Strife
By Hal Mitchell
Where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work. (James 3:16) So if you have been confused and/or are the subject of evil work, please know that it was caused by strife. You may ask “Doesn’t everybody have a little strife in their lives?” The answer is likely “Yes”. However, we need to delve into strife a little more deeply.
What is strife and how does it work? Webster’s dictionary defines strife as angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict. So strife is not some minor issue when it is in our lives. The Bible also says that “Faith works by love” Gal. 5:6 (KJV) Can you see that if you have a bitter disagreement with someone you are not walking in love?
If that be the case in you then your faith will not work. If you are quoting scriptures all day long about your health or telling the devil he must repay you seven times over what he has stolen from you (See Prov. 6:30-31) and it is not happening then it is quite likely that you are in strife with someone and not walking in love.
Maybe you are in strife with several people such as politicians. It is easy to do and not recognize it as strife. For example, the current President seems to be dead set on destroying America. It is easy to be in strife with him especially when he violates God’s principles and appears to be sticking his finger in God’s eyes. FYI: Christians are the “Apple” of God’s eyes. See Zechariah 2:8 – For thus says the Lord . . . for he who touches you, touches the apple of His (God’s) eye.
Do you yell at the TV and say bad things about the President, the people who represent him, and/or the TV news media who cover for them? Then you are in strife with them and are hindering the answering of your prayers. Strife with relatives and between husband and wife is even a greater issue. Please remember this during this holiday season.
Remember the sixties idiom WWJD or “What Would Jesus Do?” In spite of its overuse it applies here. What would Jesus do? Because He always walks in love he would pray for the President, in fact we are commanded to do so. See1 Timothy 2:1-2 – I exhort therefore, first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; (Presidents) that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life (No Strife) in all godliness and honesty.
