The fine line of STRIVE and STRIFE?

Things to strive for:

Act 24:16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

1Ti 4:1-10 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.


The first part of the definition for strive is, “to make strenuous efforts toward any goal: to strive for success.” Striving toward a goal or toward your idea of success is not a negative thing, nor is it detrimental to your walk. Many people strive daily to read and pray with the Lord for an hour, or to memorize scripture or to walk more like Jesus. These are all beneficial to your walk, as well as to others.

Rom 1:29-32 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

1Ti 6:3-5 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.


The second half of the definition is, “to contend in opposition, battle, or any conflict; compete,” or “to struggle vigorously, as in opposition or resistance: to strive against fate and to rival.” This is the fine line. When striving toward the goal becomes strife. If you notice strife in your circumstances then you need to let go and allow the Lord to take control. That means not talking about it, not thinking about it, not stumbling over it!

The definition for strife becomes even more ugly, “vigorous or bitter conflict, discord, or antagonism: to be at strife; a quarrel, struggle, or clash: armed strife; competition or rivalry: the strife of the marketplace.” The Lord tells us that we are in a battle with the spiritual world, not with people and that we should fight not with carnal weapons, but with spiritual weapons of salvation and prayer. Paul exhorts us through the example of the apostles to give ourselves to prayer and ministry of the word. Further, we all know that the Lord is a jealous God and He will not bless anything that we hold onto so much so that it interferes with our relationship with Him. We are to listen to the signs and symptoms of our flesh that He gives us as cautionary “red flags” that say we’re too involved in the situation…we are in the way and about to be shattered. He contends with those that stand in the way of His work.

Mat 12:30 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

1Sa 2:9-10 He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness.
“It is not by strength that one prevails; those who oppose the Lord will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.

What does striving or strife look and feel like? It is anger, it is possession, it is competition, it is jealousy, it is lust, it is fear and it is pride. Strife looks like envy and where there is envy there is to be strife…so when you feel like you need to hold onto something so much that it changes your walk with the Lord in a manner that is detrimental to your friends and family this is strife and this is sin…because it is not of faith, but it is of your flesh. Flesh gives birth to flesh and spirit gives birth to spirit. Walk above reproach in a worthy manner, sharing your possession with the poor that should have no strife among you. Love your neighbor and pray for your enemies that you should put on your armor daily for you do not know the time or the hour the Lord will come back. Arm yourselves with the word, with prayer and all kinds of supplications that you would prove faithful servants of Him the one that gave His life for you! Do not walk the fine line that is close to strife, but steer clear of ALL sin. When striving for the Lord, remember that one little letter can make a big difference…change that v to an f (strive to strife) and you’ve lost the battle, but take that r out (armor to amor, Spanish for love) and you’ve won!

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/strive
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/strife

Scriptures for further study:

Jhn 3:6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.

Eph 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

Isa 58:7 [Regarding true fasting] Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Jam 3:16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

1Pe 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

Mat 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[fn8] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies[fn9] and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Eph 6:11-13 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Mat 25:13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.