Let There Be No Tug-Of-War Here

In many colleges around the country, students engage in an interesting annual rite — a tug-of-war. Two teams train and prepare to pull together on their end of a rope to win the competition, hoping to avoid the mud-pit between the teams and gain campus bragging rights for another year. Even though it’s a fun competition, it can become intense.

As followers of Christ, we often face the challenge of learning how to pull together. Many times, self-interest, personal agendas, and power struggles get in the way of genuine ministry and hinder the work of Christ.

Such was the case in Paul’s letter to the Philippian brethren, where he had to plead with Euodia and Syntyche to “be of the same mind” (Philippians 4:2; cf. Romans 12:16; Romans 15:5; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 3:16). Their personal friction created a roadblock to their spiritual service, and their “tug-of-war” was harming the spiritual life of the church.

Paul’s appeal was for them to pull together and work for the honor of the Master. It is an appeal that serves us well today. When we feel distanced from our fellow Christians, we must look for the common ground we have in the spiritual teachings of our Savior (John 15:14).

The Lord’s church is no place for a tug-of-war. It’s imperative that we work together for the advancement of God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1). He can use us in profitable ways when we lay aside our personal differences and pull together on the rope of cooperation.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets