Character and Discipline · Relationship with God

But he or she started it!

4 min read, approximately

“A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

Debates, rivalry, confrontations, wars… have always existed. God’s Word explains why this happens:

“Whence [come] wars and whence [come] fightings among you? [come they] not hence, [even] of your pleasures that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and covet, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.” (James 4:1-2)

Sadly, when we should be bringing change, we end up joining this game in which no one wants to give in. What do we achieve? We make the problem worse, creating situations from which it is often difficult to retreat, while hiding behind the familiar phrase: “But don’t you see that he or she started it?!” As the Word says:

“A prudent man seeth the evil, [and] hideth himself; [But] the simple pass on, [and] suffer for it.” (Proverbs 27:12)

. Today we will look at some verses to help us reflect and stop blaming others: \1. Do we want recognition?

“It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.” (Proverbs 20:3)

\2. Do we take time to listen?

“Ye know [this], my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

\3. If we know that speaking in anger does no good, why do we speak? Let us instead be quiet, calm down, and speak when the anger has passed:

“He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.” (Proverbs 14:17)

\4. What are we seeking through strife? Do we not know that its outcome is to expose us to hell?

“Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22)

\5. Do we not want to inherit the kingdom of God?

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

\6. Enough! You and I have the authority to close the door on the devil:

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27)

\7. We know we have the mind of Christ; why do we not use it to handle the situation better?

“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart: thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. Thou shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people; but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am Jehovah.” (Leviticus 19:17-18)

Please, we already have enough to face in the wars the devil wages against us every day without continuing to quarrel among ourselves. We are brothers and sisters! The same blood runs through you and me: the blood of Christ! Why not make peace and agree to focus on winning more souls for the kingdom?

May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook