Let’s focus our attention on one of the works of the flesh, a work of the flesh that can make the body of Christ rot from inside. That is the work known as “strife.”
“STRIFE” IS A “WORK OF THE FLESH” – Galatians 5:20:
“Eris” is the original word and it is defined as “quarrel, strife, contention, rivalry, discord.” The English word “strife” is defined as “anger or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict.” Paul uses the word nine times as he writes to various churches. It doesn’t take a lot of people to have quarrels and contention.
The ancient Greek writer Homer used this word to refer to an eagerness for combat. Is that really what Christians want to be known for? Eagerness for combat?
THOUGHTS ON “STRIFE”:
Those who are guilty of strife are “worthy of death” – Romans 1:29.
Some can preach the truth, but motivated by “strife” – Phil. 1:15.
It arises along with arguing over words and controversial questions – 1 Tim. 6:4.
CURE FOR “STRIFE” – 1 Corinthians 3:1-9:
Let’s spend more time in 1 Corinthians because that church seemed to be especially in danger of succumbing to the work of the flesh known as strife.
In 1 Corinthians 1:11, the word is translated “quarrels” and Paul says they should not exist among Christ’s people.
But in chapter three, Paul returns even more forcefully to this idea of “strife,” “arguing” and “discord.”
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3:1 – There are some people who are simply fleshly minded.
3:2 – These very Christians cannot handle more mature “food” in the Gospel message. The reason why they have not matured is because they are still fleshly minded – verse 3…
3:3 – The indication that they are “fleshly minded” is that there is “jealousy” and “strife” among them. They were jealous of one another’s spiritual gifts. They were jealous of one another’s perceived spiritual standing before God and in the church. If you are guilty of jealousy and strife, you are simply walking like “mere men” and not someone whose old man has been crucified with Christ.
3:4 – They show their jealous nature and “strife-filled” hearts by separating themselves from the rest of the church. There is an African proverb that says, “When bull elephants fight, the grass always loses.”
3:5 – The solution to strife is found in this next short paragraph (5-9). What is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants. That’s all they are. That’s all any of us are – just servants; human; sometimes sinful; often wrong. But we are just servants and we might need a strong dose of humility to be reminded that we are just servants.
3:6 – It takes all of us. No one is more important than anyone else.
3:7 – “Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything but God who causes the growth.”
3:8 – We are nothing (verse 7) but we are one in Christ Jesus. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.” That’s what Paul is saying here in 1 Corinthians 3.
3:9 – Because, we are all God’s “fellow workers”. We are God’s “field.” We are God’s “building.” We belong to God. Just serve Jesus. Because strife is a work of the flesh, a sign of immaturity, and those who engage in it are worthy of death.
So, the church is Christ’s not mine. Not yours. Everything we have we owe to Him. Everything we like and dislike needs to be subservient to the overall goal of unity in the church. The church does not belong to those who have attended for 50 years. It does not belong to those who give the most money. It belongs to Christ and everything must be made subservient to the goal of keeping unity in His church, based on His Gospel.
For the sake of our love for Christ and His church, we need to force ourselves to stay united.
–Paul Holland
