May 19, 1999, was a long-awaited day.
Why?
The first new Star Wars film since the 1983 release of Return Of The Jedi opened in theaters.
That day, The Phantom Menace was released. (A 16-year wait).
But then, there was Jar Jar.
Just thinking of that name makes many Star Wars fans cringe.
Do we have someone who makes us cringe just thinking of them or seeing them approaching 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.
We need to rely on God and the Holy Spirit to do this.
Another example is what 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 John 3:16.
Here are four practical ways to deal with difficult people.
1. Speak with respect: Ephesians 4:15 and Proverbs 15:1.
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 and Matthew 5:44.
