Monday, January 10, 2011

Why Can’t We Be Friends?
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:2-3

There are several great female pairs in the Bible. Think of Ruth and Naomi…Mary and Elizabeth…the “other” Mary and Martha…Euodia and Syntyche. Euodia and Syntyche? Who are they? And how exactly DO you pronounce these names anyway? But I digress.

This pair is mentioned by name in one verse in Philippians 4. Paul says, “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.” He then asks a third party to help these Christ-following women heal their broken relationship. My heart hurts for these ladies every time I read this chapter. Can you picture the scene? For their church to receive a letter from Paul was a big deal. The church leaders would have gathered everyone around to hear what Paul had to say specifically to them. Their ears would have been the privileged first to hear the tremendous passages of having joy in suffering, imitating Christ’s humility, pressing on toward the goal of Christ-likeness.

And then…

These women are made aware that Paul himself knows of their feud…that someone within the church thought their issue was significant enough to be brought to Paul’s attention. We don’t know why they weren’t getting along. We do know that they both had faith in Christ, and both knew Paul personally (Phil. 4:3). I imagine their embarrassment at the time. Talk about wanting a big hole to open in the ground and swallow you up. (Little did they know that their story would be recorded for mankind to read for generations after!)

Paul’s main point is this: these ladies needed to resolve their problem. Can you relate? Sometimes it is those closest to us in our lives, even our ministries, who are the most challenging to agree with. Once we get beyond what we have in common on the surface, our differences show more noticeably. Dissimilar personalities, approaches or priorities can become stumbling blocks. One commentary puts it this way, “It is possible to believe in Christ, work hard for His Kingdom, and yet have broken relationships with others who are committed to the same cause. But there is no excuse for remaining unreconciled.” (1)

Paul’s objective is to move these ladies beyond the problem and to agreement, for the sake of the gospel. I so hope Euodia and Syntyche responded to his pleading…however their names are pronounced!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you need to be reconciled to someone? Take a step toward unification today.

FURTHER READING:
Philippians 4:2-3; 1 Corinthians 1:10

Along with caring for her husband, two children and the dog, Carolyn is an Office Representative for State Farm Insurance, serves in Student Ministries with seventh grade girls, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.

­(1) Life Application Bible, commentary on Philippians 4:2, 3.
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