Say Sorry
“Leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
Not always an easy task, is it?
Especially, when you have nothing against the other person. It is him who has something against you. So why should I go and reconcile with him?
Because as long as you leave that situation undone, you cannot receive a true blessing from God. So the Lord says leave your offering at the altar and obey God first. Just apologize!
You say, "for what?" Well, obviously you have offended him. Just say sorry and then offer your gift to God. You know, much offence is caused by ignorance - It is never done on purpose.
I come from Central Africa, that is where I originated from and when I came down and bought my farm in Zululand, the Zulu culture was very foreign to me. For example, I would give one of my workers something in my left hand (because I happen to be left-handed), but it is an offence. In Zulu culture, you never give a person something in your left hand - you always give it to them in your right hand.
Another thing, a senior always greets a junior first. That is not the way I was brought up. I was brought up that you have to greet the older person first, not so in the Zulu culture, and I got that one wrong as well.
Only after a long time my old friend, Simeon Bhengu, my Induna (my foreman) - I would see he would have a bit of a long face. I would say, “Simeon, what’s wrong?” And then we would sit down and have a chat and I would apologize, say sorry, and then we would carry on - he is still one of my best friends today!
Another very good friend of mine, a brother in Christ, is a Forester. He farms on the eastern side of our beloved South Africa. He has a huge operation going there. He has many, many employees. What he does, as a practice every single morning is he gets his staff to stand in a circle and he says, “If anybody has a grievance, or if anybody here is offended, please step into the middle of the circle and make your grievance known so that we can sort it out.” And of course, they do and they speak to each other.
So then there is no opportunity for the devil to sow discord in that company. Then they have a united prayer and thanksgiving and then they go to work - in harmony.
Sort out that problem today. It is not as big as you think and then you leave God wide open to bless you!
Have a wonderful day.