INTRODUCTION

Contention comes when two parties have conflicting desires or points of view, and are unwilling to move. Oftentimes, pride hinders either party from admitting error or even the possibility of error. Without pride, contention ceases. When Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, became king, the people of God came to him requesting relief from the heavy burden of taxes that had been placed upon them by Solomon. The older men counseled Rehoboam to do as the people requested, but the younger men instructed Rehoboam to reject the wishes of the people. Rehoboam responded to the people’s request with pride, and strife followed (1 Kings 12:1-16 [1] And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. [2] And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) [3] That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, [4] Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. [5] And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. [6] And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? [7] And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. [8] But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: [9] And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? [10] And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. [11] And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. [12] So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. [13] And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; [14] And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. [15] Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. [16] So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
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DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Haman was full of pride and became angry because Mordecai (a Jew who worshipped God only) would not bow down to him. Haman caused much strife in the land by wanting to destroy all the Jews (Esther 3:1-6 [1] After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. [2] And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. [3] Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? [4] Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. [5] And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. [6] And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
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• Have you ever witnessed contention where both sides were wrong? Why would neither side admit that they were wrong? Why would neither side suffer the wrong to bring peace?
• If contention comes by pride, what does this suggest about most relationship problems? Why is their strife between a husband and wife, or a parent and a child?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to help you avoid the sin of pride.
• Ask God to show you when to suffer the wrong to bring peace.

HYMN

Have Thine Own Way, Lord!

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