This post will show you 5 ways Jesus dealt with difficult people.
There is a special kind of tension that comes with dealing with a difficult or foolish person. They have a way of making you question your patience and resolve while blaming you for their shortcomings.
Have you ever dealt with such a person? Lord knows I have! In this article, we will explore five faith-filled responses to dealing with difficult people who will honor God and help you protect yourself.
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The Bibleโs Definition of a Fool
The Bible has a lot to say about difficult (foolish) people, including that these individuals lack wisdom, disregard God’s instruction, take no pleasure in understanding, are quick to anger, and essentially live as though there isn’t a God watching them.
They often act without considering the consequences of how their actions will impact themselves and others, and they lack a moral compass because of their rejection of God’s truths.
A fool talks instead of listening (Proverbs 10:18)โa babbler. Picture a group sitting at a table, one person is rattling on with their opinions without trying to understand anything (Proverbs 18:2).
A fool is unteachable, not only because they lack listening skills but also because they think they already know everything (Proverbs 12:15, 23:9). When confronted with a problem, a foolish person will minimize, deny, and do anything in their power to avoid dealing with reality.
Check the bottom of this article for 15 Proverbs that describe the nature of foolish people.
Here are five practical ways you can respond to difficult or foolish people:
Way #1: Extend Grace Extravagantly
People who live their lives foolishly are often lacking the most important relationship they could possibly have- a relationship with Christ.
The truth is that these people hurt and mistreat us the way they do because they are lost, broken, and wandering through life without Him.
It doesn’t mean that we should lie down and take abuse from people who have no intention of being reasonable and kind to us. But we have an opportunity to demonstrate the radical love Christ first extended to us while we were still sinners.
Jesus tells us this: โLove your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for
those who mistreat you.โ (Luke 6:27-28 NKJV)
Loving the difficult people in our lives doesn’t mean we have to remain in contact when a relationship is clearly detrimental to our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Loving difficult people can be as simple as loving them from a distance enough to pray for their hearts to be softened enough to change and come to Christ.
Seeing people through a lens of their humanity has helped me SO much in understanding why difficult people act the way they do.
Way #2: Don’t Argue with Foolish People
You might win the argument but lose the person. Arguments produce quarrels and
quarrels produce resentment (2 Tim 2:23-24).
Jesus never lost His composure. A powerful example is when the Pharisees
questioned Him about paying taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22).
Instead of taking the bait, Jesus calmly gave them an answer that both silenced them and exposed
their true motives: โGive to Caesar what is Caesarโs, and to God what is Godโs.โ
His response was a masterclass in wisdom under pressure. He didn’t argue, nor did
He allow them to derail His mission.
Way #3: Boldly Project Truth
An extreme reaction Christians might take when dealing with difficult people is
passivity. We think the best response is no response, assuming that they will repent
and taste our saltiness through our silence.
But many bullies are emboldened by inaction as permission to escalate their
behavior. Jesus teaches us that whenever the truth is championed, it sets free. (John
8:32)
In those cases, we must trust God to do the work in their hearts. Our only job is to
extend grace, avoid pointless arguments, speak the truth in love, pray for them, and
when necessary, remain silent. and trust God to work in their hearts.
Pray with me: Lord, Iโve struggled with loving difficult or foolish people, but I know itโs
where Your greatest work begins in my heart. Iโm tired of the struggle and ask for Your
help to love others as You love me. Amen
When we hide the truth we enable bad behaviour. In the words of Edmund Burke,
the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. We
assume that they know how destructive their words are.
Jesus didn’t hesitate to confront the Pharisees with truth. He calls them sons of
hell, hypocrites and brood of vipers. They knew better but yet saw justice as an
inconvenience.
Way #4: Pray for Them
Looking back, I realize that dealing with difficult people has taught me alot about
myself. My reactions to stress and conflict were often more about me than the
other person. Prayer has helped me acknowledge that God can reach even the
coldest of hearts.
James 1:5 encourages us to pray for those who lack wisdom that it may be given to
them. Hurting people hurt people. God takes us as we are and works in us to
become all that we should be. (Philippians 2:13)
Way #5: Sometimes Silence is Golden
It takes real strength to hold your tongue when everything in you wants to speak
up, especially when your words of truth are being ignored and every loving action is
met with resistance. In those moments, silence truly is golden.
Jesus in Matthew 7:6, tells us not to cast our pearls before swine, warning us that
valuable things โlike love and truthโ can be wasted on those who don’t value them.
It’s one of the hardest lessons to learn: sometimes, a fool is a fool and it’s not your
job to change them.
Conclusion
Sometimes holding on too long to a toxic relationship can drain us of our peace and
emotional well being. And the truth is that some people are not ready or willing to
receive what we have to offer.
In those cases, we must trust God to do the work in their hearts. Our only job is to
extend grace, avoid pointless arguments, speak the truth in love, pray for them, and
when necessary, remain silent. and trust God to work in their hearts.
Pray with me: Lord, Iโve struggled with loving difficult or foolish people, but I know itโs
where Your greatest work begins in my heart. Iโm tired of the struggle and ask for Your
help to love others as You love me. Amen
15 Bible verses about foolish people
1. Proverbs 23:9
โSpeak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.โ
2. Proverbs 26:4
โAnswer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.โ
3. Proverbs 13:20
โHe that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.โ
4. Proverbs 13:20
โHe that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.โ
5. Proverbs 18:2
โA fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.โ
6. Proverbs 12:23
โA prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.โ
7. Proverbs 29:11
โA fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.โ
8. Proverbs 18:6
โA fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.โ
9. Proverbs 12:15
โThe way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.โ
10. Proverbs 18:7
โA fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.โ
11. Proverbs 28:26
โHe that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.โ
12. Proverbs 26:12
โHe that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.โ
13. Proverbs 1:7
โThe fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.โ
14. Proverbs 19:29
โJudgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.โ
15. Proverbs 26:5
โAnswer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.โ
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