"I'm in Hot Water Again!"

It’s not what you think! I sensed a problem with the hot side of our kitchen faucet while washing the Sunday dishes. The water is usually uncomfortably hot, but this time it was barely warm. After going downstairs to inspect the water heater, I could immediately see a puddle of water under the unit and streams leading to the sump pump nearby.

Are you in hot water?

Early Monday, I called our service provider about scheduling a plumber. As I described the situation to the dispatcher, she suspected that our twenty-something-year-old unit had failed! It was comforting to hear that they’d service us later that afternoon. While I was mowing outside in the morning, Monique busied herself with some bookkeeping. We only felt a little inconvenienced when we tried to clean up the noon hour dishes.

It’s obvious that we are spoiled by having “running water” when 2.2 billion throughout the world live daily with the stress of unsafely managed and inaccessible drinking water! (Source: worldbank.org). Recently, we have even had some cities in our state that have had protracted issues with their water supply. I heard a politician commenting on the evening news about that situation. He said, “Water is not a partisan issue!” I think we all would agree with that assessment!

Regarding something at a different level of application, have you ever admitted, “I’m in hot water?” This common idiom is often used to describe someone who is in trouble or is dealing with opposition or conflict. I have used that confession after failing to communicate my whereabouts during the day! But sometimes, the situation is a lot more uncomfortable! What do you do about serious relational issues at work, in your family, or with a neighbor?

Misunderstandings occur regularly in our daily relating. We overact to what others say about us or we say things that are hurtful, either intentionally, or by a “slip of the tongue.” We often discover that it’s easier to get “into hot water” and a lot harder to “get out of it!” Sometimes we are the problem in that we won’t forgive or overlook another’s missteps. And it works both ways in that others are prideful too and won’t extend forgiveness or offer us a second chance.

The Apostle Paul deals with this subject in several paragraphs of Scripture under the theme of love. He instructs the Christians in Rome, “Love must be sincere.” That word means to be genuine and has been translated, “Don’t pretend to love others. Really love them.” (Romans 12:9, NLT). The more Paul discusses this, the more uncomfortable it is to hear this message. “Bless those who persecute you… Live in harmony with each other.” (12:14, 16).

There probably isn’t anything that challenges human nature more than this relational counseling, “Never pay back evil with more evil…never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.” (12:17,19). I remember during my ordination hearing this wise instruction, “If you try to get back at the person who has offended you, God will allow you to try to do this. But remember, it will never be satisfying because you are not the righteous judge. Let God do only what He can do!”

Sometimes, if feels exhausting to follow this admonition, “Do all you can to live in peace with everyone.” (12:18). But when you consider the alternative of what division creates in inner turmoil, the decision to work toward harmony is a “no brainer!” Who among us doesn’t prefer peace over chaos? In addition, we know that God will not bless any behavior that pushes us away from others rather than moving us toward the goal of peaceful reconciliation. As Jesus summarized the two great commands of Scripture, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  

In Wesleyan Methodism you will often hear these simple rules for the Christian life - “Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.” The Apostle Paul summarizes his discussion of genuine love in Romans 12 with this powerful reminder to all believers, “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

Let’s try to stay out of hot water in all our relating this week!

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
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Serve by Design. mjkministries.com

[Thank you to each of you who take the time to read this weekly blog! This article represents the 350^th post since the inception of Serve by Design in August 2018. I am humbled to report that to date this website has received 480,000 total pageviews. This reminds me that “writers need readers!” Thanks again!] 😊