What to do with Disagreements?

          I probably can say that I have not come across a person where I agree with everything that they say nor do.  Do great leaders always agree on every point?  When we look into the Book of Acts, we see that the Apostle Paul and Barnabas had a little matter of disagreement as to who would go on the second missionary journey.    John Mark had started out on the first journey but then left them after a short time.  While they were getting ready to go on the second journey, Barnabas wanted to again include John Mark but Paul did not want to take him along.  As a result, the two of them split company and go in different directions.  Paul decides to take Silas along with him and Barnabas takes John Mark.  Acts 15:37-40 says, "And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus.  And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God."   

        There are a couple of lessons for us in this passage.  First, people do not have to agree on every point.  Obviously there was a disagreement between the two men and it was strong enough for them to part company.  But, there is a second lesson to be learned.  We later read where Paul asks that John Mark be brought to him and that he is profitable for the ministry (2 Timothy 4:11).  Things change and so do our attitudes toward certain people.  While Paul was rather upset with John Mark, he changed his mind about him later on during his ministry.  There are some people around today that form an opinion about a person and it stays with them for their entire life thus losing a chance for future ministry together.   So, don't be so quick to write a person off in your life.  You might just find that they will be profitable in the ministry later on and they might also be a blessing to you.  Praise God today that He is still working in our lives.