Double-minded people are those who have two personas.
They act one way with one person and another way with others. If they don't like someone they are disrespectful covertly so that others do not see it because even though they know it's wrong they want to control the emotions of the one they dislike.
For the people they wish to impress, double-minded people will have a completely different attitude, flattering and boasting about them as though they are special to gain their confidence. Double-minded people must have many friends, they excel in superficial banter about unimportant matters to be popular.
Double-minded people are not loyal to their friends and will turn on a dime against anyone who does not elevate them as special and superior. Disagreement with a double-minded person is interpreted as a personal attack. There is no reasoning with someone like this, in fact, it is not possible to enjoy a rational disagreement with someone who wants to fight to be the winner.
In the mind of a double-minded person, they count themselves as having won if they have caused their opponent to become angry. I knew someone who poked and poked and poked at their sister until she shouted at him to stop. Then his response was "see how you are." As though she was the bad one for becoming angry when the brother provoked her.
James 1:8
"8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Those who are steady and authentic will not be different with one person than they are with another. Even those who treat them disrespectfully are given the kindness the authentic person is not being shown.
1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Those who love Christ do not want to become like those who treat them discourteously so they guard their hearts by minimizing time with those who wish to provoke them into reactions that are not godly.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."
This passage tells us to avoid such people because given enough prodding and polking we have the potential within us to react rather than respond sensibly.
When we know someone has it in for us to cause reactions it is our responsibility to minimize contact with them. When we cannot avoid them it is good to respond calmly with Biblical answers. To be able to answer Biblically we must know the Bible well.
Psalm 119:11
"11 I have treasured Your word in my heart,
So that I may not sin against You."
Those who are double-minded wish to cause us to lose control so they can feel justified in blaming us as the bad one. The devil has been using this tactic since the beginning of creation.
We can remain calm while giving an honest answer and leave the response of the double-minded person to God. We need not win the conversation or convince the double-minded person, God will take care of it for us. Often it is best to ignore an insult and turn away from someone who is attempting to fight with us.
We have no need to give lengthy explanations that are none of the double-minded's business. We do not owe others justification for our decisions or beliefs.
Proverbs 12:16
"The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult."
Romans 12:17
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all."
Our concern above all else is that we personally act in a way that glorifies God. We are not responsible to change someone's mind. We can share and what they do with it is up to them.
No comments:
Post a Comment