It's bad enough that strife opens us up to confusion and evil (James 3:14-16, KJV). That alone should make us resist it with everything we've got. But that's not all the Bible has to say about strife.
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul gave us even more information about the damaging effects of strife. He wrote:
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly-mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?Worldly Christians are miserable people. They've made Jesus their Lord and they know enough about God not to enjoy sin, but they aren't committed enough to stay out of sin.
(1 Cor. 3:1-3)
If you don't want to find yourself trapped in that condition (and I know you don't) then stay out of strife, because strife will keep you worldly! It will stop up your ability to really understand the deep things in God's Word, which will keep you from growing into a strong, winning Christian.
If you fuss and bicker with others, your spiritual growth will be stunted. You'll stay in a continual state of spiritual babyhood and Satan will run over you time and again!
So grow up. Don't stay a bay. Get out of strife and into the Word. Soon you'll be the overcomer God says you are!
Backup:2 Timothy 2:24-26; 1 John 5:4-5
Download: Ruth 1-3; Romans 12-13
Voice Activate: I walk in love and grow up in every way and in all things. Ephesians 4:15, AMP
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries