TLIC Family. PROVERBS. JULY 16: STRIFE.

THINK TOGETHER.

Do you remember what strife is?

READ TOGETHER

Proverbs 17:19. Whoever loves transgression loves strife…

It might be better to say this proverb backwards. Whoever loves strife (arguing or fighting) loves transgression (sin).

Do you love strife? Do you love to argue? Do you like to pick fights with others? Do you stir up trouble? Solomon says that when we love strife it is the same as saying that we love to sin. Why? Because causing strife is a sin. It shows that we don’t trust God and his love for us.  

In the New Testament it says the same thing over and over. It tells us that if we have Jesus living in our hearts we can and should avoid strife, arguments, and fights, and instead we should strive for peace and gentleness. Here’s just a few examples:

Philippians 4:5. Let your gentleness be known to everyone.

Romans 12:18. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Galatians 5:13-15. ¹³through love serve one another… ¹⁵But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Colossians 3:12-15. ¹²Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…And be thankful.

Notice how Colossians tells us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. That is the key! Allowing Jesus’ peace to have control inside of us will keep us from having to control everything outside of us. No more need for strife. No more need to fight. No more need for sin.

Because of Jesus we have peace in our hearts.

With Jesus we can avoid strife, arguing, and fighting.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Sing I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart together. 

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, let your peace take charge of my heart as I trust you more and more. Amen.