![]() ![]() One of the most destructive aspects about pride is that it can be so subtle that we don't even recognize it. Proverbs 13:10 (NKJV) says, "By pride comes nothing but strife." The fruit of pride is always rotten, and when we choose to take a prideful attitude instead of one of humility, we are inviting trouble. But if we make a quality decision to forgive and love that person, peace and healing will spring forth. Proverbs 10:12 (NASB) says, "Hatred stirs up strife." If we examine why we have a tendency to get into strife with a certain individual, we will often discover that we are harboring resentment or bitterness toward them. What's at the root of strife? Animosity is one cause. The devil knows that if he can disrupt the harmony of a family, church, or group, he can drastically reduce their prayer power. (Matthew 18:19) So we shouldn't be surprised when Satan works overtime to create division and dissension among believers. Jesus said that the prayer of agreement has awesome power. (Psalm 91:11 AMP Exodus 23:20-21) James wrote: "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." (James 3:16 KJV) The dictionary defines strife as "conflict, disagreement, disharmony, discord, rivalry, contention, dispute, animosity, friction, hard feelings, or bad feelings." Looking at this long list of destructive behaviors, it's easy to understand why the Bible condemns strife. When I got into strife with my son, I opened the door for Satan to come in and "steal, kill and destroy." (John 10:10) This shouldn't surprise us because the Bible indicates that we may forfeit angelic protection when we walk in disobedience. I began to earnestly seek God about it, and He revealed to me that He allowed the accident to serve as a lesson about how destructive strife can be. I must confess that the thing that bothered me most was that I had prayed for the Lord's protection right before the accident. No one was hurt, thank God, but both cars were damaged considerably. A moment later, my car collided with another, and what started out as a minor argument ended up in disaster. ![]() Suddenly, I found myself yelling at my son and blaming him for not knowing which way we should go. A few blocks before the library, we got lost. But I had prayed and stood on Psalm 91, which promises believers angelic protection, and I pushed my fears aside and depended on the Lord to watch over us. I never felt comfortable having to deal with all the one-way streets. I didn't like driving this route because it meant that we had to travel to the downtown area of a nearby city. Years ago, when my older son was in high school, I had to drive him to the public library to return some books he had borrowed for one of his class projects. "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." Movie Reviews (Main) > Movie Reviews (Main).Indie Reviews (Main) > Indie Reviews (Main).He said, "for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever" (Genesis 13:15). He promised Abram and his descendants all the land Abram could see, re-emphasizing the promise He had made with Abram when He called him out of his homeland (Genesis 12:1–3, 7). The Lord rewarded Abram for choosing peace instead of strife. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left" (Genesis 13:9). He told Lot, "Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. So, Abram said, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen" (Genesis 13:8). There was conflict between his herdsmen and those of his nephew Lot. ![]() Paul extols the honor of peacemakers (Romans 12:18) and commands Christians to avoid revenge (Romans 12:19–21).Ībram-later renamed as Abraham (Genesis 17:5)-chose peace instead of strife. Jesus commands His followers to ignore insults and other minor infractions (Luke 6:29). New Testament instructions echo this principle. In contrast, those who are hot-tempered, argumentative, or easily angered are clearly fools. Avoiding petty squabbles is the mark of a wise person it earns the respect of others. Not every argument is worth having, so a wise person chooses their battles carefully. The person who lacks self-control might talk themselves into a beating (Proverbs 18:6). In earlier verses, Solomon noted that a person who knows when to be quiet could be seen as wise, even if he's not (Proverbs 17:28). "Honor" often refers to reputation, as well as respect. ![]()
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