Church Notes: Peopleology – What to Do When People Tear You Down

People where nudging me and telling me to shut off my phone.  Leaders, with curiosity, where glancing at what I was doing during service.   It looked like I was not setting a good example while sitting in church.  Once Amy told them what I was doing, they stopped asking and focused again on Pastor Kent Munsey’s message.  Trust me, I was not texting in church…

I was taking notes in church on my iPhone!  Instead of taking notebooks and paper, possibly losing them later, I simply take my notes in church and them email them so I can arrange them neatly.  Curious about what notes I take?  I’ll share them with you from now on, every Sunday.

Pastor Kent kicked off a serious message on “People-ology”.  Yes, the study of people!

Think about it, we go through at least twelve grades of education and we study subjects such as history, math, science and English.  Yet, the situations we deal with in our daily lives as adults are money, parenting and relationships!  Tell me, where was our formal education in this?

This is one of the main reasons why my church and spiritual life are so important.  It allows me to work on me and become a better me.  Therefore, I can be the best possible person to be in the service of others as a father, a son, a brother, a financial professional and financial talk radio show host.

Here’s to the betterment of your lives…a peek into the source of what Money Smart Radio and Matthew Sapaula draw upon to get through good AND tough times!

Enter – Pastor Kent Munsey of City Church Chicago…and my notes:

John 13:14 (New King James Version)

¹⁴ If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

We love people through the framework of our relationship with them.

The less complicated you are, the easier it is to have a relationship and be in a relationship.  Self-reflection needed here and good friends that can be brutally honest with you.

Lesson from 1 Samuel 25

Nabel was rude, rich but harsh and difficult to get along with. The name, Nabel,  in Hebrew means fool!
Do you know people with these character types?

Volcanos – people who are ready to explode, argue and sit always uptight
Sponges – they soak up everything in your life and they never give back
Gossipers- they spread rumors and they leak secrets
Cold-Shoulders – one time they give your friendship and love, then the next time you see them, they shun you out
Critics – constantly contrarian, as if they are getting rewarded for it
Back-Stabbers – they are somebody different when they are around differnt people
Control Freaks – they alienate others, they dont include others, need things done their way

You are called to be the light to people and have grace with others!

We can love on one another…yet be wise when it comes to difficult and challenging people.  The devil will use resentmemt and hurt to ultimately destroy you and separate you from others.

Now, David was on the warpath to take vengeance against Nabel.  But he ran into Abigail along the way to change his mind…here’s what happened…

1 Samuel 25: 23-33

²³ When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. ²⁴ She fell at his feet and said: “My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. ²⁵ May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name-his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent.

²⁶ “Now since the LORD has kept you, my master, from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, may your enemies and all who intend to harm my master be like Nabal. ²⁷ And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my master, be given to the men who follow you. ²⁸ Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the LORD’s battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. ²⁹ Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. ³⁰ When the LORD has done for my master every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him leader over Israel, ³¹ my master will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the LORD has brought my master success, remember your servant.”

³² David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. ³³ May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.

God will deal with your offenders and avenge them on your behalf!  Stay focused on YOUR purpose!!

In dealing with difficult people, here are 5 steps:

1) Don’t dwell on foolishness and foolish people – you have more important things to do!
2) Fools will always be fools – dont take it personal, it is not about you and you aren’t the one to change them
3) Show forgiveness and mercy – by showing your mercy, you show a greater strength by not beating them up. Grace and mercy is what God shows us even with our flaws! He looks over our offenses against Him!!
4) Let God handle the difficult people – live in peace and God will fight ur battles!
5) Hold your peace- live with no regrets and allow u to live ur destiny!

If you are looking to visit or find a bible-based, bible-teaching church…be my guest to City Church Chicago, every Sunday @ 5:30pm CST.  They are located at 777 N. Green St. (Chicago and Halsted) Email me  – info@moneysmartradio.com and I’ll introduce you to some key people to help make your visit memorable.

God bless you!