“It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.” Some people are just argumentative. We all know some. Open your mouth in their direction, and somehow it turns into a fight. This proverb says there is honor in not fighting. Mt. 18.15-20 tells us to work it out. Galatians 6.1 teaches us to be gentle. Mt. 5.9 blesses the peacemakers. The ability, or even the desire, to avoid strife signals thoughtfulness, listening skills, problem-solving skills, and patience. It’s easy to blast away at people. There are always things to complain about. But Proverbs advocates conflict avoidance. Often fights, even if based on a real offense, create more trouble than they’re worth. The wise person lets things lie, while the fool doesn’t hesitate to join the fray.
