Tuesday, October 8, 2024
1 Cor 14:33
33 For God is
not the author of confusion,
but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
James 3:16
16 For where
envying and strife is, there is confusion
and every evil work.
Our
English word “confusion” is translated from some eight or nine
original Hebrew and Greek words. We don’t have space or time for an exhaustive
study of each one. We will look at two examples.
In
both verses above, the Greek word for “confusion” is akatastasia
and it means “instability and disorder.” In Corinthians, Paul is addressing the
instability and disorder of the unrestrained use of certain sign gifts, the
most popular of which was, and still is, the use of unlearned languages as the
means of revelation. Use of tongues evidently made one popular
among the believers and, human nature being what it is, some were, and still
are, “faking it.” The result was confusion and disorder. Paul simply said that
God did not and does not “author” or authorize this.
James
is plain spoken in all his teachings and explains that
confusion is produced by envy and strife. Whenever we compete with God and
other believers for prominence and popularity there is disorder and confusion.
The
flip side of confusion is not only clarity but peace!
Peace with one another takes place when we stop pushing and shoving for
popularity and privilege. Peace with God comes only from surrender since we
have no hope in victory over God. Fighting with God is like slapping a cactus.
Stop
for a moment! What is driving the confusion in your life?
Are you in competition with other humans? The answer is order and humility. Are
you in a battle with God? Such a battle cannot end well unless you surrender.
Dear
Lord, let me put away envy and strife. Let me not envy my brothers and sisters
or strive with you. Replace my confusion with peace today. AMEN
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