Week Five - Agree

AGREE

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  Amos 3:3

Agree means – to fix upon by appointment, to gather together at a set time. Agreement means – accord or to company with in sentiment.

Agreement is a vital part of peace.  Walking together is referring to a lifestyle or pattern of conduct.  We must be going the same direction in life if we are to dwell or walk together peaceably.  That doesn’t mean that we have to be identical or agree on everything, but it does mean that we need to have similar goals and similar outlooks on life.  We need to agree on what is acceptable behaviour and boundaries.  Then, we can move forward peacefully with each other and have the tools necessary to resolve arising conflicts.

The Bible speaks of the beauty of agreement and unity among the brethren in Psalm 133 saying, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

The peace in our lives is mainly dependent upon our own agreement with God, initially in salvation, and further, in the process of sanctification.  We must agree that God’s way is best and agree to cooperate with His will and plan if we hope to walk in agreement with Him and enjoy His peace and promises.

God wants us to bring any disagreement to him.  In Isaiah 1:18 God calls us to “Come…and let us reason together...”.  He wants us to walk in agreement with him and is ready to work out the details with us!  Is there anything you need to settle with Him?

AGREE

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  Amos 3:3

Peace in our lives is also dependent upon our agreement with those among whom we live whether they are family, workmates, or social acquaintances.  We need to be in agreement in order to have fellowship and social interaction. 

It is very difficult to befriend someone with whom you always disagreed.  We do not usually call these people our friends. We might not necessarily refer to them as enemies either, but they are people whose character or actions bring disagreement to our lives.  Once I heard them referred to as Sandpaper People.

That is an interesting analogy. They are people who rub us the wrong way or who cause friction in our lives.  The effect of sandpaper is to smooth a rough surface.  God can use these Sandpaper People to refine us and make us smoother and take off our own rough edges.

The people with whom we acquaint ourselves do affect us.  “Iron sharpeneth iron”, the writer of Proverbs said.  If we are busy sharpening each other, we won’t have time to dull each other.  We need to evaluate our social community and ask ourselves some hard questions.

Am I sharpening others?  Are those around me sharpening me?  Am I happy and confident on the path of my life and am I secure and confident in the ones walking alongside me? 

If not, I may need to be changing some things.  What can I do to be a better friend?  Do I know what it means to sharpen someone else?  Am I doing things that make for peace?  Is there anyone I need to make peace with?

AGREE

“Agree with thine adversary quickly…”  Matthew 5:25

Here the word “agree” means to reconcile or have peace of mind with. Don’t leave disagreement lying around.  Quickly, without delay, make things right - This goes for our families, as well as our workmates. 

Matthew 18 gives us the steps for reconciliation.  First, we should go to the person whom we have hurt, or has hurt us and confess any wrongdoing.

“But”, you say, “They hurt me.  Why should I go to them?  Surely, they should come and make it right with me first?”

Well, that sounds good to the average person, but God’s standard is always a bit higher.  Matthew 18:15 says that if your brother hurts (trespasses) against you, then you are to go to him alone and work it out.  He may not know that he has hurt you, or may be fearful to approach you.  Either way, if there is disagreement, you are responsible to make the initial effort to make amends.

We might be fearful about trying to make amends.  But that fear can never outweigh the peace and unity of heart we experience when we have re-gained a friendship.  It is simply a step of obedience and faith that says, “I will not let disagreements build up in my life.”

Do you need to go and make peace with someone?

AGREE

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”  Amos 3:3

God knew this would be difficult so he adds a bit of a disclaimer in Romans 12:18 saying, “…as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”  We are to make every effort to be agreeable.  This may mean agreeing to disagree. Yet we are not to be brutish or difficult, but seeking peace with all men. 

I Peter 3 is a chapter on husband and wife relationships.  From verse 8-12 gives a list of relational skills that begins with, “Finally, be ye all of one mind” and carries on down to “…..seek peace…”  Endeavour or strive to possess peace is the meaning of this phrase.  So, obviously, peace comes at price.  We have to make an effort.

The diplomat and the arbitrator have similar jobs.  They are to strive to seek peace between two parties by coming to a common agreement on issues.  This might mean compromise or it might mean reward or recognition in order to attain the goal, but they know the desired end that they are steadfastly working toward.

Many times we forget that family might have to do the same thing.  We might have to set down and talk about the things that hurt us or the things that are not going well.  We might have to seek peace by changing some things in our family structure, but peace is the goal and it only comes by agreement.

We might have to come to the table several times before things start to work peaceably, but it is worth the effort!  “As much as lieth in you...” is a tall order.  There is no room here for short tempers and impatience.  Agreement comes from greater understanding and truth spoken with love and graciousness, and it might just take some time.

AGREE

“…that if two of you shall agree…”  Matthew 18:19

The settling of a dispute or the end of hostilities is a wonderful thing.  When two people have sat down and honestly worked through their differences, a deeper bond is forged.  The two become a stronger unit.

This verse is followed in verse twenty by “for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  Agreement invites Christ into the situation.  Verse 19 indicates that agreement empowers prayer as well, so, there is truly something to be said for staying right with others.

We are not to be disagreeable as Christians.  Our stance is to draw men to Christ, not push them away.  If we are always striving and never reconciling we leave a trail of devastation that inhibits our fellowship Christ and hinders the power of our prayer life.  It is a poor testimony.

Proverbs 16:7 records “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Most likely, there will be some people with whom we will never fully agree, but this verse gives us a higher standard again.  Do our ways please the Lord?  Forget about pleasing others for right now; start with the Lord.  Can you honestly say that you are in agreement with him about your attitude and actions?  If so, then carry on and let him take care of those who oppose you.

If you need to make some changes; then make them in order to please the Lord alone.  Agree with Him and he can make you agreeable to others.