“Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute,
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.”
– Proverbs 20:3
We live in an age that constantly demonstrates the second part of this proverb! Any fool truly can get himself or herself into a quarrel, and they do. We see it on the roads. We see it on the news. We see it on social media. We see it on email. We see it in the workplace, in schools, and in homes. We see it in sports at every level. We live in an age of short tempers, thin skins, easy offense, and exaggerated outrage. “Any fool can get himself into a quarrel.”
Followers of Jesus must not be fools in this way. We can’t be getting ourselves into quarrels. If we find ourselves in one, we must immediately get ourselves out of it. We must ALWAYS resist the very human rush of emotion and anger that easily turns differences of opinion and disagreements into full-blown and sinful quarrels. When we fail to resist, we must recognize that we have sinned. Our sin isn’t in holding to a different perspective, but in becoming agitated, angry, and quarrelsome, thus bringing shame on the name of Christ.
Jesus was very clear, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” That wasn’t intended to describe a special kind of Christian. Making peace is the appointed job of every Christian. We aren’t just supposed to be peaceful and avoid quarrels, but must actively get engaged in making peace. That’s where the first part of the proverb comes in. Followers of Jesus should be actively investing ourselves in ending disputes, even when it’s risky and messy. We are to MAKE peace, not just enjoy it or keep it.
In our quarrelsome, angry, divided culture, we who follow Jesus are meant to be radically different. We’re meant to be lowering temperatures, modeling humility and forgiveness, bringing people together, and demonstrating how to love those who think and act differently than we do. Any fool can get himself into a quarrel. Don’t be any fool! Live with honor and be the peacemaker Jesus called and equipped you to be!