Do You Want the Ball or the Goal Post?

(Proverbs 18:18 KJV)  The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

Chance is not the way to deal with doctrine or morals.  It applies to “contentions” (4066).  This refers to the self centered little conflicts that make people unpleasant to be around.  It is interesting that it is used in 20 verses in the OT and 17 of them are in Proverbs. 

Don’t be confused.  There are things that are important to contend about:  The divinity of Christ, the physical resurrection of Jesus and believers, salvation by grace not our own spiritual earnings, marriage as the union of a man and a woman, and the list can go on.  There are also little things which are nothing more than nagging or power plays.  If you follow it through Proverbs you see it consistently used to describe a nagging wife, and angry man and the arrogant.

So?  Know what is basic and what isn’t.  If it is a clearly stated truth of the Bible, go down in flames staying on course.  If it is a trend or fad or an issue of pride, flip a coin.  It works in football.