Proverbs 25:8-9 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

The wise way of settlement

We look at—

I. THE INEVITABLENESS OF DISPUTES . It is quite impossible that, with our present complication of interests—individual, domestic, social, civic, national—differences and difficulties should not arise amongst us. There must be a conflict of opinion, a clash of wishes and purposes, the divergence which may issue in dissension. What reason would teach us to anticipate experience shows us to exist.

II. THE TEMPTATION OF THE HASTY . This is to enter at once upon strife; to "carry it to the court," to "enter an action," to make a serious charge; or (in the case of a community) to take such hostile action as threatens, if it does not end in, war. The folly of this procedure is seen in the considerations:

1 . That it interposes an insurmountable barrier between ourselves and our neighbours; we shall never again live in perfect amity with the man with whom we have thus strives; we are sowing seeds of bitterness and discord which wilt bear fruit all our days.

2 . That we are likely enough to be discomfited and ashamed.

III. THE WAY OF THE WISE . To go at once to the offender and to state our complaint to him. This is in every way right and wise.

1 . It is the way of manliness and honour. To talk to a third person about it is more easy and pleasant "to the flesh," but it is not the straightforward and manly course.

2 . It is the way that is becoming. It is not the fitting thing to disclose our secrets to another; personal and domestic and ecclesiastical contentious are hidden by the wise and the worthy rather than made known to the world.

3 . It is the way of peace; for, in the majority of cases, a very little explanation or a very simple apology at the beginning will set everything right.

4 . It is the distinctly Christian way ( Matthew 5:25 , Matthew 5:26 ; Matthew 18:15 ).—C.