Today's post will comes with a warning. God's word is often not for the faint of heart, and today is one of those days. If you are easily offended, you may not want to proceed...
The issue of strife has been on my mind for a while now. I'm not one to tolerate or listen to whining/complaining. God has helped me to tame this somewhat, but I still have no use for it. I will be quick to let you know that "drama" in the sense that its used to describe people having issues all the time is a sin. No way around it. Its sinful and foolish. "It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling." (Proverbs 20:3KJV) I had a guy once try to whine to me about why he was leaving our church. My response? "Well, we'll see you around I guess." Then I quickly turned and walked away.
My question for you today is, at what point do we mature enough spiritually to not need to be coddled and patronized by your church or your family?
I remember finding the following passage as a teenager and being so convicted. I was a Christian, but at that point in my life (somewhat because of my own actions and somewhat because of the people I had surrounded myself with) strife was consuming my world. It was a miserable way to live and required immediate action. I didn't want God to see me as an abomination!
16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV)
I hadn't done the first six, and it felt as though others had done all but shed my blood. However, my guilt concerning the seventh was not something to be ignored. Hurt had led way to anger and my feelings toward those people were not easily concealed. I didn't mind letting others know how I felt. Someone really should have made me memorize the whole of Titus 3, especially verse two which says, "To speak evil of no man, to be not brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men."
The Bible has much to say about dissension and strife, and none of it is good. In fact, strife is listed among the works of the flesh in Galatians 5, and it clearly states that those who practice such works won't enter the kingdom of heaven. (v19-21)
I encourage you today to think about these things. Examine yourself and let God show you if you are taking part in sowing discord. Are you allowing strife to have a place in your life? Let God change your heart and mind and give you a gentle and forbearing love for all people, so that you can be more like him. Remember always that He has forgiven you for all of the wrongs you've committed, and chances are they are much much greater than those that others have committed against you.
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