God knows that we are all imperfect. As much as we might evaluate ourselves as a pretty great person, we do fall short. In fact, some may not particularly relate to us or even care for us. We simply cannot be everything to everybody.
In my opinion I am a pretty likable guy. But not long ago, I was confronted with the reality that some people I served with on a ministry did not like my leadership style and it seems did not appreciate me as much as I may have hoped. Wow! That was an eye opener. I had a hard time understanding that. In fact, as I write this, I am still wondering how that could be!
We have all been in situations where we have worked or socialized with a person that may have been far from a match made in heaven for us. We may have (as good people do) had to "tolerate" occasions with such an individual. Imagine finding out one day that you, as I, may have been the person being tolerated! Yikes!
Sometimes we may run across a person that put us in that kind of a situation. Let's take a moment and look back to see how we have behaved in similar settings. Have we complained, grumbled. gotten irritated, ignored, been rude to, or even gossiped about such a person? That may have been a comprehensive list of what "not" to do, especially in light of Ephesians 4:2.
The first two words takes all the guess work out of it, ALWAYS BE ... ! I guess that clears that all up. I think it tells us no matter how much of a problem we might think another person is, we should ALWAYS BE. Be what? Be humble, in other words; not proud or arrogant but courteously respectful. What else? We should always be gentle, in other words; not severe or rough but kind and amiable. We are to be patient or we are to bear difficulty, provocation or an annoyance with calmness. We are to be tolerant and exercise understanding. Last we are told to make allowance for each other's faults. Just as I was recently reminded, we all have faults. We are to give room for other's to have faults. How can we expect others to not have faults when we all have them ourselves?
Look, everyone is not going to agree or get along with everyone else but we are not supposed to respond with frustration and anger but we are to make room for others to be who they are and hopefully others will allow us to be who we are. There is more than enough room in this world for you to be who you are and be accepted or even appreciated as there is for me. Like we have heard so many times, "Can't we all just get along?" Can we not be tolerant of others who may see or behave in ways we wouldn't?
This is one more part of loving one another. We can't be good at loving others if we insist on boxing them into the package we think they should be. I love you ... if you act and think how I do. Uh NO!
We don't have to believe or agree with everything everyone believes or thinks but because we love people, we should be patient and tolerant of them. Because we love people we should make allowance for their faults not judge, criticize or be unkind to them.
If it were okay to react to such people in that kind of negative way, I know from recent experience-all be it quite shocking, I would be on the receiving end of such treatment. Oh yes, and so would you.
Let us practice letting our love for others lead us into a new level of patience and tolerance toward those who can be so annoying. Let them feel acceptance and love from us. Let our reaction to them express the love of Christ that we talk so much about. Maybe after a time, our love will change us and we may no longer find them so annoying. Maybe even those very rare individuals who find us a tad annoying will find us more likable too. What the heck, why not give it a try?
Love somebody. Love everybody, yes even if they annoy you!