Strife: A Tool of the Enemy

Jan. 15, 2018 | By Creflo Dollar

Any time we accomplish something or begin making positive progress, there’s always an opposing force trying to stop us from moving forward. It happens in families, churches, business organizations, and any place where groups of people come together. This force is called strife and it’s designed to separate people, cause bitter divisions, and destroy everything we attempt to build. Strife is a tool of the devil, and we must recognize when it is in operation so that we can stop it in its tracks.

Strife can be defined as bickering, discord, antagonism, or quarreling. Whatever its definition, it spreads like wildfire when individuals continue to talk and gossip when they should be silent. Strife is one of Satan’s favorite weapons that he uses to spread anger and confusion, and we’re vulnerable to it when our spirits don’t line up with God’s Spirit. “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16). The enemy is always against believers working to bring clarity and understanding.

This evil spirit aims to destroy from within. It can sneak in unnoticed and cause squabbling, arguments, contention, and resentment. Its ripple effects can be felt outward throughout the entire organization, and it can turn something healthy, thriving, and productive into something dysfunctional. Its method is to divide and conquer through deliberate and purposeful attacks against God’s all-encompassing love. “Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all sins” (Proverbs 10:12, NKJV).

Strife has been lurking for a long time. It reared its ugly head when Abraham and Lot were travelling together and experiencing success (Genesis 13:1-9), and when Paul and Barnabas were working together and successfully building the early Christian church (Acts 15:1, 2). It seems to crop up whenever believers are making significant achievements together and seriously threatening the enemy’s strongholds. When we're aware that he'll try to cause trouble when things are going good, we're less likely to be blindsided when conflict arises.

We combat strife by deliberately walking in unity and love. In this spiritual fight against the devil, this is our counterattack. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NKJV). Satan doesn’t want us, or anyone else, to benefit from hearing the Gospel of Grace. He’s a defeated foe and he knows it, and he’s completely paralyzed by the power of God’s love.

Examples of walking in love include forgiving others for hurtful things they may say or do, refusing to hold grudges, and putting others first. Self-centeredness is a root of strife, but staying out of the center and keeping God there instead changes our entire focus. When we maintain a single-mindedness of purpose and remember the Great Commission Jesus gave to us (Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15), we can better withstand the enemy’s attacks when they come.