In Philippians 4:1-3 in the Church at Philippi there were two great ladies named Euodia and Syntyche. We know these were special ladies as their names mean “fragrance” and “fortunate”.
We aren’t told what the situation was but something had happened in their relationship that caused a “stink” in their fragrance and made them “less fortunate” to be around. Paul is suggesting that there was a need for “mediation” to come to these two ladies and get them together to settle this issue.
I think that can be of great help in the body of Christ as we are to take Jesus’ side instead of picking sides of two people that should be coming together in Jesus, instead of dividing over their differences. There will be times when though we should be able to come together in Christ we will need the help of our fellow brothers and sisters.
Paul reminds them that they had forgotten that they were serving Christ not their differences. Division always has as its first casualty, service! Paul says to them, “Ladies,… have you forgotten that you were involved with me and Clement and the rest of the team in sharing the Good News about Jesus?”
When people are causing you anxiety you can bet that satan is behind it as he wants to put a halt to the work of sharing Jesus with those who need to hear about him. So he plants some division, a disagreement about something minor, and then feeds it in our minds until it consumes us and we stop the work of the gospel because we just can’t work with that person.
In Nehemiah 6:3, Nehemiah responded to a request by Sanballat and Tobiah who were attempting to stop the work of rebuilding the wall at Jerusalem with the words, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
Dear ones never let something so small stop something so great!