Parenting by the Book
STUDY 179
Text: Proverbs 17
28 November 2004
Dear Parents,
THE PROBLEM OF STRIFE
Strife threatens everyone! No family is spared from this problem! Even the best of relationships can be brought to a low level because of the deadly problem of strife. How we must learn skills in handling strife, before it unleashes its power against us.
PRACTICAL WISDOM TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM OF STRIFE
The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.Proverbs 17:14
He who loves transgression loves strife,
And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.Proverbs 17:19
1. “Stop contention before a quarrel starts”
This is good practical advice indeed! If strife or contention can be stopped, then a quarrel can be avoided.
2. “The beginning of strife is like releasing water”
Quarrels begin with strife! Wisdom teaches us to recognize the sin of strife and contention. The challenge is to nip the problem in the bud!
3. “He who loves transgression loves strife”
Sadly, there are people who actually love strife! They do not care if strife causes people to quarrel violently with each other. These may be said to be people who love transgressions!
4. “He who exalts his gate…”
This is a reference to a person who pursues and promotes his own interest! The worst part is that this person does not care how he exalts himself! He is prepared to cause strife, so that he can gain something out of the situation.
5. The person who causes strife “seeks destruction”
A person may feel that he is a winner, when he sees people fighting with each other. He may or may not be personally involved in the in-fighting. However, he is not guiltless. He will bear the guilt of his sin! Ultimately, he will in the end be destroyed! Divine justice will prevail if human justice fails to bring him to justice!
SOWING SEEDS OF PEACE
Let us practise what the Lord Jesus taught as one of the Beatitudes.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called the sons of God.Matthew 5:9
Prayerfully,
Pastor Charlie