Proverbs on Strife

Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred. (15:17) Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. (17:1) The misery of discord in a family household has no regard for affluence or social status As the worlds wisest and wealthiest man, Solomon knew human accomplishment, accumulation of assets, notoriety, and power did not bring peace to the heart Having disobeyed God (I Kings 11:1-9), he left his first love (a phrase used in Revelation 2:4); and so he wrote: Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless! What does a man gain from all his labor (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3) He teaches those who follow after him: a heart at peace gives life to the body (14:30) He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction. (17:19) A fools lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. (18:6) It is to a mans honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. (20:3) Most strife begins with an uncontrolled tongue, which is a distinguishing difference between honorable behavior and the actions of a fool (29:11) The fool is easily offended (12:15-16), loves to quarrel (17:19), unrestrained in what he says (10:14, 18:2), and so his lips bring him strife and his mouth invites a beating (18:6) Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry (James 1:19) Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife (21:9, 25:24) A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand. (27:15-16) Central in Solomons downfall was his weakness for women, having one thousand in his household (I Kings 11:1-6); this disobedience greatly displeased God (I Kings 11:9-13) At this point the wisdom of Solomon is in question as he lived in disobedience to God There is no doubt with one thousand women there was turmoil and strife (700 wives and 300 concubines) so he wrote with experience about a quarrelsome wife Though we have a few proverbs explaining the impact of a quarrelsome wife, there is much more teaching on the positive behavior of a Godly wife (12:4, 18:22, 19:14, 31:1-12) A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (15:1) A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel. (15:18) Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended. (22:10) Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, I was only joking! (26:18-19) For as churning the milk produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife. (30:33) The wise man displays gentleness, patience, and restraint the fool reacts impulsively, shows annoyance at once (12:16), and is hotheaded and reckless (14:16) A harsh word stirs up anger (15:1) as surely as churning the milk produces butter (30:33) When confronted with his irrationality, often the fool will say I was only joking (20:19) Solomon makes a sharp contrast between foolish behavior and the character of a wise man His description of the latter is much like the fruit of the Spirit love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)