“If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution” (Exodus 22:6)

If someone accidently starts a fire in a field, he should pay for the damage, but what restitution can be made if someone starts a fire that destroys the work of the Lord? To harm people’s property is bad enough, but how much worse to destroy someone’s faith!

The fire of division is terrible, especially in a church. Whenever sinners are repenting, and God’s work is going forward, jealousy and envy is the usual way Satan stops revival. Just when baby Christians are starting to believe, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17), that’s when you can expect someone to complain about messy converts, instead of offering to help.

“Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife” (Proverbs 26:20-21).

Christ warned, “whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).