Difficult People.

Sometimes God puts difficult people in our path so that we can learn to better deal with them. Sometimes that means humoring them, sometimes it doesn't. Either way, if we fail or succeed,( we will often fail but always hope to succeed) the experience is there to help us grow as people. Here are some helpful verses. The orange text links back to the original page I stole them from.

2 Timothy 2:23-26 ESV

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Matthew 5:38-48 ESV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. ...

This next one is a hard one

Matthew 18:15 ESV

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

Matthew 5:46 ESV

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

Proverbs 9:7-9 ESV

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Do these verses apply to your life? Reading them makes me fear that I'm the difficult person in another's life. Are you guilty of this as well?