Don't Break Ranks: Four Biblical Keys to Keeping Unity Alive

I’m starting a new study this week from a dark period in the history of Old Testament Israel. After the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon — a season in which Israel experienced a good deal of success and influence — the nation does something tragic: it divides. What follows is a troubled and sobering chapter in Old Testament history, and it serves as a powerful warning for us today.

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.