Pro 17:14 | KingComments | STEP | Conflicts must be stopped before they get out of hand. That is what this proverb suggests to us. The picture is that of a small leak, for example in a dam, through which water slowly begins to flow. If action is not taken quickly, the leak will get bigger and become a large hole. The disaster of flooding that follows is incalculable. We can apply this to a strife that needs to be resolved, otherwise it may turn into a lawsuit. Going to court might mean a legal victory, but at the same time the strife becomes permanent and irreparable. A quarrel often begins over a small matter. If one does not resolve it immediately and properly, it can grow into a war. The best thing to do is to stop it yourself and say nothing back. If both sides insist on being right, things will get out of hand. It is like a small spark that causes a huge fire if the spark is not quickly extinguished. At the beginning of the church, there was disagreement between two groups of widows. Before it turned into a real strife, the twelve apostles stopped this disagreement by a wise decision ( ).

‏ Proverbs 17:14

Prevent Worse

Conflicts must be stopped before they get out of hand. That is what this proverb suggests to us. The picture is that of a small leak, for example in a dam, through which water slowly begins to flow. If action is not taken quickly, the leak will get bigger and become a large hole. The disaster of flooding that follows is incalculable. We can apply this to a strife that needs to be resolved, otherwise it may turn into a lawsuit. Going to court might mean a legal victory, but at the same time the strife becomes permanent and irreparable.

A quarrel often begins over a small matter. If one does not resolve it immediately and properly, it can grow into a war. The best thing to do is to stop it yourself and say nothing back. If both sides insist on being right, things will get out of hand. It is like a small spark that causes a huge fire if the spark is not quickly extinguished. At the beginning of the church, there was disagreement between two groups of widows. Before it turned into a real strife, the twelve apostles stopped this disagreement by a wise decision (Acts 6:1-6).