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Everyone has differences in opinion, whether tastes, or preferences. That is what gives each person a unique perspective, and there is nothing wrong with that. But in any relationship, be it a friendship, family member, or couple, there must be an agreement made between all parties involved to seek understanding with one another and look beyond those differences.
The goal of the Adversary (Satan) is to place a wedge between the most loving relationships in order to destroy them and create resentment among people. He does this for his own purposes. He attempts to always undermine the foundations that relationships are built upon, which are trust, respect, kindness, compassion, and love. This erosion not only takes its toll on the actual relationships, but on the individuals as well.
Sometimes, it is very hard to notice that a contentious spirit is even present until we find ourselves in an argument with someone else over the most mundane of things. The contentious spirit lingers on when we realize that we are unwilling to give up our position on whatever it is we are arguing about, even when we know that it would be better to just agree to disagree. We would rather believe that we are right and that the other person is in the wrong.
The Adversary, if we let him, plays us right into a battle of words and influences us to believe that there should be a decisive winner, at all costs. When we engage in this kind of battle, we can often lose control over our emotions, making it easier for us to magnify whatever differences we initially had and blowing the argument out of proportion. This can lead to vicious words and hurt feelings that are not easily remedied or forgotten.
And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come.
And notwithstanding the signs and the wonders which were wrought among the people of the Lord, and the many miracles which they did, Satan did get great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the face of the land. (Hel. 16:22-23)
The previous scripture warns us of the havoc that the Adversary is capable of, if we foster a contentious spirit within our lives. If we approach our relationships with the same compassion that the Savior, Jesus Christ, would have given us, we are better able to resolve our differences in a way that would be more beneficially mutual for everyone. As children of our Heavenly Father, we are all purposefully different. The challenge to everyone is to recognize that those differences are beautiful in their uniqueness, and learn to be gracious. To do so, we must continually strive to seek understanding beyond any differences we encounter, and to live by the example of the unconditional love that the Savior and Heavenly Father has for us.
