Knock It Off!

Philippians 4:2  Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement.

Euodia came into the church with her head held high. As she entered, she saw Syntyche and her crew sitting in the third pew from the front on the right hand side. “How dare she,” thought Euodia, “that’s where me and all of my posse sit. One of these days she’s gonna get cut if she keeps getting out of pocket with me.”

Syntyche saw Euodia and her brood of vipers come into the church. Syntyche had purposely sat down right where the vipers always sit. “I’ll show them I’m not afraid. I will take whatever I want, I am the queen bee of Philippi First Church of the Petty!”

As the elder began the service, all ears perked up to hear the latest wisdom and message from the Apostle Paul. The elder began reading, and as he got to a certain paragraph he smiled slightly and said, “To Euodia and Syntyche: knock it off! You both belong to Jesus, so get over your squabble and get back to doing the important stuff…” The crowd was silent. One lady in the back said, “Oh no, he didn’t,” but she was shushed.

Can you imagine? There you are, sitting in church, smug and sure of your “rightness,” the next thing you know, the pastor has called you out for your attitude.

You know what? That is the message these two ladies needed to hear. We don’t know what the squabble was about, but these women had worked hard alongside Paul building God’s kingdom, then they got derailed by personal issues.

Notice Paul doesn’t say who started it, or who is right or who is wrong. He just says, “Stop it!” In essence, “You used to be valuable to the Kingdom, but God can’t use you this way.”

Do you have a grudge or problem with someone? If so, knock it off! The work that God has for all of us is too important to get laid aside for your issues. In the words of the great prophetess Elsa of Frozen, “Let it go, let if go…” God, his work, and your need for forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15) all outweigh anything someone else has done to you.

Today’s Readings: 1 Kings 15; 2 Chronicles 13,14; Philippians 4

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