A House Divided Mark 3:24

. . . . They‘re either for me or against me! (Mark 9:38-40)

by Rev. James E. Crigger 

   There were ten farmers who got together and purchased land, shared in the work and the rewards of farming that land.
   After awhile, profits were so good that the farmers began to have different opinions as to how to continue their farming ventures.
   One wanted organic farming.  When the others thought there was more profit in conventional farming, the one decided to drop out of the team.  He began to change his share of the land for organic farming.
   Another thought they should plant potatoes instead of the variety of vegetables they were currently growing and selling at various Vegetable Stands.
   Another wanted to decrease the planting season so that he could work another job and increase his income.

   The fourth farmer lost interest in farming and wanted to hire others to do the work.  He simply thought it wasn’t worth it. 
   The fifth farmer wanted to take the land and sell it to a chain store.  They offered an amount he didn’t think he could refuse.
   The remaining farmers, after these five pulled out, tried to keep business as usual.  But there was a major problem.
   With only half of the farm land and only half of the farmers, the amount of produce they could offer decreased tremendously.  They tried to market the fact that there product was better quality and was grown with love for the trade of farming.
   The five that went their own ways found disappointment because they were not able to carry out their plans.
   By the time the ten farmers realized they were better off sticking together, they had lost so many customers and finally had to sell their land, get a job, and forget their original excitement at fulfilling their dreams.
   This story is fiction, but the idea is one that applies to the seperation of God’s people because of differences of opinions and how things should be done.
   God told us how to do it.  God told us the rules.  Even Jesus gave us a hint when he said in Mark 3:22-26: And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. 23And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 24And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.         
   We are shown in this passage that whether it be for God or even for Satan, a house divided and working against itself cannot stand.