It’s said that breaking up is hard to do, but not all break-ups are bad. Most junior high crushes are best left to memory, and parting ways with a bad work situation leads to a lifting of spirit and peace of mind.

Paul and Barnabus split ways over John Mark. Barnabus wanted to take him along on the next mission trip, but Paul disagreed. Mark deserted them earlier and Paul feared a repeat performance. Barnabus the encourager and believer of the best saw the redeemable side. So they had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.

Barnabus and Mark left for Cyprus while Paul recruited Silas and headed the other direction. Instead of one missionary band, two moved out to strengthen new church plants and talk about Jesus.

Sometimes good people disagree. Break-ups may be hard, but the results are not always bad. In fact, they often lead to flourishing. One beautiful result of the Paul versus Barnabus spat was that Mark matured under the leadership of Barnabus, so much so that Paul asked for Mark to visit him while imprisoned, writing of Mark, he is helpful to me in my ministry—a huge turn-around in their relationship.

As things start to come apart, remember that the Lord may have new ideas in mind. Perhaps the flourishing of those around us, or even our own, will result from the break-up at hand.

Acts 15 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2023

Photo by Rommel Davila