Difficult People

[Daily verse and quote]

“If your fellow believer sins against you,

go and tell him in private what he did wrong.

If he listens to you, you have helped that person

to be your brother or sister again.”

Matthew 18:15

 

Our dealing with difficult people

is a way of taking our “spiritual temperature”.

[Scott Richards]

[Michael37]

2 hours ago, Daily verse and quote said:

“If your fellow believer sins against you,

go and tell him in private what he did wrong.

If he listens to you, you have helped that person

to be your brother or sister again.”

Matthew 18:15

 

Our dealing with difficult people

is a way of taking our “spiritual temperature”.

[Scott Richards]

Tell me about it.

• Unrealistic Expectations
• Unreasonable Demands
• Overwhelming Burdens

These can be thorns in the flesh.

[Daily verse and quote]

1 hour ago, Michael37 said:

Tell me about it.

• Unrealistic Expectations
• Unreasonable Demands
• Overwhelming Burdens

These can be thorns in the flesh.

Yes, "thorns in the flesh" can be very difficult to deal with. Being tested is no fun. BUT, God either allows or initiates testing in our lives to see if we are going to stay faithful to Him to the end. The rewards of persevering will be great. Testing is temporary; but if we withstand the test, then God promises us an eternal reward..."the crown of life". I don't really know what it means, but I have no doubt we will never be disappointed that we persevered in this life.

"Don't be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. For ten days you will undergo suffering. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Revelation 2:10 (ISV)

 

[Michael37]

1 hour ago, Daily verse and quote said:

God promises us an eternal reward..."the crown of life". I don't really know what it means, but I have no doubt we will never be disappointed that we persevered in this life.

Yes,

Crowns symbolise established rulership, not just in God's kingdom but also in Satan's, which is why the dragon is depicted with seven crowns on its seven heads, and the beast from the sea with ten crowns on its ten horns.

As we might expect, He who is King of Kings would be depicted as having many crowns, and the last reference to crowns in the Bible is indeed that of our victorious Saviour and His established rulership.

Rev 19:11-16  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

[Sower]

7 hours ago, Daily verse and quote said:

“If your fellow believer sins against you,

go and tell him in private what he did wrong.

If he listens to you, you have helped that person

to be your brother or sister again.”

Matthew 18:15

 

Our dealing with difficult people

is a way of taking our “spiritual temperature”.

[Scott Richards]

“spiritual temperature”
We all have been on both sides of the fence.
And often, being on the wrong side, wished others only knew our pain (the why).
God's design of forgiveness works miracles, simply being kind. Think.
We just don't know the battles everyone is enduring within themselves.
Staying cool is better than getting hot, temperature-wise. Spiritually.
 

[Dennis1209]

I have personally seen and heard examples of this in church. A persons "pride" is hurt, they will not humble themselves or listen. The tendency is to get angry, shout, not forgive, be defensive and the gossip between church members begins, followed by hurt feelings and splits. 

This no doubt has occurred throughout the history of the church, but in my view, we are living in and witnessing the Laodicean church age. Satan loves dissention, arguing and splitting of the churches. His dominion probably has the best church attendance record. 

[David1701]

8 hours ago, Daily verse and quote said:

“If your fellow believer sins against you,

go and tell him in private what he did wrong.

If he listens to you, you have helped that person

to be your brother or sister again.”

Matthew 18:15

 

Our dealing with difficult people

is a way of taking our “spiritual temperature”.

[Scott Richards]

I don't know which paraphrase you have quoted, but, "...you have helped that person to be your brother or sister again.", bears no relation to what the text actually says.  The person is only to be treated as an unbeliever after the whole procedure, not the first part!

Matt. 18:15-17 (LITV)

15 But if your brother sins against you, go and reprove him between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
  16 But if he does not hear, take one or two more with you, "so that on the mouth of two" or "three witnesses every word may stand".
  17 But if he fails to hear them, tell it to the church. And if he also fails to hear the church, let him be to you as the nations and the tax collector.

This isn't "dealing with difficult people", it is dealing with sin.  Being seen as "difficult" might, or might not, be due to sin.

Dealing with people whom someone finds "difficult" could also be due to faults within the person who finds the other "difficult".  This is not a simple issue...

Edited June 27, 2021 by David1701

[missmuffet]

At some time in our lives we will have to deal with difficult people. We need to approach these people with prayer that God will help give us the right words. We also need to approach them with the fruit of the spirit in mind. We need to be careful that we are not one of those difficult people. If all else fails then avoid the person. 

[Daily verse and quote]

7 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

I have personally seen and heard examples of this in church. A persons "pride" is hurt, they will not humble themselves or listen. The tendency is to get angry, shout, not forgive, be defensive and the gossip between church members begins, followed by hurt feelings and splits. 

This no doubt has occurred throughout the history of the church, but in my view, we are living in and witnessing the Laodicean church age. Satan loves dissention, arguing and splitting of the churches. His dominion probably has the best church attendance record. 

"We have all heard of the pride of Moab, for his pride is very great. We know of his lofty pride, his arrogance, and his haughty heart."

Jeremiah 48:29 (NLT)

[Daily verse and quote]

7 hours ago, David1701 said:

I don't know which paraphrase you have quoted, but, "...you have helped that person to be your brother or sister again.", bears no relation to what the text actually says.  The person is only to be treated as an unbeliever after the whole procedure, not the first part!

Matt. 18:15-17 (LITV)

15 But if your brother sins against you, go and reprove him between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
  16 But if he does not hear, take one or two more with you, "so that on the mouth of two" or "three witnesses every word may stand".
  17 But if he fails to hear them, tell it to the church. And if he also fails to hear the church, let him be to you as the nations and the tax collector.

This isn't "dealing with difficult people", it is dealing with sin.  Being seen as "difficult" might, or might not, be due to sin.

Dealing with people whom someone finds "difficult" could also be due to faults within the person who finds the other "difficult".  This is not a simple issue...

Thank you for your elaboration on this topic!