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"Are You Striving or Strifing?"
Two words that are very similar in sound, but whose meanings are quite different.
Strive
Comes from the Greek word, agonizomai, which means:
- To struggle
- Literally (to compete for a prize)
- Figuratively (to contend with an adversary)
- Genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something)
Christ used the word in Luke 13:24, when he said, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate…" when He encouraged His listeners to be diligent in their focus on the narrow way.
When Paul was before Felix he said, "I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men." Acts 24:16. Paul indicates here to Felix that he has had a very strong conscience that compels him to avoid offending God and men.
Another similar word is contend. It comes from the Greek word, epagonizomai, to struggle for.
This word is used in Jude 3 when we are told by Jude, "I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."
Another word that is spelled similarly in our English, but has a completely different meaning is strife.
Strife is from the Greek word, eris which means a quarrel, i.e. (by implication) wrangling.
This strife is meant to either puff up the one who is wrangling or to cause division and harm to another.
The association of strife with other words is telling. Note its closeness to these other terms:
Rom 1:29-32
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; …
Rom 13:13
13 Let us walk properly…not in strife and envy.
1 Cor 3:3
3 …For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
Phil 1:15
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife,
1 Tim 6:4-5
4 …from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions…
Notice that envy is connected with strife in all the lists. This indicates the strong association of strife with envy.
It makes sense that these two words are connected. A person envies another person. It may be their material goods, their powerful position in the world, their position of leadership in the church, their positive situation (whatever that may be) relative to the envious person.
Whatever causes this envy leads to strife in the following way. The envious person begins to talk negatively about the envied person. Soon there are willing ears that are eager to add their own comments against the envied person and soon there is strife.
It can take many forms, such as, apparent divisions over doctrinal issues, but down deep is envy. It can be evident in "who does what" in their service capacities in the church. It can also surface in negative speaking about the elders and their leadership and direction.
This kind of strife can cause divisions in the church and lead to splits and ultimately souls being lost. Some people tire of the division and simply give up. Others stay, but are embittered and their service to God is lacking in commitment and their love of the brethren is dead.
In all the above cases, the ultimate result is that the cause is hurt and souls are lost.
Brethren, we need to consider ourselves in the perfect mirror of His word (James 1:23-24) and strive to follow His walk and to avoid strife.
Are we striving or "strifing?"
-Mike Benson
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