I Can’t Get Along With You

Romans 12:18

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Many think getting along with everyone is a badge of honor, but God’s Word makes it clear it is not possible. If you love truth and right, you cannot get along with everyone. It does not mean that you don't try to get along with everyone, but some people just won’t get along with you because of what you believe and practice.

God’s command to live peaceably with all men is often misunderstood. God says, If it be possible…. In other words, there are times it will not be possible to live peaceably with all men. Let me share several things the verse above does not mean and several things it does mean.

First, this verse does not say it is possible to live peaceably with all men. Let’s face it, there are some people who will never get along with you if you hold onto truth. You cannot live peaceably with all men if you hold tightly to truth, for compromisers are only peaceable with compromisers.

Second, making peace the focus only leads to the truth being compromised; peace is not a destination, it is a result. Many make peace their goal, and they will compromise whatever they need to so they can be peaceable with others. Making the result your focus instead of the truth always causes truth to be disposable. Truth has become the casualty of many who were well-intentioned. Many have sought to be peaceable with everyone, which is not a bad desire, but this can only happen if you are willing to lay aside the truth to be peaceable with those who have compromised the truth.

Third, it is spiritual not to be at peace with everyone as long as truth is the reason you are not peaceable. Again, God said, If it be possible. This means that when it is not possible to be peaceable with all men for the truth’s sake that you are still obeying God. You are more right with God when you are not peaceable with all men because you held onto truth than you are by being peaceable with all men by sacrificing the truth for peace.

Fourth, truth is to be your focus. Truth must be the focus for what you do. I would rather be peaceable with truth than to be peaceable with all men and sacrifice the truth for peace. Making the truth your focus will often cause you to be at odds with many. Does this make you a bad person? Absolutely not! The Scriptures are filled with believers who did not live peaceably with all men because they would have had to sacrifice the truth to make this happen. Truth, which is God’s Word, must be the focus of every believer if they are to stay true to how the Scriptures command us to live.

Fifth, living peaceably with people is a discovery on the pathway of agreement. I find peace with those on the path of truth if I am walking the pathway of truth. Likewise, I discover peace with compromisers when I choose to walk the pathway of compromise. Peace is never a destination, but a result of the path you choose to walk. You find peace with God when you choose His path of accepting Christ as your Saviour. Likewise, you will find peace with others who hold onto the truth, not because you were seeking to be at peace with them, but because you discovered them while walking the same path that you walk. Let peace with others be a discovery instead of a destination. Choose to walk the pathway of the truth, and you will find that you will be at peace with others who walk the same path.