Strife Is Destructive!

"Two aged men, that had been foes for life, Met by a grave, and wept - and in those tears They washed away the memory of their strife; Then wept again the loss of all those years."  - Jean Paul

If you think you are immune from strife, think again. Families, political opponents, nations, and even believers, to mention a few, are all susceptible to it. If left unchecked, it can quickly lead to discontent, violence, and destruction.

 

God loathes strife (Proverbs 6:16-19). The Bible provides many warnings against it, such as in Proverbs 20:3; Proverbs 17:1; Proverbs 18:6 and 22:10. Even so, strife is a very formidable foe to avoid in this life.

In Genesis 13:6-7 Abram and Lot strove with one another, In Numbers 20:2 the Israelites gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron. During New Testament times, the early church tangled with strife (1 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Timothy 6:4; 2 Corinthians 12:20). 

Some rebuff or reject the viewpoint of others, demanding their way or none. They may also refuse to compromise, debate, or be respectful. What this tells us is that even the strongest, most-devout, person can never rest against strife.

Pride, hate, and jealousy are some things that can fan the flames of strife. We are encouraged to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:39), yet there is always the possibility that strife will step into our lives at anytime.

But, we are not completely helpless or hopeless against it. Someone once said that the best defense is a good offense. First and foremost, we should try and avoid situations where strife is a real possibility, if we can.

Cooler heads prevail. Nothing gets accomplished when anger rules the day. Self-restraint and calm dialogue reduces the chances for strife. Remember the Golden Rule..? Try it out the next time strife comes calling (Matthew 7:12; Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:12-13).

Extending compassion, patience, and being courteous are some other common sense ways we can use to oppose and frustrate strife in our daily life. And, finally, we should pray to God for His help and support in dealing with strife (1 Timothy 2:8).

Scripture: Deuteronomy 1:12; Romans 12:18; 1 Corinthians 3:3; Proverbs 13:10; Proverbs 22:10 

Prayer: Dear Jesus, I pray for a heart of mercy when it comes to dealing with strife. Help me to show mercy as You have shown me. Amen.

God bless you always,

Rona