Central Truth

Paul and Barnabas had a previous missionary trip together with John Mark. As they planned for the second trip, Barnabas wanted to take Mark. Paul didn't want to take John Mark because he had deserted them on the first trip. A disagreement arose. 

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Reflections

In this passage, we see a dispute over John Mark participating in the second missionary journey. What I see is how often times one person sees a situation one way while another person sees it another way. This difference of opinion is where we usually mess up. We take it personally instead of accepting the fact that we each bring our own perspective into assessing a situation. We dig in and claim the other person wrong. We miss the bigger picture.

The bigger picture is how do we disagree without being disagreeable? In instances as this, separation doesn't have to be full of resentment and animosity. Separation can be the beginning of something new. That new something can be the growth of humility, understanding, and wisdom.

Let's look at Saul and David (1 Sam 18). Saul becomes jealous over a song that women sang after David's victory over Goliath, so Saul tries to kill David. David, however, recognized that Saul was God's man for that time, and he refused to retaliate (1 Sam. 24).

This disagreement between Paul and Barnabas is in contrast to the conflict between Saul and David. Saul sought to kill David, God's anointed. David took the heavenly perspective and refused to harm King Saul.

Three years ago the director of my job changed. The management style was different from anything I'd ever experienced. We were in disagreement. Initially, I did not handle it well. Then I began to pray that I'd change and grow. Any disagreement between Christians can be resolved if we use it as an opportunity to express humility, understanding, and wisdom. This is a God-honoring approach. The reality is that Christians must commit beforehand to resolve differences this way because it gives God an opportunity to bless all involved. 

This is evident after the disagreement of Paul and Barnabas. One team became two teams. They ministered on two fronts instead of one.
This passage doesn't belabor the point of the disagreement. It just states the facts because it is more important that we learn the spiritual lessons that God is teaching in resolving differences.

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Discussion Questions

1.  Plan ahead for handling disagreements by praying for humility, understanding, and wisdom.

2. Read the passages in 1 Samuel and see the contrasts between David and Saul's posture.

3. Think of disagreements that you have had.  Do you think that if they occurred today that you would better equipped to handle them in a God-honoring way?

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