“A continual dripping on a very rainy day, and a contentious (person) are alike.” Proverbs 27:15.
Have you ever been around someone whose very presence brought a sense of contentiousness? A moodiness that changes the whole atmosphere? I recently had this experience when someone came into my workplace and immediately the whole atmosphere was changed into a tense, uneasy feeling. Throughout the day, this precious person just seemed agitated and frustrated about everything. I finally had to excuse myself from their presence because the feeling became so heavy. I thought, “Man, what an awful feeling, I don’t even want to be around that. LORD, help them!”
And just like Himself, the ever faithful Holy Spirit began to deal with me. I soon remembered a time (or two) that I behaved similarly toward my family. I remembered a time recently when I had a difficult day, then came home to a messy house and had to say, for what seemed like the ‘ump-teenth’ time, to pick this up, put that away, etc., etc. And let’s just say, I probably didn’t use my most pleasant voice. The look on the faces of my children said it all. Looks like, “What is the matter with you?” or, “Who are you and what have you done with my mother?” Ever received one of those looks from the kids? Oh, yes you have!
It all goes back to logs and splinters. It’s so easy to get bent out of shape when someone is showing contentious spirit around you, but it’s much more difficult to recognize when you are the contentious one. Proverbs 21:19 says, “ It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman” (or man for that matter!). Contention brings strife and an unpleasant atmosphere; and who wants that?
So we seek after peace and in humility, go to the LORD and ask, “What can I do to ensure to check my contention or ‘mood’ at the door (or better yet, at the cross)?” It all goes back to spending time with Him and in His Word. The more we look in the mirror of His Word, the more we begin to look like Him, and less like contention, tension, strife, etc. Who ever knew that logs and splinters could be so powerful?? Well... God did.
Have you ever been around someone whose very presence brought a sense of contentiousness? A moodiness that changes the whole atmosphere? I recently had this experience when someone came into my workplace and immediately the whole atmosphere was changed into a tense, uneasy feeling. Throughout the day, this precious person just seemed agitated and frustrated about everything. I finally had to excuse myself from their presence because the feeling became so heavy. I thought, “Man, what an awful feeling, I don’t even want to be around that. LORD, help them!”
And just like Himself, the ever faithful Holy Spirit began to deal with me. I soon remembered a time (or two) that I behaved similarly toward my family. I remembered a time recently when I had a difficult day, then came home to a messy house and had to say, for what seemed like the ‘ump-teenth’ time, to pick this up, put that away, etc., etc. And let’s just say, I probably didn’t use my most pleasant voice. The look on the faces of my children said it all. Looks like, “What is the matter with you?” or, “Who are you and what have you done with my mother?” Ever received one of those looks from the kids? Oh, yes you have!
It all goes back to logs and splinters. It’s so easy to get bent out of shape when someone is showing contentious spirit around you, but it’s much more difficult to recognize when you are the contentious one. Proverbs 21:19 says, “ It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman” (or man for that matter!). Contention brings strife and an unpleasant atmosphere; and who wants that?
So we seek after peace and in humility, go to the LORD and ask, “What can I do to ensure to check my contention or ‘mood’ at the door (or better yet, at the cross)?” It all goes back to spending time with Him and in His Word. The more we look in the mirror of His Word, the more we begin to look like Him, and less like contention, tension, strife, etc. Who ever knew that logs and splinters could be so powerful?? Well... God did.
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