Improving Your Serve by Charles R. Swindoll

Author:Charles R. Swindoll
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“The Peacemakers”

Interestingly, this is the only time in all the New Testament that the Greek term translated “peacemakers” appears. Maybe it will help us understand the meaning by pointing out first what it does not mean.

• It does not mean, “Blessed are those who avoid all conflict and confrontations.”

• Neither does it mean, “Blessed are those who are laid back, easygoing, and relaxed.”

• Nor, “Blessed are those who defend a ‘peace at any price’ philosophy.”

• It doesn’t mean, “Blessed are the passive, those who compromise their convictions when surrounded by those who would disagree.”

No, none of those ideas is a characteristic of the “peacemaker” in this verse.

The overall thrust of Scripture is the imperative, “Make peace!” Just listen:

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men (Rom. 12 18).

So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another (Rom. 14:19).

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?

You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel (James 3: 16–4:2).

Get the picture? A “peacemaker” is the servant who . . . first, is at peace with himself—internally, at ease . . . not agitated, ill-tempered, in turmoil . . . and therefore not abrasive. Second, he/she works hard to settle quarrels, not start them . . . is accepting, tolerant, finds no pleasure in being negative.

In the words of Ephesians 4:3, peacemakers “. . . preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Ever been around Christians who are not peacemakers? Of course. Was it pleasant? Did you sense a servant’s heart? Were you built up and encouraged . . . was the body of Christ strengthened and supported? You know the answers.

In Leslie Flynn’s potent book Great Church Fights (I like that title), he does a masterful job of describing just how petty and abrasive we can become. He includes an anonymous poem that bites deeply into our rigid intolerance. Our tendency toward exclusiveness is exposed for all to see:

Believe as I believe, no more, no less;

That I am right, and no one else, confess;

Feel as I feel, think only as I think;

Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;

Look as I look, do always as I do;

And then, and only then, I’ll fellowship with you.2

Source Unknown

Whoever lives by that philosophy does not qualify as a peacemaker, I can assure you.

But enough of the negative! Solomon gives us wise counsel on some of the things peacemakers do:

• They build up. “The wise woman builds her house . . .

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