The words of the New Testament are spirit and life. Jesus spoke these words to set us free. When we believe Jesus’ words we experience the power of the Holy Spirit to deliver us from bondage.
The Old Testament Law was not like this, for it was weak through the flesh. We cannot keep the Law in our own strength, but we need the Holy Spirit to enable us to obey God. If we are relying on our flesh, then the teaching of the Bible might not help us. Paul said he would not have known lust unless the Law had told him not to lust. He discovered that the Law was weak through the flesh, and that it would kill a person. The more he tried to force himself to follow the Law, the more he came into bondage to sin (Romans 7:11). “By the Law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
Obviously, we don’t study the Bible in order to increase our knowledge of the Law and come into bondage to sin. We study the Bible in order to unlock the power of the Holy Spirit inside us so we can be set free.
The Bible tells us many things about strife because God does not want his children to strive. As we look into these things, we need to recognize that this is not a law that we have to force ourselves to obey – “DON’T STRIVE.” Rather, these teachings will cause the Holy Spirit to arise within us and empower us to get victory. We are not facing the challenge in our own power, but in the power of God.
In order to get victory over strife, it can help to recognize where strife comes from. The Book of Proverbs reveals several different sources of strife.
Strife often comes from hatred (Proverbs 10:12). When we hate someone, we are tempted to strive with them.
We often hate people because they have sinned against us.
Love covers sin. Love is the opposite of hatred. When we love others, we will not strive with them.
We cannot truly love people in our own strength. True love only comes from God. God has poured out his love in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). The supernatural love of God conquers hatred, and love will free us from strife.
Strife can come from pride (Proverbs 13:10). Proud people will not listen to correction nor take advice. This leads to conflict. When people refuse correction from the word of God, they they think they know more than God. This leads to conflict. The opposite of pride is humility. Humble people do not strive. Humility comes from the Holy Spirit who is the humble dove. We will become humble as God lives his life in and through us by the Holy Spirit.
Strife can come from being hot-tempered (Proverbs 15:18). Those who lose their temper easily often have lives full of strife. God does not want his people to be hot-tempered. God is not hot-tempered. He does not lose his temper easily and become mad or upset quickly. God is gracious and slow to anger. There are many times we have offended God. And yet God has been patient with us. He has not become angry with us but has patiently led us in the right way. We need to be patient with others and not lose our temper easily. This is possible when we allow Christ to live his life inside us.
Strife can come from foolish words (Proverbs 18:6). In the abundance of words there is no lack of sin (Proverbs 10:19). We need to be able to control our tongues so that we do not stir up trouble with our words. No one can tame their tongue. But God will help us control our tongue so that we don’t pour out a stream of evil.
Strife comes from perverse people (Provers 16:28). This word perverse can mean to send out missiles. Some people suddenly shoot out arrows of destruction. We all have been like this on occasion – unstable and unpredictable. When this happens, strife is sure to follow. God is stable, our flesh is not. We can only get the victory by the Holy Spirit.
Gossip creates strife (Provers 26:20). When someone talks about others behind their backs, it often produces strife. “Why did you say that about me?” “I can’t believe that he did that!” Gossip has the power to separate close friends. Gossip and slander are demonic. We need to avoid gossip. The opposite of gossip and slander is blessing. Let’s speak good things about others rather than evil things.
Anger stirs up strife (Proverbs 29:22). When people are angry, they are likely to fight. The Bible says when we are angry we should not sin. We should not lash out at others. That will not accomplish the work of God, because the anger of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.
It is possible to eliminate the sources of strife from our lives: hatred, pride, hot temper, gossip, anger, and perversity. How? We can be free from these things not by the flesh but by the Holy Spirit.
Strife can often be resolved by confession and repentance. God’s people are called to unity, to love for each other, and to be a united testimony against the devil. For this to happen, they must not strive.
A house divided against itself cannot stand. Whether it is in a marriage, family, or church, strife creates weakness against the devil. In order to win spiritual battles, we need unity.
The mercies of God are new every morning. He is merciful to us, even when we did not deserve it. Let us be merciful to others. Our mercies toward others can be new every morning too.
God’s faithfulness is very great. He never gives up on us. We ought to not give up on others, even when they wrong us. We can overlook offenses and love people even when they are wrong.
Jesus said, “blessed are the peacemakers.” Let us not strive with others, but let us make peace. As we do, we will be blessed, and we will be called the children of God.
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