It is better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman.                                                                                                          

                                                                                                               Proverbs 21:9 

Today: Read Proverbs 21

Some of you may be wondering if I’m about to get myself in trouble with today’s passage. No, we are not going to look at a contentious woman, but we are going to explore the serious concept of living in a spiritually divided home. The writer tells us that if contention is in the home, then it would be better to be out on the roof. For anyone who has lived through this, you no doubt see the wisdom in these words. Contentious people are those who are likely to start an argument or cause disruption. I can think of no greater likelihood of this happening than in a home that is spiritually divided.

Jesus states in no uncertain terms the reality of what a Christian can expect from those who are not Christ followers, “A man’s enemies will be the members of his household” (Matthew 10:36). No one likes to consider that prospect, but for all of you who are currently experiencing discord in your family, let’s take a look at what Jesus has to say concerning this reality.

(1) Christ Divides Light From Darkness

Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

                                                                                                     Luke 12:51-53 

Jesus is sometimes referred to as the Prince of Peace. This description is alluding to the fact that through Christ, we can now have peace with God. However the peace that we experience with the Almighty will in turn bring division with others. Why? It is because believers and non-believers have nothing spiritually or eternally in common. One group has embraced the gospel and is not ashamed of it (Romans 1:16) while the other group has rejected it, counting it as foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18). One group is on their way to an eternity in heaven while the other group is on their way to hell and an eternity of separation from God. We don’t like to think about this sometimes but this is the very reality, a division between light and darkness. In a perfect world, a Christian man and a Christian woman will raise Christian children, but we all know that we do not live in a perfect world. Family division will arise over the cross of Jesus. It’s painful, but it should be expected of a home that is spiritually divided. 

(2) You Will Be Hated For Rejecting The World And It’s Ways

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

                                                                                                       John 15:18-20 

Salvation brings a new life and a new outlook (2 Corinthians 5:17). When a person is saved, they move from spiritual death to spiritual life. They receive the Spirit of God and become a part of His family. Consequently, they will now see things through spiritual eyes. The sin that they once embraced, they will now desire to release. Likewise, the things of God that they used to reject, is now their very way of life. People should see a difference in the life of someone who claims the name of Jesus. If we “blend in” with the culture and it’s ways, it would be difficult to convince someone that we are authentic believers. The bottom line is that those outside of the body of Christ will not understand why we do the things we do and avoid the things that we avoid. And as in most cases in which conviction is taking place, a person will either be drawn to the Christian life or they will insult us for it (1 Peter 4:1-4). If the world hated Jesus, they will hate His followers as well. 

(3) You Have To Make A Choice 

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

                                                                                               Matthew 10:37-39 

So here is “where the rubber meets the road” so to speak. We have to make a choice. We must not ever put family above the place of Christ in our lives. Family is a gift. If you live in a like-minded, Christian family with little to no contention, then you are truly blessed. But as much as God has designed the family unit as a means of preserving society and propagating the gospel, family was never intended to become an idol. That is what Jesus is referring to when He says, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.” Yes, we are to love our parents, our children, and grandchildren, but they should never rise to the level of our devotion to Christ. A godly mother and father should have their priority set on their children’s salvation and obedience to Christ. Grandparents should desire to see the next generation and their children continue to walk in the ways of God (3 John 4). There is no greater joy than to see your children making Christ the priority of their lives, but there is also no greater sorrow than to see them pursue money, position, power, and material success while neglecting spiritual life (Luke 9:25). The bottom line is this: When we find ourselves in a contentious and divided home, we have to decide whether we are going to follow Jesus or whether we will “go along” in order to “get along.”

If you are in a spiritually divided home, find others who are experiencing the same thing and pray for one another. Eternity is at stake. Love your lost family members but never surrender your commitment to serving Christ and making Him the priority of your life!