Luke 17:3
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”
Getting along with others is not always an easy task. With differences in personalities, opinions and techniques, getting along with others can be one of the hardest things a person will do, especially with those with whom interact on a daily basis. Jesus taught the disciples a lesson on how to get along with others, and He gave them six things they must do to accomplish this.
First, be careful with how you treat people. The very first thing that Jesus said to the disciples was, “Take heed to yourselves…” Jesus was trying to get the disciples to learn to look at their own actions before looking at the actions of others. I have always found that I will have an easier time getting along with others if I will look at what I can correct in myself instead of looking at how to correct others. The biggest problem you have is not another, but it is yourself. This first key is imperative to getting along with everyone.
Second, don’t always assume others did wrong. Again, “Take heed to yourselves…” In other words, if you look at your own actions before accusing others, you will find yourself having an easier time getting along. When a wrong has happened, immediately assume that you did the wrong instead of accusing someone else. You will have a hard time getting along with others if you always assume they did the wrong when a wrong occurred.
Third, don’t assume the intentions of others. When you take heed to yourself, you will stop assuming others intentions. It is so easy to fall into the trap of judging the intentions of others, but you don’t know their intentions, so stop trying to judge why another person did something. Believe in the good of people instead of the bad.
Fourth, correct with an attitude to forgive. Even when you must correct someone, you must do so with an intent to forgive. The key to the verse above is forgiveness. If your correction is given with no intention to forgive, then your correction will cause strife.
Fifth, don’t put a limit on forgiveness. One of the most important things you can do is never give up on people. This is why you must not put a limit on forgiveness. Aren’t you glad God doesn’t put a limit on how many times He will forgive you? Then you must not put a limit on how many times you will forgive another. Forgiveness is a belief that they will do better. Always believe that others will turn their actions around, and you will find it will not be hard to forgive.
Sixth, don’t hold people to your expectations. The word “trespass” means to miss the mark. In other words, if you’re going to get along with another, then when they miss the mark that you have set for them you must be willing to forgive. I have found the best way to accomplish this is not to expect others to live according to my expectations. My expectations are selfish and are not the measuring stick by which others should be measured. God set the measuring stick by which we should live, so stop trying to force others to live according to your expectations.
These six principles are important to getting along with others. Whether it is in your marriage, home, church, workplace or surroundings, these six principles will help you to get along with others in each of these places. Don’t be a person with whom it is hard to get along. Life is too short to constantly being at odds with others, so work at getting along.