Strife.

Monday, August 16, 2010: 1 Timothy 6:3 – 5 (NKJV)

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Who is a source of strife? What’s the suggested remedy? A proud man, thinking he knows it all, but is a compulsive disputer is a cause of strife. We are simply asked to withdraw from such, without continuing any argument.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010: 2 Timothy 2:14 – 16 (NKJV)

Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

What diffuses strife? If we avoid what we recognize as useless words that will not profit the hearer, we will not enter into strife.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010: 2 Timothy 2:23 – 26 (NKJV)

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

What generates strife? What’s the suggested remedy? Foolish disputes over matters that no one knows much about generate strife. Use gentleness to show the disputer the futility of argument: they will escape the trap laid by the devil.

Thursday, August 19, 2010: Proverbs 28:25, 29:22, 10:12 (NKJV)

He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife

But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

An angry man stirs up strife

And a furious man abounds in transgression.

Hatred stirs up strife

But love covers all sins.

Who stirs up strife? What’s the suggested remedy? Pride, anger and hatred stir up strife: love in return will cover such sins.

Friday, August 20, 2010: Proverbs 26:20

Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;

And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.

How can strife and reproach cease? Stop being a tattletale.

Grudge Match

Monday July 19, 2010: James 4:1–3 (NKJV)

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Background: The root Greek word translated as fight or quarrel is ‘match’!

What irony creates fights or quarrels? Fights or quarrels start with a desire for personal pleasure.

Tuesday July 20, 2010: Titus 3:9 (NKJV)

But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

Why are we admonished to avoid arguing (about law)? There’s no conclusion, profit or use. Both sides end up saying, “I’m right, you’re wrong!”

Wednesday July 21, 2010: Titus 3:10 –Titus 3:11 (NKJV)

Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

What does ‘divisive’ mean? The Greek root word is ‘heretic’, a person who creates division. A divisive person gets others to choose sides. “Whose side are you on: mine or his?”

Thursday July 22, 2010: 2 Timothy 2:23 (NKJV)

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

Why avoid foolish and ignorant disputes when our input is wise and erudite? Joining a dispute is like pouring lighter fluid on an ember: it ignites that which was just smoldering. Extinguish the cinder.

Friday July 23, 2010: 2 Timothy 2:24–26 (NKJV)

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

So you say you serve the Lord! How strong are the words ‘must not’ that precede quarrel? In Greek, they begin the sentence. They are literally translated ‘It is a necessity that the servant of the Lord not quarrel’. Where do you stand on this? Do you get into many ‘grudge matches’?