AVOID STRIFE
MAIN TEXT: James 3:16 ‘For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work’.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves”.
Philippians 2:23
When a hurt lingers, it leads to unforgiveness, unforgiveness produces bitterness and it ends in quarrels and fights which do not glorify God.
‘Avoid strife’. Strife means ‘conflict… struggle…rivalry and God’s word advises us to avoid it at all cost. From our second text we can appreciate how God views strife. We must realize that offences and offenders abound around us daily.
Strife bites so slowly but steadily at its victims until he can’t distinguish between sin and righteousness.
When a Christian allows strife into his life, he becomes a terrible and chronic fault-finder. He’s never pleased with what anybody else does. But the bible commands us to see others better than ourselves. Strife grows when we begin to see more of ourselves and less of God and others.
Doing things or basing our performances on our fleshly desire subjects us to trying to expect accolades and recognitions that are premature, and when and if they are not coming forth, we feel insulted which leads to conflicts and struggle for control and position. Strife stifles zeal and commitment and emphasizes mediocrity and laxity in the house of God.
To avoid strife, forgive those who have hurt you, pray for them and bless them by speaking well of them and wanting only the good for them.
“KEEPING STRIFE OUT OF YOUR LIFE MEANS UPROOTING IT BEFORE IT GROWS”
Prayer Point: Oh God, may my life be free from strife and envy in Jesus name Amen.
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