In this proverb, Solomon shares a most simple yet helpful insight regarding contention. The time to control contention is before it ever begins. The moment strife begins is the same moment that damage control is surrendered. Once strife begins, like a river bursting through a breach in a levee, damage is inevitable. Wisdom, discretion, gentleness, kindness, perspective, all the ingredients of Christ centered thinking, are lost in the raging sea of strife. Jesus said, “it is impossible but that offenses should come.” Yet, Jesus Himself modeled the response to such offenses. His response was at the beginning of the strife. “When He was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” Jesus restrained Himself from beginning strife with the knowledge that the Judge of the world saw all things and would judge righteously. Your world will be filled with the potential for strife because you live with sinners. But you need to know that strife is avoidable. But it is only avoidable at the beginning, in the moments where you choose to participate or commit yourself and your self-protection to God.