ENVIRONMENTS YOU MUST AVOID

The atmosphere in the service that day was already tense. It has been weeks of addressing matters and speaking to those concerned in love. I had to take a bold pastoral step- one of the toughest I have taken in my pastoral journey.

I called the dear one who was in the middle of the crisis and said, “Do you still believe in the vision of this church?” He replied in the affirmative. How about the pastoral leadership in this church? He again replied in the affirmative. But I disagreed. I told him, “If there is anything I would love to say to you, it is that I am sorry and you have to find another church and another pastor”. There was no need for strife. Once the matter was addressed, the atmosphere changed in the church.

There is something that a covenant person must never do- he must not be caught in the web of strife. Strife stifles the expression of God’s grace and love. Anywhere strife enters, love is stifled.

Abraham definitely loved Lot but at a point, he saw the seed of strife spreading from Lot to Lot’s herdsmen. Abraham had to address the issue.

And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we are brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. Genesis 13:7‭-‬9 KJV

Strife stifles growth and grace. A person who understands covenant must never be caught in strife. A person who understands the blessing must always walk in love. Love is the driver of all that we do as believers. The engine of the Christian faith is powered by love.

Every time there was strife with Isaac, he avoided it. In avoiding strife, he got into Rehoboth.

And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is our’s: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. And they dug another well and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. And he removed from thence and dug another well, and for that, they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now, the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
Genesis 26:20‭-‬22 KJV

Do not be caught in the web of strife. It does not pay. It will stifle you. Grace will be choked.

temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa