Should We Ignore My Brother-in-Law?

Q: My brother-in-law always dominates the conversation when he’s with us, and if anyone tries to change the subject, he just keeps talking. We all dread being around him. Should we just ignore him? — Mrs. L.S.

A: I suspect we’ve all known people like this — and you’re right; it’s difficult to be around them. That’s why often our first response is to avoid them if we possibly can.

But God loves them just as much as He loves us, and He wants to help us love them also. After all, God doesn’t just love people who are easy to love; if He did, He’d turn His back on us every time we sinned. But God doesn’t do that — and neither should we. Jesus said, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” (Luke 6:32).

Ask God to help you to be patient with your brother-in-law, and to love him as you should. But love doesn’t mean we ignore a person’s faults or refuse to help them overcome them. Pray for him, therefore, that God will show him just how prideful and insensitive he has become, and how hurtful he is to those around him. Pray especially that God will give you an opportunity to confront him about his attitude — not harshly, but in love. The Bible says, “It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:5).

Pray most of all that he will see his need for Christ, and humble himself at the foot of the cross. God wants to change him — and He will, as he opens his heart and life to Christ’s transforming power. The Bible says, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way” (Psalm 25:9).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

(c)2018 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.