September 18

Sep 18 - Today from Proverbs 18 we look at verse 19
"An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes like the barred gates of a citadel."

This proverb addresses the nature of the condition of man. Man is generally ambitious to get his own way and generally resents people who keep them from getting their own way. As vessels of the Spirit of Christ and agents of the kingdom of God, we are to appropriate grace to avoid being either.
Selfish ambition is a powerful force - and it is very short sighted. One can connive and manipulate and win the battle, and in doing so one can easily lose the war. James writes in chapter 4 verses 1-3:
"What causes quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but you don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasure."
Selfish ambition. Resentment. Spoiled children.
One may, through manipulating, politicizing, and using whatever means available to attempt to get what one wants from his brother, but even if he gains his prize he has lost something of far greater value - his brother. When trust is broken, the relationship disappears. When the soul is wounded, protective walls go up. "I trusted you once. I will not make that mistake again soon."
This proverb reveals the nature of man so that we can avoid the building of citadels and barred gates in our relationships with others. We are to build bridges and to mend ways so that we may use our relationships to honor and glorify God. There are times when we may have to give up the prize in order to keep the thing of greater value - a relationship. This is the principle of Jesus' message in His Sermon on the Mount. If you have the opportunity today, read the beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-11. Here you will find the kingdom principles for building bridges rather than walls.