Acts 15:36-41. After spending some time in Antioch, Paul suggests to Barnabas that they revisit all the places where they have preached to see how the churches there are getting along. Barnabas agrees, but wants to take with them John called Mark, who had departed from them in Pamphylia on their first journey. Paul did not think bringing John was a good idea, since he had left them and had not been with them for the work. "And there arose a sharp contention, so that they separated from each other;" Barnabas took Mark and left for Cyprus, while Paul took Silas and they went through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches.

It is somewhat heartening to see that the disciples had disagreements just like we do. Paul and Barnabas, who had been together for so long, now experience a difference of opinion so great that they feel they must separate. We do not know exactly how contentious this disagreement was, but we know it was "sharp" and caused them to go their separate ways. I am sure they both felt great pain at this, but we can also see how God uses all things, even our painful disagreements, for good. Now, instead of Paul and Barnabas traveling together, God has double the impact by them splitting up.

Nothing happens without God's permission, even the arguments, disagreements, and separations that cause us great pain in this life are being used by God to advance some greater good. We must not let the pain or disagreement lead us to sin, however. It is okay to disagree and even to have "sharp contention" with others, but we must always treat them respectfully and charitably, and realize, when our temper is flaring, that it may just be time for us to go our separate ways (for a while at, at least). God will bring good out of even our contentious separation from a loved one, as He does with everything.