1 Corinthians 3:3
“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”
Dealing with strife can be one of the most stressful things. Proverbs 17:1 says, “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” A home that is filled with strife is a home that has no joy. A church that is filled with strife is a church where its members endure. Those who deal with strife oftentimes will do anything to get away from it. Many Christians quit church and serving God because they just don’t want to deal with the drama and strife at their church. I have talked to many people who have told me the reason they don’t go to church is because of the strife at their church.
The church of Corinth was a church that was filled with strife. The strife was so evident that the Apostle Paul had to deal with it. The strife in this church was destroying the church just like it will destroy your church, home and marriage. When Paul dealt with the strife, he showed the sources of the strife.
The first source of strife is being driven by the flesh. Several times Paul talked about the carnality of this church. Carnality causes strife because it’s all about the flesh. Carnality strives to please itself, and when it is not getting what it wants it will cause strife. The reason there is strife in marriages is because one or both spouses are driven by their flesh. The reason churches are filled with strife is because they are filled with carnal Christians. If you are going to do away with strife, then you must crucify your flesh and be led by the Holy Spirit.
The second source of strife is being driven by personalities. The church of Corinth fought over the personalities of Paul and Apollos. It’s sad that they were fighting over personalities that truly did not save them from their sins. When you take human personalities out of the equation, you will be surprise how harmony will exist. Most of the strife churches experience is personality driven. If every Christian would only let the personality of Jesus Christ be their focus, then you would find most strife would cease in the church, marriage and home.
The third source of strife is being result driven. Verse 6 shows us this church was fighting over who was responsible for people getting saved. They were more focused on their results than they were on obedience. The Scriptures say in 1 Samuel 15:22, “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” Your only focus should be on obeying Christ. You have no power over results. When you focus on results and not on obedience, you will start striving with people when you don’t get the results you want.
The fourth source of strife is being driven by education. Verse 19 shows that the church of Corinth was very focused on education. There is nothing wrong with education, but being solely focused on education leads to pride and pride always leads to strife. Again, you ought to continually strive to learn more, but don’t let it cause you to think you are better than those who are less educated.
All strife would cease in every church, marriage and home if you would remove these four things. If you are dealing with strife, then identify which of these four things are the cause and remove them. The way to remove all of these is to stay focused on Christ and obedience to the Word of God. You will find that strife will cease when you have the proper focus and action.