Proverbs 17: 14 says, “The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.”
The verse says that the beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water. Now it is difficult if not nearly impossible to put all the water back into a container after it has been spilled. You could mop it up and wring it out, but would every drop go back?
The verse also warns to leave off contention before it be meddled with. Part of the meaning of meddling is “to mix”. I was thinking of when you mix something in water. When you mix koolaid with water in practicality (without lab equipment) it’s impossible to unmix.
And this made me think that it might be nearly impossible to take some things back once they are said.
Words can wound a person. Proverbs 18:18 and Proverbs 26:22 both say, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” Proverbs 12:25 reads, ”Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.”
While it is good practice to have tough skin, the Bible teaches that we sometimes should refrain our lips. And the Lord warns us about not speaking hurtful things.
When someone hurts us, we know we sometimes don’t want to get over it right away. Proverbs 18:19 reads, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”
Instead of causing strife, we can get rid of strife.
Proverbs 15:18 reads,“A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” Being slow to anger seems to be like water to fire. Being slow to anger can appease strife.
The Bible also tells us some ways to avoid causing strife.
Proverbs 26:21 reads, “As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” Part of the meaning of the word contentious is “contest”. Making something into a contest is a way to cause strife.
“And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.” Luke 22:24
One way to avoid strife is to not be a talebearer.
Proverbs 26:20 reads,“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”
Proverbs 16:27-28 tells us, “An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”
Both whisperer and talebearer in these Scriptures are translated from the same Hebrew word.
Proverbs 17:9-10 reads, “He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.”
When we keep bringing up past transgressions we cause trouble. The Lord doesn’t want us to be like that. He doesn’t do that to us. And people do change. When the Lord reproves one of His obedient children that love Him they have a tendency to listen and change. The Devil surely would like to point out the people that don’t change, but God wrote down in His Word that it is not true of everyone. I was also thinking that babies act differently as they get older. When they grow up they no longer wear diapers. I know that as I got older I cared when I saw my Mom doing the dishes without help. When I was a kid, I didn’t necessarily think that someone in the house needed to do dishes. I just wanted to play. People as they grow in the Lord, they may realize and understand more things when they are first saved. Lost people may have no power to stop sinning, but God’s people do change. And Jesus saw how we-His-people, and also His Church would be and looked to that day (Heb. 12.2; Matt.13.46 ).
Now Micah 6:8 reads, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
II Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
The Lord loves mercy. He loves giving us less than we deserve. He is also willing that all men should come to repentance. When we get to the point where we don’t want to see someone turn around and do right, there is something wrong. Even in Church discipline the disciplining was done for a reason to restore (Gal. 6.1;I Cor. 5.5).
Not having a forgiving spirit gives place to the devil!
James 1:19-20 reads, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 reads“ Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Neither give place to the devil.”
The wrath of man (opposed to the wrath of God) doesn’t work the righteousness of God. And keeping our anger long gives the Devil room to work. The Lord bids us not to give place to the Devil, and we should watch ourselves for these things.
These have been just a few thoughts.
God bless!
When Ravens Cry 