I know it broke her heart. I know it broke her heart to see her boys at odds. God had given her just two sons and from infancy to adulthood they were at odds. They were not like some brothers who have spats and then make up or who struggle with one another but still share a fraternal kind of love. No, these two genuinely hated each other. They resented one another and fought constantly. When their mother drew near to her final days, it grieved her to know that after her funeral they would go their separate ways and the family tie would be forever broken.
There is something so tragic about this kind of discord between siblings. The family unit is meant to be united by all it shares and all it holds in common. It is heartbreaking to see it disrupted by anger, spite, envy, or any other factor. Parents are especially distressed to see their children fall out and break apart. Many parents, even as they’ve experienced the aches, pains, and challenges of old age, have had this sorrow added to the rest—this sorrow that is far greater than the rest.
We know what it is to listen to music that is discordant, instruments that are out of tune, singers that are not in harmony. We know what it is to have our ears offended by what is supposed to be melodious but is actually irritating. We know what it is, then, to see relationships that are discordant, out of tune, and inharmonious. We know how difficult it is to be in a state of enmity with a friend or to be at odds with a spouse. We know how our hearts are grieved when love gives way to anger and friendship gives way to strife.
We should be able to easily understand, then, how much it grieves the heart of God when his children are disunited, when they bicker and quarrel, and when they go their separate ways. Conversely, we should be able to easily understand how much it delights the heart of God when his children are united, when they love and respect one another, and when they go their way together. We should be able to easily understand how important it is that we do our utmost to “love one another with brotherly affection,” to “live in harmony with one another,” and to “live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:10; 12:16; 12:18). If for no other reason, those two boys ought to have reconciled for the sake of their mother—for the sake of her joy, her peace, her well-being. And we as Christians ought to pursue every avenue of unity for the sake of our Father—for the sake of his joy, the obedience to his demands, and the accomplishing of his purposes.
And we as Christians ought to pursue every avenue of unity for the sake of our Father.
Those who attend the orchestra will know that before a performance begins, the lead oboist plays a long, sustained “A.” All the other musicians listen attentively, then precisely tune their instruments to his. Soon every instrument is playing the same note and the same pitch. In much that way, Christ is the lead musician who gives us our note, who gives us our pitch. Each one of us is under obligation to tune ourselves to him, for he shows us the way to live, the way to love, the way to bless. The degree to which we tune ourselves to him is the degree to which we will love one another. The degree to which we carefully imitate him is the degree to which we will be beautiful, harmonious, and united in purpose and action.
There is never any justification for grieving the heart of our Father the way those boys grieved the heart of their mother. There is never any situation in which we can allow ourselves to be complacent about our lack of harmony. Every day and in every way, we are called to display our love for God through our love for one another, to “have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” (1 Peter 3:8). May God make it so.
Inspired in part by the works of J.R. Miller
