A Contentious Person - Proverbs 26:21

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases”, and in chapter twenty-six and verse twenty-one of Proverbs Solomon shared about, “a contentious man to kindle strife” where we read,

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to a fire;

so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

The verse begins, “As coals are to burning coals, and wood to a fire;” Solomon began with the words, “as coal” or “in a similar and likeness that charcoal or embers” “are to burning coals” which means “exists to fiery, glowing and kindled charcoal or embers”, “and wood to a fire” or “and timber, planks, sticks and firewood toward a burning, fiery flame”. Solomon referred to how charcoal embers touching other fiery glowing embers and firewood touching fiery flames to describe the following. 

The verse continues, “so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” Solomon added the words, “so is a contentious man” or “even, also and indeed exists a striving and brawling person whether male or female” “to kindle strife” which means “to scorch, burn, char and make hot controversy, disputing and quarreling”. Solomon said a brawling person starts hot controversies and disputing.

When we think through Solomon's words in this verse, we learn how people who cause controversies are similar to charcoal and timbers to a fiery flame. They start and keep quarrels going, and this is not the way God wants us to be. God knew we have sinful ways in our lives, and those sins lead to death. (See Romans 3:10, 23; 6:23) He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us from being like “contentious” and brawling people. 

Next time Solomon says, “the words of a talebearer are as wounds”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".