“I didn’t do anything wrong, and I’m not going to apologize. I have a comeback and I could totally win this.” I thought to myself. I could point out the fact that the other person is in the wrong and “how dare I get treated this way.” To me, the conflict seems to show the other person’s lack of value for our relationship. I would like to confront that person and tell her, but I would rather not make a mess of things. I don’t know if my desire to avoid conflict is with selfless motivations or selfish. I don’t want to be the bad guy, but I also want to protect the other person from her actions.
When Jesus said: “Love your neighbor as yourself,” He was not saying to reduce hostilities with your neighbor for your mutual benefit. He was saying that we are to care about others with pure motivation—for their sakes and for their sakes alone- to love unconditionally. I will not allow another person’s actions to devalue our friendship; I will protect it with love. I will fight for my friend and not make myself in opposition.
He told us to love God first. It is only as we love God and begin to understand and trust Him, that we have confidence in what He has done in creating us and designing a plan for us. Because I trust God and His plans I am confident that He will bring peace and strength to my relationships. Love is not to ignore confrontation or continue to have hidden anger. Love forgives.
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