Family Feuds

 

We are told by the dictionary that a feud is a prolonged, bitter quarrel or dispute between two parties. Feuds generate a lot of anger and sometimes violence. Feuds are never nice, but they tend to be much worse when the feuding parties belong to one family. Family feuds are most unfortunate and extremely disruptive.

Most, if not all of you, know the television game show called Family Feud. It is the show where members of one family are pitted against members of another family, to guess and name the most popular answers to surveys. This feud between families is friendly, fair and funny at times. I know many people who thoroughly enjoy looking at, Family Feud and take this weekly viewing quite seriously. In other words, they don’t like missing it and do all that is necessary to ensure that it is seen. My neighbour is a classic example. She simply delights in watching this game show and does not like missing it. She does not style herself a television person, but she ensures that she turns on the television and sits in front of it, for the duration of Family Feud. She says that she always has a good laugh.

However, there are famous feuds, written about in the Bible, which do not bring laughter. On the contrary, some of these family feuds have been most violent, bitter and totally disruptive.

Are there feuds in your family? Remember, we are focused specifically on family feuds. Some may quickly respond with a loud, sad yes, there are feuds in our families and shake their heads in worrying, sad regret.  Others may say that there are feuds, but they are not like other people’s, big and boisterous, causing weekly fights. They see their family feuds as simple domestic misunderstandings, which they believe they are able to keep under control. Others will tell you that thankfully, no such feuds, big or small, exist in their family. 

As for me, the mere fact that God has brought me to family feuds at this time, alerts me to the fact that family feuds are seen by Him and whether I want to admit this or not, He is making it clear to me that my family is not exempt, even if I thought not and I didn't think not. I believe the same holds true for you also. Our Lord has brought us to this, to use us in His chosen ways, to bring difference and healing as only He can. It is in faith that we come to this week and by God’s grace, we will receive and obey.

As I am being spoken to, I am told and shown that there are family feuds which are hidden – unexpressed, unspoken of, unearthed – which are doing more harm than some of the open, exposed feuds.  It was here that I was given a red light, and made to stop and check my own heart and mind. It was at this red light that I had to admit some sad truth about me and my family, which I kept under secure lock and key. It was here, at this red, stoplight, that I saw the danger of unconfessed feuds and sought our Lord’s intervention.

May you experience the same, even as we look forward to a most personal week of Red, Stoplights.

During the rest of this week then, as indicated, we shall visit some family feuds, with determined resolution, to ask our Lord to show us where we can be used by Him, in helping in our family feuds, for good and not ill.