Fire Of the Contentious
The Negative Influences of a Person Who Seeks Strife
The King James Bible tells us “As coals are to burning coals, and wood to a fire; So is a contentious man to kindle strife.” (Proverbs 26:21) “Contentious” (?????? ma?ôn) means to be argumentative, a person who is able to create barriers between persons. They are often an object of contention, the source of strife, discord and a quarrelsome atmosphere. (Baker, W., & Carpenter, E. E. (2003). In The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament (pp. 571–572). AMG Publishers. - Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.; Strong, J. (1996). In The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words. Thomas Nelson.)
This contentious spirit is like fire which burns up all that is good, and puts families, friends and co-workers at odds. This spirit finds a small fire of strife, kindles it and keeps feeding the issues which cause distrust, hatred or malice.
It is a heart attitude which we must avoid and give no ear to these types of talebearers, to do so is to entertain their sin. A contentious person misrepresents words and distort people’s actions. They are able to cause friends, family members and co-workers to sow discord. They are to be banished out of families, the workplace and all social organizations, so strife will cease. Whisperers and backbiters are not to be put up with for they wound the life of those who desire to do right. It is unwise to associate with people who boast of making sure unrest will continue until they get their way. Anyone who once exhibited a life governed by a continuous heart must prove a heart of repentance by word and life or be putout association with family, friendly gatherings or be allowed to continue in the workforce. (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 1015). Hendrickson.; Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. (1909). Proverbs (p. 502). Funk & Wagnalls Company.; Spence-Jones, H. D. M., ed. (1909). Proverbs (p. 502). Funk & Wagnalls Company.)
When a contentious heart is set aside, discord can die a natural death. (Garrett, D. A. (1993). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (Vol. 14, p. 214). Broadman & Holman Publishers.) When you take coal or wood away from a fire, the fire finely burns out, so it is when you take a contentious person and spirit away from those who are inflaming with wrong motives and actions of life.
Overcoming the Contentious Spirit
Steps to dealing with a contentious spirit:
1.) Examine Yourself – Before we can enjoy God dealing with a person who has a contentious heart, we must first take to heart what Jesus taught. “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the wood out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:3-5) When we humble ourselves before God to deal with our motives in listening to a contentious person, then we can be better prepared in praying for the person who is bringing strife in the lives of others. Character Check – understand this – how you hear people talk about others is how they are talking about you when you are not around. The heart-searching question for all of us, “What is about my character which makes people feel to freely speak bad about others to me?” Do not be a live ear or supporter of a contentious person!
2.) Pray that those in authority will be made aware of the heart of a person who has a contentious spirit. If those in authority are unaware, this fire will grow – people unaware of it will pass it onto others. Just as hot coals ignite other chunks of coal, the spirit of contention ignites others.
3.) Pray that the Lord will open their eyes to the destruction of their own heart. Jeremiah informs us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10) Those who are contentious are blind to their heart and actions, they convince themselves they are doing good and are right, when in fact they are destructive.
4.) If there is no fruit of repentance being expressed in the life of the person blinded by their own sin. Pray that those in authority will do their job quickly. It is too easy for everyone to ignore this sin, and much damage is done before proper action is taken. “Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times.” (Psalm 106:3) A person who is feeding a contentious spirit must be dwelt with as soon as possible.
A contentious person delights in stroking the fires of controversy. Often this person motivates others through whispering campaigns of slander, false reports and allusions. Whenever a contentious person is allowed to be round others, they become like new coals to a coal fire and fresh dry wood to a wood fire, igniting fires of controversy, discord will be the backdrop in the atmosphere of the work force, family gatherings and social events. - (Smith, J. E. (1996). The wisdom literature and Psalms (p. 651). College Press Pub. Co.)
Warning: A contentious spirit does not leave just because the person who had it has left the work force, left the family or stopped coming to certain social events. A critical spirit will stay and attach itself to people who are not surrendered to Jesus Christ. Someone who is not Holy Spirit led or Holy Spirit filled will take over what the wicked left undone.
A critical spirit tears down everyone around them – robs people from the ability to enjoy life. It blinds spiritual hearts, not allowing themselves and others to see the beauty God has placed on this earth. A contentious spirit is not thankful for opportunities given nor grateful over what has been done for them. This unholy spirit will not grasp God’s forgiveness, nor accurately understand God’s grace.
God and God alone can deal with the contentious spirit, bring healing, lead and empower with wisdom those in authority over the workplace, families and social gatherings. The Adam syndrome (not doing what church should do) must be overcome by seeking God for His wisdom in dealing with a contentious spirit.
Key truths to cling to: Overcoming a Contentious Spirit
1.) Understand their spiritual heart condition and ask Jesus Christ to change it. Luke 6:45 says, "The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."
2.) Let God’s Word become our guide. The Apostle Paul’s exhortation is, "We are to grow up in every way into Him who is the Head, into Christ . . . so that [the body] builds itself up in love. . . Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. . . Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:15-16; 29; 31-32)
3.) Take Captive Their Minds: A person who lives life with a contentious heart needs to learn God’s Word about taking control of their minds. (Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:5) Instead of nursing and rehearsing evil thinking – they need to focus on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8) They need to grasp the truth of Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.”
4.) Righteous People Do Not Look the Other Way: People who walk in step with the Holy Spirit of Christ do not let sin prevail. The Adam syndrome is to be overcome. Good people do not ignore falsehood, injustice, ugliness, or imperfection. The Body of Christ, the true church is to speak out of a heart of love in order to build each other up. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6:1-5)
A.) Love does not let a child play in the middle of an interstate highway. Love does not let sin reign in any area of life. There is consequence for sinning, and God will not hold back His chastisements, the children of God are not to let obvious sin go without Biblical correction.
In closing: Old and New Testaments of the Bible show us the destructive force contentious people can have. (Numbers 11:4; Acts 17:5) Today, to ignore this devasting sin, unaddressed by those who have the proper authority to do something. Will open the door for workplaces, families and social gatherings to experience unrest, be hindered, and unmotivated to strive towards God’s best for them
Theodore M. Burton writes, “True love is based on personal unselfishness, but our modern world does not seem to understand this. Modern man has lost his capacity to show Agape love…”
Russel M. Nelson gives a thought worthy considering, “What can we do to combat this canker of contention? What steps may each of us take to supplant the spirit of contention with a spirit of personal peace? To begin, show compassion concern for others. Control the tongue, the pen, the word processor, what and how you present yourself on social media. Through the Agape love of God, the pain caused by the fiery canker of contention will be extinguished from the soul. This healing begins with a personal vow, “let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
