How can we "stop strife before it breaks out" in daily interactions? The Picture: A Dam About to Burst Proverbs 17:14: “To start a quarrel is to release a flood; abandon the dispute before it breaks out.” • A quarrel is compared to a flood: once the barrier cracks, damage spreads fast. • Scripture’s command is proactive—“abandon the dispute” before the first leak becomes a torrent. Seeing the Warning Signs Early • Rising tone of voice or tightened jaw. • Rehearsing comeback lines in your mind. • Shifting from seeking truth to craving victory. • Feeling the Spirit’s gentle check, yet pressing on. When any of these surface, the dam is creaking—walk away or change course immediately. God’s Proven Strategies for Diffusing Tension • Pause and listen: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19). • Speak gently: “A gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). • Control timing: “Do not let the sun set upon your anger, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-27). • Choose words that build: “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up” (Ephesians 4:29). • Offer a peaceful exit: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Practices to Build a Strife-Resistant Heart • Daily Scripture intake—truth saturates attitude (Psalm 119:11). • Prayerful self-examination—catch pride and envy early (Psalm 139:23-24). • Memorize key “peace verses” (Proverbs 15:1; Matthew 5:9). • Cultivate humility: remember Christ “did not retaliate” (1 Peter 2:23). • Keep short accounts—confess wrongs quickly (1 John 1:9). The Blessings of Early Peacemaking • Relationships spared from erosion. • Clear witness to a watching world (John 13:35). • Freedom from regret and harsh words that cannot be reclaimed. • God’s promised blessing: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). Stopping strife begins the moment the first drop appears; obeying Proverbs 17:14 keeps the floodgate closed and lets Christ’s peace flow instead. |
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