Do your part to live in peace with everyone.
—Romans 12:18
Paul posted a PS to today’s text with the phrase, “as much as possible.” “Do your part to live in peace with everyone,” he wrote—then added, “as much as possible.”
It’s not always possible because sometimes someone in your orbit goes on the warpath.
Still, Proverbs serves up some nuggets of wisdom that help maintain peaceful relationships—as much as possible. Here’s a quartet of them.
“A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm” (12:16).
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (15:1).
“It’s hard to stop a quarrel once it starts, so don’t let it begin” (17:14).
“There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking” (29:20).
The best fight is the one you refuse to have.