Title
The Contentious Are Slippery
Scripture
Whoever restrains her (the contentious) restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.
(Proverbs 27:15-16)
Devotional
The strong connotation here is that the contentious cannot be restrained. It is nearly foolish to attempt to do so.
Therefore how do we deal the contentious? There are several simple ways: one of my favorite ways is not to deal with them at all. I prefer to leave them to their own devices. If I have a relationship with them, I reveal their attitudes to them firmly in love and depart from them. Always remember, the contentious want to be contentious. Do not feed them their fodder. Like all antagonists, we are to love them, but mark them. They do not make for godly friends or associates.
If you happen to have authority in their lives, discipline them. And if the discipline fails, you may have to remove yourself from them or remove them from you, especially if they are employed by you. If they happen to be a spouse, pray for them, love them and minister to them even though it will be like grasping oil in your hand.
Text For The Day
Proverbs 27:16: Whoever restrains her [the contentious] restrains the wind, and grasps oil with his right hand.
Thought For The Day
“If you be wronged in your estate, if you go to law, they will say, you are contentious; if you let go your estate to avoid contention, they will say, you are silly fools or idiots.” Richard Baxter, (1615-1691), Puritan evangelist in The Folly of Trying to Please MenQuestions To Ponder
· How does God deal with the contentious?
· How do you deal with the contentious?
· Are you contentious?
Morning Study Guide
Defining: “Contentious”: Argumentative, troublesome, “A continual dripping on a very rainy day,” Proverbs 27:15
Referencing: “As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife,” Proverbs 26:21.
Applying: If you are going to contend, “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints,” Jude 3.