God has chosen to limit Himself to partnership with us on earth. God won’t violate our free will, and Satan can’t override it by force. It’s always up to us. Our choices either empower God to bless us, or empower the devil to destroy us. Our opening text declares this truth, so how can we limit God? In this Bible study series, we’ve looked at the problems we have with mouth mismanagement, unforgiveness, unconfessed sin, an unrenewed mind, uncontrolled flesh, disobedience, a lack of love, a lack of faith and fear of the future. In this edition of Christian Soldier, we examine strife.

These six things the Lord hates. Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren. 

Proverbs 6:16-19

When it comes to sin and sinful activity, we don’t have to wonder about what God hates. This list in Proverbs makes it very plain. We’re told there are seven things on the list. The first six are sins He hates, but the seventh is even worse. In other words, number seven is a sin He hates more than any of the other six. To the Lord, this sin isn’t just bad – it’s an abomination. We would be wise to sit up and pay attention to this! Unfortunately, most Christians in most places commit this sin repeatedly. By doing so, they limit the Holy One of Israel, and empower the devil to steal, kill and destroy our individual and collective potential in Christ.  

Sowing discord among fellow Christians is a terrible thing in the eyes of God Almighty. It’s tragic that in most churches, no matter what their theology may be, or what denomination it is, the spreading of strife is an on-going occurrence. What would constitute strife, in God’s eyes? The list is long. Backbiting. Rumor spreading. Public as well as private criticizing. Arguments over petty things. Passing judgment on others. Jealousy and envy over promotions given to others. Refusing to honor those placed in authority by God, and everything else that goes along with such activities. If you want God’s blessing in life, stay away from these abominations!  

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For he who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

1 Peter 3:8-12.  

Would you like to inherit blessings from God, including good days and a happy life? Then turn away from doing the evil of spreading strife. Seek peace. Pursue peace. Stay away from speaking deceit. Keep your mouth shut and monitor the attitudes of your heart consistently. Don’t be found guilty of spreading strife. This was a priority topic for the apostle Paul. 

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10

If you keep reading this passage from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, you’ll see there were all sorts of problems related to strife in their fellowship. As Paul states: there are contentions among you (v 11). 

If Satan can’t kill us outright, he’ll aways look for ways to influence our decisions in such a way that we empower him and limit God in our lives. Sowing discord among the saints is one of his most effective tactics against us. Paul was pleading with these Christians to speak the same thing, with no divisions amongst them. They were instructed to be perfectly joined together in mind and judgment. The same instructions are being given to us today by the Holy Spirit. 

There are things we never compromise and must agree on if we’re to maintain right relationship with God and with each other. When it comes to theology on the subject of salvation, there can be no dispute. Hebrews 6:1-2 will list six such things, as well as truths found in other places, like the virgin birth (Luke 1:34-35), and Jesus being the way the truth and the life and no other (John 14:6). These things cannot be changed or altered. But when it comes to less-important matters that don’t directly affect a person’s salvation, there will always be people who disagree, and room for disagreement. The entire fourteenth chapter of Romans deals with this. What we don’t want is to see our disagreements degenerate into fighting and quarreling, because servants of the Lord should never quarrel (1 Timothy 6:3-5/2 Timothy 2:14-18).

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:23-26

Through Paul’s letters to Timothy, the Holy Spirit tells us the devil’s strategy is to get us into strife with each other, because when we participate, we become his prisoners doing his will, which is always to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). In other words, Christians end up working for the devil while they 

think they’re working for the Lord! Don’t take the bait!  

Jesus addresses the importance of unity in Matthew 18:15-20. There is a scriptural procedure and process that needs to take place when disagreements occur. The goal is agreement in prayer, and the avoidance of strife amongst the believers. The bottom line is this: avoid strife at all costs (Philippians 1:27). Be of one accord and one mind with fellow Christians (Philippians 2:1-4). Don’t be naïve with regards to strife. It is spiritual poison, and will limit God in your life!

An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends. Proverbs 16:27-28. 

The book of Proverbs is full of warnings about strife. The book of James sounds the alarm as well. In fact, all through the word of God, we find caution flags about strife. Strife separates! Perverse people sow it, and the devil uses it to separate friends. Again and again the Jews tempted God, and limited His abilities in their lives. Don’t be like them! If you’re spreading strife, stop it right now. Make a spiritual heart-adjustment, zip your lip and ask for forgiveness from the Lord. Move on from strife, and no longer allow the devil to keep you captive to do his will. Be free, in Jesus’ name!  

Never forget this truth: Peacemakers are blessed by God. Strife-peddlers are not. Matthew 5:9