Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Today’s reading (Philippians 4) is filled with all kinds of great and famous teachings – on joy, and our thought lives, on generosity, but may I call your attention to the most stunning verse in this chapter? Verse 2: “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.”

Seriously, think about it. Because these two women couldn’t get along, because they liked to debate, because they carried a grudge against each other – they are called out, by name, in the number one selling book of all time, which has been translated into nearly every language known to man. Wow.

Like, I can picture when I get to Heaven, and I’m sitting at some all-you-can-eat feast, and I turn to the lady next to me and say, “Hey, I’m Vince.” And she replies, “Hi, I’m Syntyche.” And I’m like, “Wait, are you that Syntyche?” And she gets a sour look on her face and says, “Yes, THAT Syntyche.” And I’m all, “Hey everyone, this is Syntyche! You know, the one who couldn’t agree with Euodia! This is her!” And then I ask Syntyche, “Wait, where’s Euodia?” And Synthche says, “I don’t know, and I don’t care. And if you see that no good woman, you tell her there’s not room enough in Heaven for both of us! I’m gunning for her!”

All these two women are known for, throughout all history, is that they couldn’t get along with each other.

So, the kinda obvious question is: Are you like Eudoia and Syntyche? Are you hard to get along with? Do you tend to offend people? Are you carrying a grudge? Do you like to debate? Are you a force for disunity in your church? And, if so, repent. Change. Quick. Because if not, you may end up getting called out in the Bible, and I will definitely submit you to public humiliation if I sit next to you at dinner in Heaven.