The Bible often presents us with stories of conflict, of individuals confronted by opposing powers and points of view. Often these involved powerful kings, but also conflicts between brothers, husbands and wives, parents and children.
In a conflict, be it with a friend, family member, spouse, employer, or government, the temptation can be to argue and stake out a position, to assign blame and strategize for success. We may think we are right and want to hold our position. Or we may try to compromise. But trying to reconcile conflicts can be problematic. Stories and teachings in the Bible, as well as the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, suggest that instead of arguing or trying to conciliate opposing points of view, we need to first lift our view above the conflict.
In the Bible, Joseph didn’t have the opportunity to argue when his half brothers sold him into slavery. There is no record of Joseph’s rancor. There is only testimony of his faithfulness to God and to his highest ideal of manhood. Even when he was unjustly accused by his master’s wife of seducing her and then thrown into prison, there is record that Joseph remained committed to a spiritual course in his life. The Bible tells us, “The Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Genesis 39:21).
