No two people can ever fully agree on all things. That is just a fact of life—and a wonderful fact.

It's like a three-legged race in which two people have one leg tied to the leg of the other to become a team. Running quickly in that position is difficult. Even when you are good at it, the ankles rub against one another and the legs hurt. We all walk differently. Our legs may be different in length. We also have different beliefs, brush our teeth differently and have habits that are unique. Just like our fingerprints or DNA—no two are identical.

Since we cannot agree on all things, must we conclude that we can never walk together? Of course, we know that is not correct. So how are we to understand the scripture that asks: "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3:3).

Adjusting Our Steps

All of our lives we need other people. The other day I was walking down a sidewalk and in front of me was a mother and her little girl walking together. It was obvious that Mom took smaller, shorter steps than she usually would so the little girl could keep up.

There was a lesson in what I saw and scenes like it. We know that in order for humans to agree, one or the other—or both—have to give a little. We know we need to adjust our demands and our normal habits to make it possible for us to agree or fit in with another person.

Bridging the Gap

Jesus Christ tolerated spiritual immaturity in His disciples and followers. They had different opinions on various things. Matthew 26:6-9 tells of the disciples wanting to use the money in a different way than Christ did. In Matthew 19:13-14 the disciples wanted children kept away from Christ.

John 6:66 gives us the understanding that some decided not to walk with Jesus and left Him over a disagreement. We see that sometimes it truly is impossible to walk with one another when we are not in agreement. It ought to be clear that those disagreements would have to be major, because there always are disagreements.

Great lessons were learned and the disciples did change. There were times when patience was exhausted due to the seeming inability of a person to change. Paul confronted Peter in Galatians 2:11, but they did continue to walk together. Peter writes later about "our beloved brother Paul" in 2 Peter 3:15.

Agree to Walk Together

What becomes clear in all these examples is that people do not have to fully agree in everything in order to walk together. But they must agree to walk together—that is the point! Once you agree to walk together, you then adjust to one another and accept differences. This is true in marriage, family life, the workplace and in every interaction between people.

We must agree to walk together. That is easier said than done, and obviously there may be a point when that becomes impossible. That agreement contains the determination to accept differences that cannot be changed and to work toward the common goal of being like Christ and like God (Matthew 5:48).

All of us fall far short of the perfect way. Yet Jesus Christ and God the Father do walk with us (Hebrews 13:5-6). They walk in patience and confidence that we will indeed grow to be more like Them. Sometimes God takes shorter steps and pauses to wait for us—just like a loving Father. God knows that even converted people will have to keep on fighting inner flaws.

It is clear that God makes all the difference. Since we are and always will be different from one another (male/female, young/old, sick/healthy, rich/poor, etc.), the obvious conclusion is that we are simply to agree to walk together. One makes up for that which may be lacking or different about the other.

Family Ties

Husbands and wives ought to have the closest relationship we can have as humans. We differ ( vive la différence ) in many ways. We agree to walk together. We promise God that we will be kind, loving and respectful in our marriage vows. We say we will cherish and honor one another.

We promise one another that we will walk faster or slower for each other—in sickness and in health, in affluence and in poverty. We determine to walk together, and we agree to walk together in spite of our differences. Once we understand that and accept the other person, marriage becomes a delight that lasts a lifetime.

It is true that differences can separate people. It is true that you cannot walk together if differences are large enough to prevent bridges from being built. That is why we ought to marry people who have many similarities to ourselves. Similar religious views is one area on which the Bible is adamant (1 Corinthians 7:39).

Verses 10-16 speak about the result of differences that make walking together as husband and wife impossible. But with continual positive steps being taken, almost any relationship can be maintained on a good and solid footing. Marriages are improved once the partners focus on what they really like about one another—not the negatives.

In Psalm 133 God promises the blessing of life forevermore to those who dwell together in unity.

Our directions and efforts in life ought to lean toward narrowing our differences, appreciating the strengths of others and adjusting our own steps when needed—so we can walk together.

Let us take a lesson from our children as we walk with them. We do not mind adjusting to their gait. We will talk in their language. We may begin to enjoy the slower pace—and, yes, we can even smell a rose or two. UN