Where There Is Envying and Strife - James 3:16
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INTRODUCTION
Churches, homes, and individuals have chosen the difficulties of envying and strife over the blessings of peace. In doing so, they have heaped upon themselves confusion. Where there is envy there will be confusion. Where people experience strife, they will know confusion. It is no wonder so many are outside of the will of God, they cannot even discern what it is. Church should be a haven of truth that clears up the confusion of those who attend. The Christian home should be a place of clarity that protects its members from the confusion perpetrated by the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Yet, many have chosen rather to deal with the curse of confusion.
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
- (For smaller children) Saul's envy of David (1 Samuel 18:5-9 [5] And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
[6] And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.
[7] And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
[8] And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
[9] And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
See All...) brought confusion. He tried to kill David and even tried to smite his own son who knew David was not to blame (1 Samuel 19:4-5 [4] And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good: [5] For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
See All...; 1 Samuel 20:32-34 [32] And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? [33] And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. [34] So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.
See All...). Saul's home could have been happy if not for envy. - Why are churches splitting over foolish things? Why are families fighting, often over things that really do not even matter? Why are individuals more confused now than perhaps ever before?
- Do you enjoy envy and strife? Do you find confusion to be an enjoyable thing? If not, what can you do to know the clarity of mind that God desires for you?
PRAYER NEEDS
- Ask God to protect your home or church from envy and strife.
- Ask God to give you clarity of mind.
HYMN
I Need Thee Every Hour
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