Feb
22
Dividing Babies
Filed Under Devotional
I recently witnessed a dramatic example of how quickly pride can disrupt the goal of carrying the Kingdom forward. It’s amazing just how fast things can grind to a halt when pride, reputation, and self-importance get in the way. At the same time, I also witnessed the wisdom of God being used to cut right through and keep a bad situation from getting worse.
When people are locked up trying to protect their turf and pointing fingers at everyone else, it’s frustrating and feels like a no-win situation. I’ve had this in business, too. You have that moment when someone does something unethical, insults your pride, or is just terribly obnoxious and you have a decision to make: do you pursue it and make a big deal out of it or do you let it go? This is where the wisdom of God (via Solomon) comes in:
“And the king said, ‘Divide the living child in two, and give half to one, and half to the other.’
Then the woman whose son was living spoke to the king, for she yearned with compassion for her son; and she said, ‘O my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him!’
But the other said, ‘Let him be neither mine nor yours, but divide him.’” 1 Kings 3:25-26
Will you dig your heels in and demand that the baby be cut in half? Or will you let the injury go and move on for the health of the organization? Especially if that organization is your church or ministry which has a Kingdom mission in mind?
While watching this mess unfold, I could easily identify the players who would have rather cut the baby in two. I encouraged the others to forgive and give up the baby for the sake of the bigger goal. I didn’t do this flippantly. Just because it’s wise, doesn’t mean it’s easy to do. In retrospect, it was the only solution that didn’t do more damage.
Are there sacred babies in your life that you’d rather divide for your own pride? Shouldn’t you just let it go and focus on the work?