Distractions: Fighting Among Friends

There are so many things that can get in the way of us living THE Cause of Christ and exposing others to Jesus. This is the first of many posts that will be written between myself and John Curiale that will focus on those distractions to THE Cause.

I can’t tell you how many times in my life I have gotten into an argument with a friend or family member. I’m talking about the kind of arguments that lead to hurtful things being said and one if not both of us treating the other badly.

It’s amazing how much our words can hurt someone. It doesn’t take much. It might start off as simply a disagreement but quickly escalates into something more. Soon you and your friend can’t even remember what started the argument or who started it. All you know is it started at the youth group activity last night and carried over into the church van on the way back. Then it led to text messages being exchanged and in the fury of thumbing your angry responses back and forth something very hurtful is said.

Now, you find yourself sitting in class bummed out and thinking about what happened last night. You think to yourself; “this is my friend. My best friend. What happened? Is it my fault? Is it their fault?”

God says in Ecclesiastes 10:12; “Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words.”

Our own words can either encourage friendships or destroy friendships even between friends that love God and are living THE Cause. And broken friendships are a distraction. But it’s God’s amazing love for us that should remind us how we should treat our friends and what to do when we get into hurtful arguments that leave us feeling like we’ve been mistreated.

So what does God tell us about fighting among friends that’s a distraction to THE Cause? Check out this verse found in 1 Peter 4:8

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.”

When you really love someone the same way Jesus loves us eventually whatever you and your friend argued about becomes less and less important because your friendship is VERY important.

I encourage you to read the verses above over and over, you may realize that in the midst of your argument that there were some faults on your part that needs forgiveness.

Do you find yourself in a tough time with a friend? Have your been arguing and can’t even remember what or who started it? Are you too busy pointing fingers instead of going to that friend to work things out? Don’t waste anymore time. First, read the verses over and over until you really get what God is saying. Second, pray and ask God to break both your heart and your friends. Ask him to show you where you went wrong and where you need to be forgiven. Third, call your friend and ask them if you can read to them the verses in this article. Fourth, tell them you’re sorry for letting something petty come between you and that you realized where you were wrong.

You may be surprised to find out that your friend is glad you called and that they didn’t feel right about the fighting. Fighting among friends and hurtful words is a distraction to THE Cause.