Several years ago I sliced my hand open while working with a knife. Janet rushed me to a local doctor. After getting most of the blood to stop they soaked my hand in a betadine solution.  (1″ scar below knuckle)

I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt and when the Doctor came in, he rubbed some antiseptic solution on my leg, gave me a shot in that leg and began to put stiches in it (while my hand continued to soak in the betadine solution).

What happened?   The wound in my hand got no attention and now I was wounded and hurting in another part of my body.

The doctor didn’t actually do this to my leg, but it happens all the time in organizations.

Here’s the scenario.   Think of your organization, team or family like a body; one body made up of many parts that work together to accomplish common goals.

Someone hurts or offends you so there’s a wound to a member of the body. However, instead of applying the medicine directly to the wound by going to the person who hurt you directly, you take the offense to someone else in the organization and now instead of just one part of the body wounded there are two members (sometimes more) wounded.

If left untreated, the wound will get infected and can spread to the rest of the body. An infected body that has loses unity can’t accomplish common goals. In fact, disunity can act like a cancer in an organization.  Remember, working together to accomplish the goals of the organization usually benefits everyone.

Jesus talked about this very thing as it relates to the church in Matthew 18:15-17.  I believe the principle applies to almost any organization.

Here’s what He said in the beginning of this passage: ¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go to him and show him his fault. But do it privately, just between yourselves. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back.  Matthew 18:15

If people (organizations) would just practice the principle of Matthew 18:1, I believe 90% of most problems could be solved and unity restored.  GO TO THE PERSON IN PRIVATE AND GET THE MATTER WORKED OUT.

Matthew 18:16-17 takes it a step further and applies to church discipline which is rarely practiced today, but the principle of Matthew 18:15 could solve many issues if people would practice the principle outlined by Jesus.