Divisive: used to describe something that causes great and sometimes unfriendly disagreement within a group of people:

PROVERBS 14

When one reads Proverbs 14, we quickly realize it is a series of contrasts with an overarching theme of wisdom vs. foolishness.  There are many sub-topics or other contrasting points but the (in my opinion) all relate to being wise or foolish.

Our text for today must be taken in CONTEXT! Like most verses of Proverbs our text could stand on its own, but here, read along with v.21 and 23 we get a better picture of god’s revealed Word. 

‘He who despises his neighbor sins…But [blessed] is he who is gracious and merciful to the poor.’

Do they not go astray who devise {against their neighbors}evil and wander from the way of righteousness? But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.

In all labor {divising good} there is profit, But mere talk leads only to poverty.

So God’s revealed Word is pretty clear.  The proverb makes a few key points: 

• • • Dispising your neighbor even in your heart is a sin
    • Those that cheerfully help others are happy and blessed
    • Those that seek division, to disrupt the kingdom and the church labor in vain
    • Any deviation from God’s precepts is Sin and leads to evil
    • Not being divisive does not mean compromising the Word of God EVER
    • Those that seek to do righteous acts will profit
    • God expects His elect to be active in the World

TODAY’S PRAYER:

Father God, I know my nature is corrupt from the womb but by your Grace and the sacrifice of my Lord and Savior at Calvary I am a new creature. Yet as the apostle Paul said, still prone to do what I know is wrong. Help me Lord, to never be divisive,  to be gracious and merciful, to always use kindness and truth, and to labor faithfully and steadfast for your kingdom and glory. – Amen