newtronical1

"Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife."
Proverbs 17:1


It seems remarkable that the author of this proverb, written close to 3,000 years ago, in a far distant place, within a far different culture than our own, must have had experience with the same kind of conflict and strife that we often have to endure. Just how much strife would one have to endure before concluding that it would be preferable to have only a dry morsel to eat if only the dining were accompanied by silence?

It is sin that stirs up strife. Sin is at heart self-centered and selfish. It creates conflict over who gets what. Sin is proud and arrogant. It stirs up competition as to who is the greatest, who gets to gloat and domineer. Sin brings ignorance, intolerable ignorance, which stirs up the need to admonish, which brings unceasing argument. Sin is malicious. It enjoys seeing others suffer, including the consternation, discomfort, and anguish of strife. Sin begets sin, the desire for vengeance, to get even with those who have caused us pain and anguish.

Understanding God's forgiveness of our sin, knowing His love for us in Christ Jesus, and recognizing God's patient and long-suffering tolerance of our sin can help us a great deal in the face of strife. We will not be able to avoid strife and conflict completely, but perhaps we can learn to keep from causing needless strife ourselves,and perhaps we can grow in dealing with conflict in a kind, gentle, persistent, and confident way – like God does. It will take time and patience with ourselves – we are no less sinners than others in the world around us. But God's Spirit will continue to encourage and nurture us in true and godly "conflict management" as we meditate upon God's solution to human sin in the cross of His beloved Son.

The only way to avoid all conflict and strife (at least from others) would be isolation, becoming a hermit. This avoidance of people, in order to avoid conflict, denudes us of our opportunities to serve God by serving others, especially our chances to speak to others of God's gracious love in Christ Jesus. So, it is part of our calling, as Jesus makes clear, to suffer strife, conflict, and malice. As we endure, we grow in our eagerness and desire to enter into the rest that Jesus has prepared for us in heaven, where all strife and conflict have ceased. Thankfully, this rest includes a wondrous feast
rather than a mere dry morsel.


I think this is a good read for us.

singpraiz4hym

Excellent, Nate!

nate

I am flattered but it wasn't from me but from Newt but you are correct it is some Excellent words.

Nate

SharonMarie

I agree, good words.

Polo

Great post NewT, thank you

singpraiz4hym

Good words... with strife to feast gives major indigestion in more ways than one!

totallyforgiven2

Amen, this was an awesome post, Newt. Shell, I agree with you too, people do not realize how well our bodies work, when the whole body is working together for our good, and for Gods kingdom, after all, our bodies are not our bodies, but "temples of God", so we need to take care of all aspects of our lives and keep our temples, which are on loan from God, in great working order.

HisServant77

Amen, Amen!!

Growing up, and well even to this day, The house was always filled with strife. At least it was that way once I chose to follow Christ and faced the family's thoughts on the issue, and on the one side, well it definitely made for some terrible living. But because I was pretty much forced to live in that atmosphere and couldn't leave it, God saw to it that He grew me through it all!

totallyforgiven2

I didn't realize it when I was growing up, but now I see that I was truly blessed. I was raised by both parents, who this year will celebrate their 48th wedding anniversary, and were God fearing parents. They took us to church the very first sunday after we were born and we were always there, anytime the doors were open. Because of this, I know I tend to take christian things for granted, because they have always been a part of my life. Don't get me wrong, I have had some problems throughout my life, but overall, especially compared to a lot of people, I have been truly blessed.