When is compromise appropriate and when is it not appropriate? I first learned a helpful rule of thumb from Carl George.
There are times when half of something is better than none of it: half a loaf of bread is better than no loaf of bread. It may not be all you wanted, but if you’re hungry, it’s certainly better than nothing.
There are other times when half of something is not better than none of it. Think King Solomon and the two women arguing over the baby (1 Kings 3:16-28). Half a baby is much worse than no baby at all.
So next time you’re in a conflict and considering compromising, ask yourself, “Is this a baby or is this a loaf?”