THE
VALUE OF CONTENTION
Monday,
January 05, 2015
Proverbs [GW] 13:10 Arrogance produces only quarreling, but those who take advice gain
wisdom. …
Luke [GW] 14:11 Those who honor themselves will be humbled, but people who humble
themselves will be honored."
James [GW] 4:6 … Scripture says, "God opposes arrogant people, but he is kind
to humble people."
As with most people, I dislike contention.
For decades I let this dislike stand in the way of opportunities for
maturation. This I learned from a supervisor that decided to mentor me. Mr.
Robert Brettschneider showed me that contentious employees made him examine in
a way that team players did not. At times they brought out problems that team
players would not mention.
The
adversity of contention (complaint, strife, conflict, disharmony) can reveal
much. Contention with its companion
adversity may have great value as it presents opportunity for personal
examination as to whether the root cause is our pride, or not; maximizing
probability of objective resolution and edification; or, being mulishly
resistant to, maximizing dreadful subjective failure.
For some of us it is not until we consider possibility
of and recognize our pride as cause of disputation that we can consider wise
instruction. (Mt.13:9-16) Without such acknowledgment and appreciation we do
not respect God, and can expect naught but resistance from Him. (Heb.11:6)
Indeed God’s grace is free, but there is an
essential requirement before reception; humility, a humble spirit.
O
Lord, at times I am contentious. I confess that I am a prideful person, often
much desiring to be right above being godly and pleasing to You. I thank You
for the recognition value of contention, for without it I know I wouldn’t even
come close to seeing my pride as You do. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and
renew a right spirit within me that I might do good in Your good pleasure and
build on the one and only foundation You provide. (Ps.51:10, 18; 1Cor.3:11)
For further contemplation, a psalm of David:
“Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom Jehovah does not charge iniquity, and in whose
spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones became old through my
roaring all the day long. For by day and by night Your hand was heavy on me; my
sap is turned into the droughts of summer. Selah. I confessed my sin to You,
and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgression to
Jehovah; and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this let every
godly one pray to You, in a time when You may be found; surely in the floods of
great waters they shall not come near him. You are my hiding place; You shall
preserve me from trouble; You shall circle me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will
counsel you, My eye shall be on you. Be not like the horse, or like the mule, who
have no understanding, whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, so that
they do not come near you. The wicked has many sorrows, but mercy embraces him
who trusts in Jehovah. Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, you righteous; and
shout for joy, all you upright in heart.” (Ps.32. Verses 8 & 9 being my
life verses.) EBB4
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