Let's explore the dangers that are presented in scripture when we as men are grappling with strife.
The Dangers of “Strife”
As many more people are prayerfully searching the scriptures with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, souls are being added to the body of Christ daily. With this growth, we have to be
careful that flesh doesn’t wiggle his way into these circles to disrupt peace. It has done this
successfully for thousands of years, and today is no different. If anything, its work is amplified
in our times. As the body of Christ, every believer is responsible individually for connecting to the Father through the Holy Spirit that has been reborn in them. The Word gives us warnings about strife that can find its way into our circles, and we shouldn’t be foolish concerning these things. The threat is very real, and the result of strife can be catastrophic for those involved.
We seek to be at peace with all men, speaking the truth but avoiding arguments and vain
contentions that only lead to strife, anger and sin. This is no small task, but it is vital for us
to know these truths. The definition of strife is- “heated, often violent dissension, bitter
conflict, a struggle, fight or quarrel, contention or competition between rivals.” One of the
first biblical mentions of strife comes from the time of Abraham:
“And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s
cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto
Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen
and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.” ~ Genesis 13:7-8
You can already see that this man Abraham, blessed by God, was interested in peace. He was so interested in peace that he gave Lot the better piece of land, and he took the less appealing side. Why would he do this? We know that Abraham pleased the Creator so much, that he became the first of mankind to receive the promises that he received. This tells us much about the nature of the Creator- a lover of peace, humility, and meekness. The book of Proverbs has much to say about strife:
”The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore leave off contention, before
it be meddled with.” ~ Proverbs 17:14
“He loves transgression loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks
destruction.” ~ Proverbs 17:19
“Hatred stirs up strifes: but love covers all sins.” ~ Proverbs 10:12
“A wrathful man stirs up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeases strife.” ~ Proverbs
15:18
“It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.” ~ Proverbs
20:3
“As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to
kindle strife.” ~ Proverbs 26:21
“He that is of a proud heart stirs up strife: but he that puts his trust in the Lord shall be
made fat.” ~ Proverbs 28:25
“An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression.” ~ Proverbs
29:22
You can see here many truths concerning strife. Strife is linked to transgression also known
as sin, and it appears to involve the pride in man. We can see that motivations for strife are
hatred, wrath, anger, pride, fury, and contention. The most interesting of these verses in my
opinion is Proverbs 10:12- “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.” We see over and
over again in the Old Testament God’s anger, because his people lacked love for one another.
They constantly battled for position and picked at each other. We learn from the mistakes of
the ancient Israelites, and turn to each other with love constantly. The book of Isaiah also
touches on this topic:
“Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our
soul, and you take no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and
exact all your labors. Behold, you fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist
of wickedness: you shall not fast as you do this day, to make your voice to be heard on
high. Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow
down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this
a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to
loosen the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the
oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to deal your bread to
the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? when you
see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not yourself from your own
flesh? Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth
speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your
reward.” ~ Isaiah 58:3-8
The Lord (The Word) scolds this people that is “fasting” for the purpose of strife and debate.
Then this text reveals the “fast” that God has chosen- give bread to the hungry, bring the
poor into your house, clothe the naked, etc. Again we must learn from the mistakes of the
ancient Israelites. Habakkuk links strife to poor or wrong judgment:
“O Lord, how long shall I cry, and you will not hear! even cry out to you of violence, and
you will not save! Why do you shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for
spoiling and violence are before me: and there are they that raise up strife and
contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment never goes forth: for the wicked
surrounds the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceeds.” ~ Habakkuk 1:2-4
We can learn much from Paul in 1 and 2 Timothy concerning this topic and how to deal with
our fellow believers in Christ.
“Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all
honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have
believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do
them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things
teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is
proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh
envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and
destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself. But
godliness with contentment is great gain.” ~ 1 Timothy 6:1-6
“Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings,
and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning
the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.” ~ 1 Timothy 6:20-21
“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive
not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew yourself
approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto
more ungodliness. And their word will eat as does a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and
Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already;
and overthrow the faith of some.” ~ 2 Timothy 2:14-18
“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach,
patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will
give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover
themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” ~ 2
Timothy 2:23-26
You can see the volumes that Paul speaks to Timothy on this, and we can probably conclude
that this was an issue at the time. Even in a time where Apostles walked the earth, strife
came in among the body of Christ, the believers. As Paul says- we must STUDY the Word for
ourselves to show ourselves approved, workmen not needing to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of the truth. We must allow the Holy Spirit to take over our lives, before we can see clearly to help a brother to come to knowledge of the truth. Notice too in this verse, that it is GOD that gives them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth! In other words it is GOD that opens their eyes, not us and our words. We must pray for eyes to be opened, but we can in no way force them open. It is God that does this. Paul also mentions strife to the Corinthians, and the Philippians. Remember we are supposed to be walking in the SPIRIT, not the Carnal FLESH. He relates strife to walking in the flesh:
“For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and
divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men?” ~ 1 Corinthians 3:3
“For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found
unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings,
whisperings, swellings, tumults:” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:20
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each
esteem the other better than themselves.” ~ Philippians 2:3
Over and over again, we are warned of strife. When we bring truth to someone in love, our
approach is very different than it would be if there was no love. Love is the key, it is patient
and it is kind. It has no pride. When we speak out of love, the hearer can sense this. When
we speak from a place of contention or strife, anyone can sense this too. Titus tells us to
“Avoid”:
“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about
the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and
second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being
condemned of himself.” ~ Titus 3:9-11
The term “heretick” is explained when looking at the root greek word: Cognate:
141 hairetikós (an adjective, derived from 138 /hairéomai, “to choose, have a distinctive
opinion”) – a factious person, specializing in half-truths and misimpressions “to win others
over” to their personal opinion(misguided zeal) – while creating harmful divisions (used only
in Tit 3:10). See 139 (hairesis). We are called to unite others in love, not divide others with
contention. This means sometimes when we bring truth and it is not received, we walk away
in peace and pray for the hearer. We may look like the fool, but it is better for a seed to
planted in love than for strife to be planted in contention. We can only pray that God opens
an ear or a heart while we plant His seeds. James probably gives us one of the best accounts
of How we should approach anyone, believer or not:
“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good
conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in
your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descends not from above,
but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and
every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality,
and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make
peace.” ~ James 3:13-18
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