Point of Contention

"If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." Galatians 5:15

I recall watching a butcher prepare a chicken for market. His sharp cleaver chopped away with well-timed strokes until the bird lay in a pile of pieces. Contentious words can be like that. They are the meat cleaver of relationships. They have the power to destroy them piece by piece, tearing friends and family apart until there’s nothing left. I suppose that’s why “one who stirs up dissension” (Proverbs 6:19) makes the infamous list of things the Lord hates.

Contentious hearts look for things to criticize and for opportunities to tear down a person, program, or idea. They divide instead of unify. They do Satan’s work for him. The Galatians were warned by Paul, “If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Galatians 5:15).

We would do well to remind ourselves that the church is the body of Christ. As Paul described in 1 Corinthians 12, believers are meant to be working as one in cooperative harmony. Division among believers destroys the reflection of God among us and the power of His unity through us.

Unity is needed not just in the church. Our relationship with our spouse is God’s living illustration of Jesus and the church. He never divides Himself from His bride. His unconditional love and acceptance are unifying factors. His words to the church promote healing and growth. When contentious words divide our spirits at home, we destroy the God-intended picture of Jesus and His church.

Division among God’s people gives Satan a tremendous advantage in stifling God’s purpose for our lives. Our usefulness, joy, and peace are threatened. Our very witness as Jesus’ followers is compromised.

Whoever coined the phrase “divide and conquer” knew what they were talking about. Let’s not let Satan do that to us. So, switch off that "contentious words" button in your heart and let the unifying love of Jesus flow through words that love, help and heal.

YOUR JOURNEY…

• Are you sowing discord, or promoting unity through your words? How can you replace contentious words with encouraging words?
• Memorize Paul’s timeless advice in Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.”
• What kind of words have you been using this week—contentious or encouraging?

Check out this week's Strength for the Journey message!