Creating Harmony

Years ago a guy came waltzing into my store demanding to speak to the manager. When I asked him how I could help him, he replied, “You’ve got to hire me! I’m the best salesman you ever saw.” He talked very highly of himself for a few minutes then asked for a job. I sent him to the online portal to apply, but told him I didn’t have any openings. Honestly, I didn’t want him on my team. He was hired by another manager a few months later. He came by to tell me I had made a mistake in letting someone else hire him. I then gave him some friendly advice. I told him there’s a fine line between confidence and conceited. One attracts people and the other repels them. He had come off as very conceited. He appreciated the frankness and learned to dial it back which resulted in lots of sales for him.

After David had been anointed king, the actual king, Saul, decided to kill him which sent David on the run. One of the places David hid was the Cave of Adullam. 1 Samuel 22 says that his father and brothers joined him there. Verse 2 says, “Everyone who was suffering hardship, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them. There were about four hundred men with him” (AMP). David could have been conceited and been upset at the quality of people whom God sent to him. These were the outcasts of society. He could have denied them access, but he didn’t. He took them in and created an army. Thirty seven of these men became famous for their bravery and battlefield heroics. David found a way to lead these men and get along with them creating a formidable group capable of beating entire cities.

Romans 12:16 says, “Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited, self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself.” That’s some good advice. When I find myself not getting along with someone, I have to evaluate myself. Am I the one who is being conceited, self important or exclusive? What can I do to find harmony with this person? I don’t have to be friends with them. But I do need to find a way to be at peace with them, especially if they’re believers. Who knows if God has brought them into my life to help me, shape me or learn from me? If I think too highly of myself, I might reject the very person God put in my life. I’m sure you can think of an outcast that’s shown up in your life too. Seek humility and harmony before kicking them out of your cave.

Photo by Etienne Boulanger on Unsplash