This morning I read verses 27-32:
27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. 29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. 30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
32 for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,
but the upright are in his confidence.
What came to mind when you read that passage?
The first thing I thought was, “This is God’s way of telling us how to avoid drama!”
Think about it. When you can give to (or help) someone who is due the good you can give, why not do it? Some people don’t. They may be greedy, or they don’t want the person to get the reward they deserve. Or maybe some people feel like if they do good to someone else it may make that person look better than them. For example, congratulating a co-worker on a promotion. Usually when this happens, the other person knows you can help them or “do good” toward them, which in turn usually causes conflict. Also, don’t put of doing it when you don’t need to.
Let’s talk about neighbors. Our actual, literal neighbors, the people who live next door to us. Most people feel like their home is their sanctuary from the world. It’s the one place most people can control the “climate” of their environment. So, why cause trouble with your neighbor for no reason? Just because you can go inside your house doesn’t mean you can completely avoid them once you cause an argument. I had a neighbor one time who did nothing but complain about another neighbor. She was constantly calling the HOA on them. One time I ran into her at the grocery store, and she wanted me to write letters to the HOA and complain about the other neighbor. I told her I wasn’t going to do that, and she got very mad. I didn’t see a need to cause conflict with my other neighbor. I want peace at home and with the people around me. At some point, we may need our neighbor and they may need us.
Do you know someone who loves to start arguments? I do and they even admit to liking to start them. You can bet I don’t hang around that person very much. Why cause an argument with someone on purpose? Our time is precious so why waste it on something negative, unproductive, and most importantly doing something that goes against what God calls us to do: be peacemakers.
Lastly, verse 31 says not to envy people who are violent or fall into their ways. Nothing good comes out of violence. Not only does it cause physical pain, but it causes turmoil. A violent person is not at peace. A life of violence will end up being a life behind bars or leaving you with literally no life at all. Verse 32 says that those who are devious are an abomination to the Lord. I wouldn’t want to live as an abomination to the Lord. I want to be His confidence!
There are just a few ways the Bible talks about to avoid drama in our life. Keep reading (especially in Proverbs) and you’ll find more! One of our goals as Believers and women of faith is to live in peace.