect
their status.
Sometimes it is very difficult to relate to others. Earlier
this year I was out with friends when a young woman followed us into the bar
and then proceeded to try and make conversation. Her efforts were very clumsy,
in fact she had a ‘text book’ approach. It was a difficult situation, however we spoke
with her for a while and eventually she attached herself to someone else, ending
up following them when they left! It was obvious from the outset that this woman
was mentally ill, especially as she kept informing us that there was nothing
wrong with her; but at least we didn’t alienate her.
The best approach in these situations is usually the humble approach, taking time
to listen to people, ask questions and see whether we can be of assistance in
any way. Pride can definitely prevent us from reaching out or socialising with
people whom we might be able to help. In fact pride and a lack of understanding
are the two main barriers that we need to overcome if we are going to follow
the command given here in Romans.
Next time you feel uncomfortable about another person for the wrong reason, think about this verse and do your best to overcome natural inhibitions and rise to the occasion!
Jaz McKenzie
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