Agree with your adversary quickly . . . —Matthew 5:25
In this verse, Jesus Christ laid down a very important
principle by saying, “Do what you know you must do— now. Do it quickly. If you don’t, an inevitable process will
begin to work ’till you have paid the last penny’ (Matthew 5:26)
in pain, agony, and distress.” God’s laws are unchangeable and there is no
escape from them. The teachings of Jesus always penetrate right to the heart of
our being.
Wanting to make sure that my adversary gives me all my
rights is a natural thing. But Jesus says that it is a matter of inescapable and
eternal importance to me that I pay my adversary what I owe him. From our
Lord’s standpoint it doesn’t matter whether I am cheated or not, but what does
matter is that I don’t cheat someone else. Am I insisting on having my own
rights, or am I paying what I owe from Jesus Christ’s standpoint?
Do it quickly— bring yourself to
judgment now. In moral and spiritual matters, you must act immediately. If you
don’t, the inevitable, relentless process will begin to work. God is determined
to have His child as pure, clean, and white as driven snow, and as long as
there is disobedience in any point of His teaching, He will allow His Spirit to
use whatever process it may take to bring us to obedience. The fact that we
insist on proving that we are right is almost always a clear indication that we
have some point of disobedience. No wonder the Spirit of God so strongly urges
us to stay steadfastly in the light! (see John 3:19-21).
“Agree with your adversary quickly . . . .” Have you
suddenly reached a certain place in your
relationship with someone, only to find that you have anger in your heart?
Confess it quickly— make it right before God. Be reconciled to that person— do it now!
(Taken from Oswald Chambers – “My Utmost
for His Highest” June 30)