I once had a job in the office of an insurance/investment office. There were several agents that worked in the office, and each one had a secretary. I worked for the owner, and he had a personal assistant that also worked for him. He was a very demanding person and had a super-charged ego. One of his opinions, which he expressed often, was that women cannot get along.

When I turned in my notice to leave to take another position, my boss blamed his personal assistant. He said there must be some problem between us. That was not the case. The problem was the environment in which I was working.

My boss held the same position that many people believe; women cannot get along with one another. To some extent, that may be true. It certainly was true in the case of two women we read about in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In chapter 4, Paul encourages Euodia and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. He also asks that someone whom he calls ”his true companion” help them with their problems.

We are not told what the problem was, how long it had existed, or if it was eventually resolved. We are provided only with Paul’s beseeching request to them to learn to get along with one another.

We know that these women were faithful in their assistance to the apostle Paul, according to verse 3. We also learn that their names are written in the book of life. Their problem was some issue between them, and it was obviously affecting the church.

In chapter 1, Paul expressed to the church at Philippi that their manner of life should be worthy of the gospel. He said that he wanted to hear that they were standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, and that they were working side by side for the faith of the gospel. Getting along takes work.

There is nothing more important than unity, especially to those who look at Christians and at the church. If those outside the church see us as always arguing, backbiting, gossiping, and demeaning other Christians, why would they want to be a part of that?

This church was special to Paul. He is writing to them from prison, and we see his love for them in the first verses of chapter 1. He loved them so much that when he received word of the problem between these two women, he was compelled to send a type of reprimand to get them on the right path.

David said, Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” King David knew the necessity of getting along with others. Paul commanded unity to the Christians in Ephesus. They were to walk worthy of their calling, bearing with one another in love, being anxious to retain the unity of the Spirit.

Although we don’t know what the problem was that existed between these sisters in Christ, it was essential that they come to some agreement and stop hurting the church. The problem would not solve itself. They needed help, and they needed to work on the problem.

We should all listen to the words of Paul and get along with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Anything that is of value takes work.

Sandra Oliver