Galatians 5:15
15 But [de] if [ei] ye bite [dakno] and [kai] devour [katesthio] one
another [allelon], take heed [blepo] that ye be [anaideia] not [me] consumed [analisko] one [allelon] of [hupo] another [allelon]. KJV-Interlinear
15 But if you bite and devour one
another, take care lest you be consumed by one another. NASB
Biting and devouring, are terms that relate to carnivorous
animals killing and consuming their prey.
And here, when applied to people it relates to animosity and bitterness
and in-fighting and nagging and arguing and so forth. But what is in view here,
is the destruction of ones soul as a result of any and all of these adversarial
relationships.
Quite a contrast to the relationship of love by
means of principle, described in the previous verse.
A legitimate relationship with God completes and
enhances the individual.
A relationship of animosity and contentiousness or
bitterness, or simply self-righteousness with regard to ones own false beliefs,
utterly destroys the individual.
And it is the destruction of the soul which is
important.
We all have the equal opportunity to advance to spiritual
greatness and completion of ourselves, simply by engaging in a daily study of
the scriptures. Not self-study, but by
means of an orderly and consistent and constructive study.
And we can always get angry and opinionated and
lose ourselves and our destiny, if we choose that course.
The trick too, is to not get caught up in the arguments
of others. For evil will try as it may,
and come in many different forms, to draw you into its debates. Evil believes that debates are more important
than your principles. Destroying you is its
only objective.
Evil will represent you as the suborn one, not
willing to listen to its side. But the
side of evil is not worth listening to, because it leads only to failure and
destruction.
Remember that evil wants to destroy, utterly
destroy, your soul. Winning you over is
never an issue, because there is nothing in evil to win you over, too. So, Paul says, take heed, be on your guard,
do not get fooled into a petty argument.
All is fair in love and war. You have love and its boundless array of
principles on your side and certain victory.
And evil has nothing more than its derisiveness and deception and
certain destruction. Which do you
suppose it better?
