Nip it In the Bud

“The beginning of strife is like releasing water; therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.”     (Prov. 17:14)

                Some things were a constant in the house I grew up in.  For instance, we went to church every Lord’s Day.  When Sunday morning rolled around, we didn’t even have to ask, “Are we going to church today?”.  The answer was always YES.  In the Stinnett household, we also ate our fair share of beans and cornbread.  When it came to television, The Andy Griffith Show was on just about every day.  Who could help but fall in the love with the loveable cast of characters from Mayberry, NC?

                Deputy Barney Fife is one of the most memorable characters in American television history.  Barney is remembered as a know-it-all with a knack for getting himself and others in a jam.  He was also high strung – it didn’t take much to get him going.  And there was one phrase he often used when attempting to advise Andy – “nip it in the bud.”  In other words, you need to get something stopped before it ever gets started.  “Nip it in the bud” is a very accurate summary of today’s verse.

                “The beginning of strife is like releasing water” – it starts with a drip, then a steady pour, and before you know it the floodgates have opened!  For that reason, it’s much better for us to “stop contention before a quarrel starts.”  When we’re in a disagreement with someone, we should work diligently to resolve our differences before the disagreement leads to something much worse.  Are you currently at odds with someone?  If so, what are you going to do about it?  Don’t wait too late!