Reverend Marco Ste-Marie

Proverbs 18:01 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
    and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

This scripture refers to a person who seeks selfish gratification and accepts advice from no one.

Selfish people may start quarrels for various reasons, but one common motivation is to serve their own interests or gain an advantage over others.

let us explore the notion of an unfriendly person.

Unfriendliness can manifest in various ways, from indifference and apathy to hostility and hatred.

It represents a state of being closed off to others, often driven by self-centered motives and a lack of concern for the well-being of those around them.

By creating conflict or spreading gossip and manipulating others through quarrels, they can achieve their goals, maintain control, or DIVERT ATTENTION FROM THEIR OWN SHORTCOMINGS.

It is intoxicating to be self-righteous. Feeling you are right all the time is pervasive and dangerous.

The pursuit of selfish ends is a temptation that can befall any one of us. In our modern world, we are constantly enticed by the allure of individual success and personal gain.

What is even more deceptive is those of us that act in a self-righteous way, ARE NOT EVEN AWARE OF IT. SELF-AWARE PEOPLE ARE NOT SELF-RIGHTEOUS.

But as faith people,

we are called to challenge this mindset. Instead of solely focusing on our own interests, we are called to embrace a collective consciousness that seeks the well-being of all, especially those marginalized and oppressed.

WE ARE CALLED TO EVALUATE OURSELVES, MORE THEN EVALUATING AND JUDGING OTHERS.

There is wisdom in pursuing truth and taking the narrow road.

However, THERE IS NO WISDOM in rejecting good counsel, refusing to learn something new and rejecting the wise advice of others and going off and doing something against God’s will.

The protest of this proverb is against self-satisfaction, which makes a person separate themself from the thoughts and opinions of others.

Such a person, driven by self-centeredness, opposes wise counsel and disregards sound judgment.

It is crucial to understand that sound judgment does not endorse contention and discord but encourages dialogue, understanding, and empathy.

Engaging in quarrels often stems from a desire to assert dominance or prove one’s point, but this approach rarely leads to fruitful outcomes.

Instead, we can strive to engage in conversations that foster mutual respect and a genuine exchange of ideas.

THIS VERSE UNDERSCORES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF COMMUNITY AND THE NEED TO SEEK ADVICE AND COUNSEL FROM OTHERS.

Let us embrace a positive and action-oriented approach to counter the pitfalls of selfishness and self-righteousness.

Recognizing the importance of seeking advice and counsel from others, we can build stronger and more harmonious communities.

Let us challenge ourselves to be open-minded, receptive to counsel, and proactive in seeking the truth.

Through these actions, we can create a positive ripple effect that spreads far beyond our individual lives, making a lasting impact on the world around us.