"Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out." Prov. 17:14
One of my occasional guilty pleasures is plopping in front of the television and watching back to back episodes of "Judge Judy". I enjoy her quick wit and her keen ability to sniff out a lie in the midst of a dramatic feud.
Many times you'll see a tenant taking a landlord to court or a neighbor suing a neighbor because their child or dog damaged their property. However, there are certain episodes that truly make me sad. I hate turning the program on and finding a parent suing a child, or a niece suing an aunt, or a sibling suing another sibling.
There is nothing more disheartening than seeing family members get to the point in a dispute where they feel it is unable to be resolved without the help of a judge. I'm sure many of you are reading this and thinking to yourself, "There's no way I could ever take a member of my family to court." I'm thankful for that, but unfortunately you and I might be in the minority.
Whether it be with a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or a fellow Christian at church, the writer of Proverbs would tell us very plainly:
"Let bygones be bygones!"
I think he would remind us that life is too short to hold onto grudges or to allow a minor quarrel fester into something greater.
When you feel the need to initiate a quarrel, you must ask yourself if it's going to be worth the potential flood that is very likely to come following the breaching of dam. That flood is going to look like a strained friendship, awkward moments in the future, and potentially the termination of a relationship.
Therefore, when we see a quarrel coming, we need to make every effort to avoid it if at all possible. Occasionally, participating in a quarrel will bring resolution, but most of the time it merely brings heartache. Decide in your heart and mind right now that participating in a feud is not worth the pain that will potentially come in the end.
I always wonder what transpires between the family members who have just been in Judge Judy's courtroom to have their cases heard. Whether or not their relationships are able to be restored, you and I can learn from their pain that is always very present during their court appearance.
Pray with me that God would guide our hearts, our conversations, and our relationships. Be on the lookout for disputes that you clearly don't need to take part in. For the sake of your relationships, avoid starting quarrels because they are likely to come with consequences that you are unprepared for.
One of my occasional guilty pleasures is plopping in front of the television and watching back to back episodes of "Judge Judy". I enjoy her quick wit and her keen ability to sniff out a lie in the midst of a dramatic feud.
Many times you'll see a tenant taking a landlord to court or a neighbor suing a neighbor because their child or dog damaged their property. However, there are certain episodes that truly make me sad. I hate turning the program on and finding a parent suing a child, or a niece suing an aunt, or a sibling suing another sibling.
There is nothing more disheartening than seeing family members get to the point in a dispute where they feel it is unable to be resolved without the help of a judge. I'm sure many of you are reading this and thinking to yourself, "There's no way I could ever take a member of my family to court." I'm thankful for that, but unfortunately you and I might be in the minority.
Whether it be with a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or a fellow Christian at church, the writer of Proverbs would tell us very plainly:
"Let bygones be bygones!"
I think he would remind us that life is too short to hold onto grudges or to allow a minor quarrel fester into something greater.
When you feel the need to initiate a quarrel, you must ask yourself if it's going to be worth the potential flood that is very likely to come following the breaching of dam. That flood is going to look like a strained friendship, awkward moments in the future, and potentially the termination of a relationship.
Therefore, when we see a quarrel coming, we need to make every effort to avoid it if at all possible. Occasionally, participating in a quarrel will bring resolution, but most of the time it merely brings heartache. Decide in your heart and mind right now that participating in a feud is not worth the pain that will potentially come in the end.
I always wonder what transpires between the family members who have just been in Judge Judy's courtroom to have their cases heard. Whether or not their relationships are able to be restored, you and I can learn from their pain that is always very present during their court appearance.
Pray with me that God would guide our hearts, our conversations, and our relationships. Be on the lookout for disputes that you clearly don't need to take part in. For the sake of your relationships, avoid starting quarrels because they are likely to come with consequences that you are unprepared for.
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