Proverbs 17:14: The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
Insight
A leak in a dike that could be stopped with a pebble, if noticed at the beginning, will, if neglected, grow greater and greater until, at last, the inrushing waters will carry all before them. So it is with strife. How many a lifelong contention has begun with a few hasty words, which, if repented of and apologized for at once, would have been healed immediately, and years of sorrow averted. Far better is it to humble oneself and take wrong, if need be, at the beginning, than to grieve the Holy Spirit of God and lacerate the hearts of beloved saints by a long period of un-Christlike wrangling which will leave wounds that never can be healed; or, if healed, scars that never can be effaced. 1
Application
If you do not allow the the Holy Spirit to overrule your striving, then you will end up with a flood of contention that will contaminate your most valued relationships. The Spirit of God has said, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your anger” (Eph. 4:26). If this simple rule were literally obeyed, what untold heartaches would be avoided! Is there someone that you need to surrender to? Are you willing to humble yourself and take the blame? Do you want healing or a lifelong war?
Motivation
“And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” Matthew 5:41
Your contention could have been contained swiftly and peaceably, but then you decided you had to win the argument. – TWEET IT
Prayer
Father, make me grievous over the sin of self-righteousness.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: Poetry (Proverbs) (electronic ed., Vol. 20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
