我的四個孫子孫女在玩一組迷你玩具火車，其中兩個年紀較小的孫兒開始爭搶一個引擎。八歲的孫子試著調停，他六歲的妹妹卻說：「別管他們，那是他們的事。」對我們所有人來說，在一般情況下，這番話確實是智慧之言。直到他們吵到開始大哭時，我才介入，將兩人分開，安慰兩個鬧脾氣的孫兒。

當我們的干預會導致事情惡化時，最好就別插手，但有時我們卻需要懷著禱告的心介入。在使徒保羅寫給腓立比教會的書信中，就提到需要干預的例子。他鼓勵友阿爹和循都基這兩位姐妹，「要在主裡同心」（4章2節）。她們顯然吵得太厲害，讓保羅即使身在獄中（1章7節），也覺得需要對她們加以勸解（4章3節）。

保羅知道這兩位姐妹的衝突，已經影響教會的合一與福音事工。因此，保羅溫柔地闡述真理，並且提醒眾同工，他們的名字「都在生命冊上」（4章3節）。保羅希望這兩位姐妹和教會裡的每一個人，在思想和行為上，都能活出上帝兒女的樣式（4-9節）。

當你不確定是否應插手勸解時，請先向上帝禱告，相信「賜平安的上帝」必與你我同在（9節，參閱7節）。

Four of our grandkids were playing with a miniature train set, and the younger two were arguing over an engine. When our eight-year-old grandson began to intervene, his six-year-old sister stated, “Don’t worry about their business.” Wise words for us all—usually. But when the argument turned to tears, Grandma stepped in, separated, and comforted the squabbling children.

It’s good to stay out of others’ business when doing so could make matters worse. But sometimes we need to prayerfully get involved. In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul provides an example of when to do so. Here he urges two women, Euodia and Syntyche, “to be of the same mind in the Lord” (4:2). Apparently, their disagreement had become so intense that the apostle felt compelled to intervene (v. 3), even though he was imprisoned (1:7).

Paul knew the women’s argument was causing disunity and taking focus away from the gospel. So, he gently spoke the truth while reminding them that their names were written “in the book of life” (4:3). Paul wanted these women and everyone in the church to live as God’s people in thought and actions (vv. 4-9).  

When you’re unsure if you should get involved, pray, trusting that “the God of peace will be with you” (v. 9; see v. 7).