Settling Disputes
Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong
opponents apart. -- Proverbs 18:18
We prayed about it. We discussed it. My friend had one
desire; I had a different one. "Okay, let's settle the issue
the way the early Church settled matters when an agreement
could not be achieved. Let's flip a coin."
"You must be joking!" my friend lamented.
"No, the early Church cast lots often to determine a course
of direction or even select the disciple who would take
Judas' place."
"Okay," my friend agreed. We flipped the coin and the matter
was quickly settled.
In the Old Testament there are many examples of casting lots
for determining a decision. We hear little of this method
today. Most of us do not want to release the decision
process to this seemingly "flippant" process; yet the Lord
says, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision
is from the Lord" (Prov. 16:33). Flipping a coin is the
equivalent to casting a lot. It removes our own opinions and
leaves the final outcome to the Lord. Pray before you take
such an action. It will surprise you who is willing to
submit a decision to the Lord and who isn't. It removes the
element of control from both parties.
I believe the Lord would first have us make decisions
through agreement and continued prayer for the decision.
However, there are times when this approach can be the
quickest and simplest. It removes each person's temptation
to lord it over the other. Cast the lot and settle the
dispute.
Excerpted with permssion from the book TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman, copyright 2000, Destiny Image Publishers, Reprinted by permission. For free daily email subscription to TGIF Today God Is First marketplace meditations, visit www.marketplaceleaders.org