The Ability to Speak Does Not Make You Intelligent

May 19, 1999, was a long-awaited day.

Why?

The first new Star Wars film, since the 1983 release of ROTJ, opened in theaters. That day, The Phantom Menace was released.

But then… there was Jar Jar.

Just thinking of that name makes many Star Wars fans cringe.

Do we have a person in our lives that makes us cringe just thinking of them or see them coming towards us.

How are we to deal with a difficult person?

Are we like Qui-Gon who, literally, runs into Jar Jar, and shortly after that tells him “The ability to speak does not make you intelligent. Now get out of here!”

Do we, like Qui-Gon, get annoyed and rude with difficult people? Unlike how Qui-Gon responded, believers are to respond in a different way, a godly way.

The new way is the one Jesus gave in Matthew 5:43-44 where we are to love both our enemy and neighbor.

To do this, we need to rely on God and his Holy Spirit.

Another example is Jesus told His disciples in John 13:34-35.

The word that Jesus uses here for love is the verb agape. Agape is unconditional love. It is also the same word used in 1 Corinthians 13 and in John 3:16.

4 practical ways to deal with difficult people.

1. Speak with respect

Ephesians 4:15, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”
Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. “

2. The Matthew 18:15-17 pattern

3. Know when to walk away

4. Remember that we will give an account to God
2 Corinthians 5:10 ” For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. ” and
Matthew 5:44 “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”