Beyond Pettiness

Dwayne bought a devotional back at the beginning of the year and started reading it. It's been a great source of some really good conversations and man, it's been such a blessing to me personally and very challenging spiritually.

The title is The One Year Devotional : by Tiegreen

A must read!

Today I just thought I would share what he wrote because it was a great reminder to Dwayne and I how easy it is to get caught up in pettiness and quarrels. The fact is we have all had disagreements with someone we know and possibly love. The question is when is the argument worth severing a relationship?

AUGUST 26
the text is :
Proverbs 17:14 "Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out."
2 Timothy 2:23- 24 but as I read on it is important to finish through to verse 26.
"Again, I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. The Lord's servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people. They shoudl gently teach those who oppose the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the Devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants."
the quote for today is :
D.L. Moody " I have never yet known the Spirit of God to work where the Lord's people were divided."

IN WORD
What is it in the human psyche that compels us to pursue a matter straight into the heart of a conflict? Do we just enjoy a good fight? For some reason, we frequently feel we must establish truth- as we see it- in even the most petty of disagreements. We often value our opinions more than we value our relationships.
Why is that? What so captures our indignation that we will sacrifice friendships and feelings over something that just isn't worth it? Blessed are those who do not have a contentious spirit with in them, but most people at some time or another have struggled with one. It is human nature. We feel offended when people disagree with us, and we are bent on establishing who is right and wrong. Even when there is no right and wrong.
Does this mean there's no place for conflict? Obviously not. We are called to stand up for what is morally and spiritually right- to a point. Even Jesus was no stranger to conflict., and He is our model. but we must develop the discernment to know what is worth fighting for and what is not. Most of us find ourselves frequently confused on the issue.

IN DEED:
When you sense a conflict escalating, what is your response? Do you take it as a challenge to win? Or can you step back and assess whether it is really worth fighting or? Broken relationships are no pleasure to God. he even inspires the writer to call a quarrel "sin" a few verses later (Proverbs 17:19). Petty squabbles once begun are hard to stop. They do not suit a child of God.
Learn to practice a discipline of restraint. Do not run from an important issue, but do not pursue a pointless one. Let relationships become more important to you than petty proofs and problems. god has done so with us. We must do so with others.