Shalom,
Proverbs 20:3 tells us this:
3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife and keep aloof from it, but every fool will quarrel.
"Honor" is the Hebrew word "kabowd", which means: weight (in a good sense), splendor, copiousness, glorious, abundance, riches, dignity, reputation, wealth. To stay out of strife will keep our lives in position to be blessed with all good things! Strife is a tool of the enemy, who we know ONLY comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10)! It's his very nature! So avoid strife at all costs by being a doer of Hebrews 12:14:
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Also Romans 12:18:
18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
That is not speaking of fighting for your country, it is speaking of your own personal relationships and dealings with people. God's way is ALWAYS the BEST way!
Another verse in Proverbs 20 that goes along with verse 3 is verse 22:
22 Do not say, I will repay evil; wait [expectantly] for the LORD, and He will rescue you.
I think HE will do a better job of it anyway, don't you?
In Ephesians 3:4-6, Paul speaks of a mystery:
4 When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ. 5[This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit. 6 [It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel).
The mystery was that the Jewish Messiah (Yeshua, Jesus) was going to be the Saviour of the entire world! He came to save the Jews AND the Gentiles (that's us!)! Hallelujah! We don't understand what a new and novel thought that was to the Jewish people of Paul's time! He said this in verse 8:
8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God's consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out].
Guess what! This same grace, privilege and favor has been granted unto US! We are to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that others can know that HE LOVES THEM! AMEN! Here is a beautiful song I found while searching for a children's song about Yeshua. It is in Hebrew and should be familiar to many of you!
In 1 Chronicles 11-12 we see again the list of David's mighty men. God had been so faithful to surround David with such a great QUALITY of people! They were so very faithful to him! When David was running from Saul for all of those years, and it looked like the kingdom would never be his, these great and mighty men would have given their lives for him! Some did! What God has promised WILL come to pass, if we don't get "weary in well-doing" and faint (2 Thessalonians 3:13)! 1 Chronicles 11:9 says it all:
9 And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of Hosts was with Him.
He is ALSO with you and in you! Never forget it! And never give up. Never give in. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!
Shalom in Him!
