Day 1,030: Proverbs 17- Stop The Strife

Better is a dry morsel with quiet
    than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully
    and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    and the Lord tests hearts.

4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;
    he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.

7 Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
    still less is false speech to a prince.

8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.

9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

10 A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    rather than a fool in his folly.

13 If anyone returns evil for good,
    evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

16 Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?

17 A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity.

18 One who lacks sense gives a pledge
    and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.

19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
    he who makes his door high seeks destruction.

20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

21 He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked accepts a bribe in secret
    to pervert the ways of justice.

24 The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father
    and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
    nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
 
Meditation
The priority of peace echoes through Scripture because peace is a gift of God’s grace. The gospel of Jesus motivates disciples to participate in suffering to serve others more than settling for strife to prove we are right (2 Timothy 3-4). Paul’s last words to Timothy commanded him to seek righteousness, love, faith, and peace by avoiding fools who seek strife (2 Timothy 2:22-23). Today’s reading reiterates the same.
 
The fruit of God’s Spirit is peace (Galatians 5:22). Wisdom compels us to be content feasting on the fruitfulness of God’s work in us and through us, even if it means meager rations, rather than seeking a feast of food in a house of strife. Peace is evidence of God’s presence, God’s work, and God’s love- enough for soul satisfaction.
 
Fools seek peace through control. Wisdom reminds us we can only have peace when we seek God Himself. Jesus invites us to believe in Him to plug into peace (John 14). Fools will falsely trespass, destroy, and deceive in seeking shallow peace (19-20). Fools see strife as opportunity. Wisdom demands we see strife as water leaking, better to stop the flow and keep peace before the dam breaks and the place floods in quarrels (14).
 
Conflict and strife are not standards Christians settle for. Believers know peace through Christ so we seek peace in all of life (Peace makers, not peace fakers- Ezekiel 13). Jesus makes peace by the blood of His cross (Colossians 1:20) and teaches we are blessed if we are peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).
 
Stop the strife and seek peace.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you see seeking peace as a priority for Christians today? Why or why not?
 
-Where do you need to stop strife by being a true peacemaker?
 
-How does the gift of peace through the cross and from God’s Spirit fuel our focus to seek peace in all of life? What does this (specifically) look like for you?
 
Key Verse
1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife…. 14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.