When a workplace divides,
decline is inevitable. When a sports team fractures from within, a drop in
performance almost always follows. And when a church experiences unresolved
conflict, it inevitably loses influence and compromises its witness to the world
around it. Division is never just an internal matter — it always has real and
lasting consequences.
It makes sense then that
Scripture says quite a bit about the value of unity. Unity matters deeply — and
not just as a good idea. It is a direct command from God:
“Make every effort to keep the unity
of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
—
Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)
The phrase “make every effort”
tells us something important: unity does not happen on its own. It requires
intentional, deliberate pursuit. It is something we must actively work at every
single day.
Fortunately, when God gives a
command, He often gives us the wisdom to live it out. In 1 Peter 3:8, the
Apostle Peter lays out several qualities that are essential to building and
maintaining unity:
“Finally, all of you, be
like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”
— 1
Peter 3:8 (NIV)
Peter pairs like-mindedness
with four virtues that are essential to embracing unity.
Be sympathetic. Sometimes
we divide because we cannot see beyond our own perspective. Someone’s behavior
may frustrate or upset us, but when we make the effort to understand the world
through their experiences, we become far slower to judge and far less likely to
pull away. Sympathy builds bridges where division would otherwise take root.
Love one another. That
just about says it all, doesn’t it? Love has the remarkable ability to see
beyond a person’s faults and failures. It chooses their best interests over our
own. When genuine love is present in a community, disunity finds it very
difficult to gain a foothold. Love is, as Colossians 3:14 reminds us, the bond
that holds everything together in perfect unity.
Be compassionate. As the
saying goes, hurt people hurt people. Sometimes the words and actions that
wound us most come from people who are themselves carrying deep pain.
Compassion means recognizing that, and choosing not to overreact — knowing that
what is said in a moment of hurt does not always reflect the whole story.
Be humble. Many
divisions are born out of the insistence on having things our own way, or the
belief that we alone have the right answer. Humility allows us to acknowledge
that we may not always see the complete picture. It creates space for us to
truly listen — and in listening, find a perspective we hadn't considered
Unity is hard to maintain, and there
may be seasons when, try as we might, unity proves impossible. Even so, let us
commit ourselves to pursuing unity as far as it depends on us — because the
effort itself honors God.
One of the guiding Scriptures
of our church is Psalm 133, which opens with these words:
“How good and pleasant it is when
God’s people live together in unity!”
—
Psalm 133:1 (NIV)
It truly is good. It is
beautiful. Whether in a church, a family, or a workplace, unity is worth
protecting — worth prioritizing above our own agendas and personal preferences.
So before breaking ranks with someone, first give sympathy,
love, compassion, and humility a try. Unity may very well be possible — and it
will certainly be profitable.
