"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." (Mat 5:9)
What’s the opposite of a peacemaker? The opposite of a “peacemaker” is a “fighter.” A person who is quick to argue and fight back cannot be spiritually mature. Jesus wasn’t like that. Even in the midst of people who spit on Him and ridiculed Him, He remained calm and often didn’t even say a word. A peacemaker is one who possesses godly wisdom to seek peace (not revenge) when being attacked.
“For where envying and strife are, there is confusion and every foul deed. But the wisdom that is from above is first truly pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” - (Jam 3:16-18)
The most readily seen people of peace are the ones who can keep peace in their home. It’s easy to keep peace with people outside of the home – avoid anyone who you come in contact with! At work and in the church, it may be easy to avoid people we dislike and have friction with. But the people inside the home cannot be avoided. If there’s a problem, there’s going to be friction there. This is where the people of peace stand out – inside the home. Outside the home, avoiding people is easy and we can fool people that we are wise peacemakers… but then there’s another word for us: hypocrites.
If we have to go to the extreme of avoiding people to keep peace, there’s something wrong. There’s a name for “avoiding people” it’s called “division.” This is not being a true peacemaker. The bible says that anybody who causes division among his or her brothers in the Lord is a baby – a carnal Christian. You can’t even give this person solid food to eat but must coddle them and feed them with milk like a little infant:
"And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual ones, but as to fleshly, as to babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk and not with solid food, for you were not yet able to bear it; nor are you able even now. For you are yet carnal. For in that there is among you envyings and strife and divisions, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to men?" (1Co 3:1-3)
A rebellious and argumentative person indicates a baby – people who throw tantrums when they do not get their way. And they must be treated like they are babies. Are you one of these people? Do you scream and yell inside your home like the whole heathen world around you? Then don’t fool yourself that you’re any different! On the other hand, if you are a peacemaker then you have God’s wisdom. Sometimes you must deal with some family member who is carnal. In this case you must treat them like a baby and hold back certain things (comments, feelings, etc) from them – only give them what they are able to handle. These ones cannot take a rebuke easily, for example. They are very quick to point fingers, call names, and blame others. They are very slow to apologize.
Let the little things go for the sake of peace. If you fight with your spouse over leaving the lights on, why not pay a few extra bucks on electricity and keep peace. $10 extra per month for a peaceful household is a bargain! Be willing to work and let yourself get taken advantage of sometimes. Refrain from name calling. Hold back your words. Don't repay a harsh word with a sarcastic response. Don't stoop to the other person’s level and you'll have a great reward in Heaven. Be slow to speak, quick to listen. Be gentle, even when people are throwing stones at you. Repay evil with good. If your anger gets riled up, take five minutes to have some time alone with God. The bible says to be angry… but don’t sin (Eph 4:26). Anger is not a sin, but how you handle it indicates whether you are a saint, or a carnal baby Christian. Do your best to calm the fires of anger and division down. When you do this – you’re a peacemaker – like Jesus, who was called the “prince of peace” (Isa 9:6).
If you want to be called a son of God, then be a peacemaker (Mat 5:9). If you want to know wisdom, then try to the best of your ability to live in harmony with the rest of the people in your home, church and workplace.
"But I say to you, Do not resist evil. But whoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." (Mat 5:39)