Win-Win Outcomes

Jesus said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

"Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny." (Luke 12:54-59)

We are a litigious society.  We are too inclined to work out differences in a court of law as opposed to settling differences between ourselves through conversation and compromise.  We tend to favor win-lose decisions as opposed to win-win through amicable settlement of differences. Too often we choose to trample and bury our opponents rather than learn how to live with them through open-mindedness and understanding instead of resorting to physical or spoken anger and even violence.

Jesus tells us to judge for ourselves what is right rather than have a magistrate make that decision for us with the outcome being uncertain and perhaps even devastating for one or even both parties.  That can be the outcome when couples decide to divorce with custody of children being the “prize” for the “winning” spouse.  

Jesus said: “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”  The present time whether in politics or religion involves serious divisions and uncompromising players in those arenas.  A proper interpretation might be that calamity will ensue.  

Trampling and burying our opponents is self-destructive and anti-Christ behavior.  There are too many rising clouds in the west.  We should look skyward, and pray for sunshine, better yet, rainbows.

Deacon David Pierce