Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Is Conflict Healthy?

I was watching a program yesterday with several well-known Bible teachers that I love and they said, "conflict is an important part of any healthy marriage."   Ponder that for a moment...do you really believe this to be true?  Do you like to be in conflict with any of your close friends....siblings....parents...the people you work with?  I sure don't.  So how can conflict in a marriage be a good thing? 

Ken said his parents rarely had conflict.  We use to have a lot of conflict in our marriage, now we hardly ever do and I sure like it better like this. 

The Bible speaks a lot about living in harmony with one another, being at peace with all men, etc.  I am not sure where people get the notion that we need to learn how to argue and resolve conflict. 

I encourage women to just not argue.  It takes two to argue.  Just stop!  Keep biting your tongue.  Learn how to discuss things without arguing, without having to be right. 

Relationships are much more important than being right.  Life is SO much more pleasant without strife and conflict.  Life all around us is so hard.  Our homes should be safe-havens of peace and harmony.

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil.
II Timothy 2:24