Sowing Disunity
Proverbs 6:16–19
16 There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.
Last week, I sat with our Long-Term Stewardship Committee, making decisions about how best to invest and utilize the generosity of a few estate gifts we have received. As we talked about policies, procedures, and projects, I made the statement: We must not allow division over things like carpet colors and wall decor!
Too many churches, this one included, have experienced division over personal preferences—often involving money and power—rather than remaining unified under a gospel purpose. When we allow our preferences to be prioritized over the desires and needs of others, we are missing the point. When we are more concerned with maintaining a building than reaching our community, we are missing the point.
The Lord hates one who sows discord among brothers.
Secret conversations. Backroom meetings. Gossipy group chats. These destroy rather than build up.
Constant complaining, critical spirits, and judgmental or jealous hearts must be fought, not fertilized.
I am not writing this from a place of frustration at all. No names are popping into my head, nor are there groups I am passively calling out. In fact, I often boast about how kind, loving, and selfless our church members are. I write this as a warning because division rarely announces itself before it arrives. It begins with small seeds that are allowed to grow.
Are you sowing discord?
Are you unifying or unraveling?
Are you focused on your way or God’s way?
Disunity is a sickness that the enemy has used countless times to hinder the work of God. Where are you susceptible to this attack? Where do you need to repent of sowing discord? What action should you take to build back what you have broken down?
If discord can be sown, so can unity. Today, choose to plant something different. Encourage rather than criticize. Speak to someone rather than about them. Assume the best of others rather than the worst. Sow the kind of seeds that strengthen the people of God rather than separate them.
