Good morning. I once read a story about a pair of friends having a heart-to-heart discussion about their personal lives. One of the men was complaining that he and his wife seemed to be arguing all the time. “It doesn’t really matter who started it, or who might be more to blame, we end up yelling at each other until our throats get sore” the fellow said to his friend. “As a matter of fact, I am thinking that maybe it is time to look into a no-fault divorce.” “I can see how you might feel that way” the troubled man’s friend told him. “But have you thought about maybe instead of looking for a no-fault divorce, you might want to give a no-fault marriage a try first?”
Imagine the implications of such a thing. If in all of our important relationships, we would commit ourselves to a no-fault approach. It wouldn’t matter who had failed whom. It wouldn’t matter what percentage of the blame should rest on either pair of shoulders. It wouldn’t matter what the proper payment in penalties should be. We would enjoy a no-fault relationship, and we would be dedicated to forgiveness rather than assessing blame or determining a final judgement.
This may sound ridiculous in a world that seems to be increasingly carried away with assessing blame for anything and everything that we consider wrong, or even those things with which we disagree. But just imagine for a moment what your world would be like if your important relationships were committed to this way of thinking and living.
Naturally, for Christian people this shouldn’t sound like a new concept. The passage of scripture found in Colossians 3:12-14 is one that I have referred to recently in these thoughts, as well as in a Sunday morning sermon message. But let’s visit it again for a moment to consider the joy it might offer to us: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
The image used in this passage is that we would start our day by being properly dressed for the activities ahead. Not dressed in business attire, or for recreation, or for a casual get-together. No, we are dressed for Jesus. We are dressed for walking with Him in love, and in compassion, and in kindness, and in humility, and in gentleness, and in patience. We are dressed to walk with Jesus, being ready to forgive just as the Lord has forgiven us.
And over all of these virtuous characteristics, we put on love. Love is the belt that binds it all together. Love is the fashion centerpiece that makes it all work. Love is the perfect inclusion to our “look” that will ensure perfect unity between ourselves and those whom we care about.
That would be a no-fault kind of day. That would be a no-fault kind of life.
Wouldn’t it be great to give such a thing a try? What is stopping us?
Vern