What The Bible Says About Agreement
The Bible is an immensely valuable source of wisdom and insight, and contains much information on the nature of agreement. Here, we take a closer look at what the Bible actually says on the topic.
At the heart of the scripture is a focus on relationships. Jesus was an advocate of peace, teaching us to love our neighbours and seek harmony in everything we do. To make this a reality, an understanding of agreement is essential.
The Bible says that we should prioritize agreement in all areas of life, as this creates harmony. This means working together for the common good, as in Romans 12: 16:
“Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.”
The Bible also calls for humility, emphasising that “we should not be proud or boast in our own achievements. Instead, we should strive for peace and mutual understanding”. 1 Corinthians 13:4 speaks of humility in creating agreement:
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude.”
The Bible also empowers us to create agreement by speaking kindly and understanding that words, although often fleeting, can cause lasting harm. We can build healthy and successful relationships through using gentleness in discussing difficult ideas. Proverbs 15: 1 states:
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Overall, the Bible emphasises that agreement is best achieved through understanding, kindness and patience. By honouring these values and creating an atmosphere of trust and harmony, we can ensure that agreement is a cornerstone of all our relationships.
Understand Others
In order to gain agreement, it is important to understand the perspectives of others. To do this, we need to make use of communication skills such as active listening and open dialogue. As the Bible tells us in James 1:19:
“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
We can only create lasting agreements once we have listened to the ideas of those around us without judgement. Doing this enables us to find common ground and compromise, forming a basis of understanding that is essential to successful relationships.
The Bible also provides us with many tools to gain a deeper understanding of others. For example, in Ephesians 4:2-3 we are instructed to:
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
These instructions provide us with insight into how to be more compassionate and kind in our interactions with others. Understanding this can help us to form agreements with others in a quicker and more meaningful way.
Find Compromise
The act of compromising is an essential part of creating meaningful agreement in any relationship. Compromise allows us to find solutions to difficult issues, and ultimately bring people closer together. In the Bible, this is most clearly illustrated in Matthew 18: 15-17:
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
This teaches us that compromise is an eventuality in all disagreements, and that patience is required for a positive outcome. We can use the scriptures to help us in making compromise a reality, as solution-oriented dialogue is often the best way to reach agreement.
Use Forgiveness
The Bible emphasizes that forgiveness is essential to finding agreement. Romans 5:8 states: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Allowing ourselves to forgive one another in difficult times can help us to reach agreement faster and create a more positive environment.
In addition, Romans 12:14 offers us insight into how forgiveness can be attained: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” We can use this verse in our own lives, making the conscious decision to forgive one another rather than accumulating resentment. This process can help us to find lasting agreement.
Focus On Respect
Respect is a key factor in gaining agreement, as without it no real relationship can be forged. The Bible emphasizes the importance of respect in Proverbs 15:33: “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honour.”
Even in moments of anger, we can still strive to express respect in our interactions with others. By understanding that we all possess a unique perspective, and that our connections should always be held in respect, we can create an atmosphere of understanding and goodwill.
The Bible teaches us to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called. This means striving for respect, kindness, and understanding in all matters. Showing respect in our interactions is a foundational element of any successful agreement.
Stay Open-Minded
Although it may sometimes be difficult, staying open-minded is essential to gaining agreement. The Bible refers to this idea in Proverbs 2:6: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
We can use scripture to help us stay open-minded in all of our interactions. By avoiding judgement and allowing others to express their ideas without interruption, we can create a space in which agreement can take root.
The Bible also emphasizes that open-mindedness should be a part of our everyday decisions. In Ecclesiastes 5:2, it says: “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”
Here, we learn that we should keep calm and remain open to others’ ideas, allowing us to create agreement and to build strong relationships.
Serve With Humility
The Bible teaches us that service is an integral part of gaining agreement. Philippians 2:3-4 states: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
By focusing on service, we can focus on the needs of others. This allows us to build trust and understanding, and most importantly, to reach constructive agreement more easily.
Serving with humility can also demonstrate our faith. As it says in Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
These words illustrate the importance of service in the context of agreement, and provide us with an invaluable source of insight into how to best seek harmony with those around us.
