CHAPTER 40: THE PRICE OF PETTINESS 2024
Petty is the most expensive item on the list, second only to revenge. And yet we employ it regularly and seem to feel that the cost is justified.
“Putting little things above all the big things that matter.”
Petty is small minded, immature, foolish and lacks all the things that are great — petty is the opposite of honorable. Petty removes me from good behavior. It allows me to make incredibly destructive mistakes. Titus 3:9 warns us to “avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.” In 2 Timothy 2:14, Paul instructs Timothy to “keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.” Pettiness is a divider. It creates unnecessary walls and rifts between people and most importantly Pettiness destroys and ends good/profitable relationships. Work together for the sake of the gospel. Kind of hard to do in 2024, the world’s overview right now does not prioritize scripture. That’s too bad, for you and me, scripture is key, keep it that way.
2 Timothy 2:23-26
New International Version (NIV)
23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
What happens when people don’t listen? The bible says to argue with a fool is absurd, but in an even harsher tone, Matthew is brutal.
Matthew 7:6
New International Version
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
I struggle with that scripture. After many years of rebuilding businesses, when is it time…, to let somebody go? In my position when people push back against common sense, and failure is imminent, sadly.
Proverbs 1:25-26
New American Standard Bible
Because I called and you refused,
I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;
And you neglected all my advice
And did not want my rebuke;
I will also laugh at your disaster;
I will mock when your dread comes,
Pettiness hurts people, good and bad for the sake of being in control, right or wrong, good or bad doesn’t matter, just win, even if all is lost. You are in charge, be in charge and keep order and honor. Petty is absolutely unteachable and I have found it unchangeable until obviously it is too late. What “is” my destiny will simply drift away, I am now a passenger on a train, next stop, “nowhere.” In it’s worst form, petty is pre-meditated, planned, a violation of the rules, a quiet, sinister design of disingenuous arrogance and self importance.
Psalm 36:3
New International Version (NIV)
3 The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good.
Walk away from Pettiness, lest it consume you. Rather be what God intended you to be. Be in the spirit of God .., be a leader.
I’m not exactly a fan of the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. He was around in the 1800’s and I found a quote on Pettiness in one of his books. “Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None”.
“But like infection is the petty thought: it creeps and hides, and wants to be nowhere–until the whole body is decayed and withered by the petty infection… Thus spoke Zarathustra.”
Giving yourself a self-righteous attitude, co-signing your own bad behavior and then the dominos fall, and they do. In the mind set of a perpetrator of pettiness, that person feels brilliant, powerful, inspired — that is not the case, I promise.
Chapter 40: What is The Price of Pettiness: LOSING.
Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, sometimes everything.
James 3:16
New King James Version
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
At the top of this lesson, I mentioned revenge. Petty is the doorway to revenge and revenge is the end of all good things, financial, spiritual, emotional or one’s physical/mental health. Pettiness and Revenge destroy both parties, in one way or another.
What is the solution? How do you know? What gets in the way of petty? Wisdom, Grace, Mercy, love. Pettiness has a hard time surviving in the face of these words.
Definition of Pettiness – Undue concern with trivial matters,
especially of a small-minded or spiteful nature.
Envy, comparison, jealous, self-righteous, pompous, and as stated — stupid and costly, the opposite of Wisdom, Grace, Mercy, Love.
I have seen so many men get in the way of success, and never look back, never realize what they’ve done to themselves, what they’ve walked away from, pushed away, used up, made incorrect assessments, all of it based on immaturity, insecurity, inexperience, and a general lack of vision, all in the name of anything to justify an unnecessary action that will yield nothing more than a good feeling of temporary power and a whole lot of forever pointless, chasing their tail and blaming the world. How does that happen? It happens all the time. Deception is rampant in our world.
Colossians 2:8
New Living Translation
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers[a] of this world, rather than from Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15
New International Version
14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Petty is a word found on a list that works against God’s Divine plan in all of us. That treacherous list includes skeptical voices in the shadows, poisoning our minds against all that is good, fear, terror, deception, lies, all that is good, Faith itself held in suspect. It resides in jealousy, resentment and destructiveness. Where is God in all this? He is in the Word, and inside of You.
Romans 8:37-39
New King James Version
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I’ve witnessed it every year, people do better, get out of trouble and find a way to return — little by little to a path that was not prepared for them, all in the name of “whatever.” God has given you and me the Holy Spirit to guide and protect our minds, hearts and all that the enemy would corrupt in me. I have it, and I must use Him, the Holy Spirit is not an “it.” The Holy Spirit is a Him, God and He is in you. Jesus was clear, regarding the Holy Spirit.
John 14:6
New King James Version
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [a]Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
Do you doubt Jesus? Does the world doubt Jesus? Has petty thoughts diluted your good sense? It happens everyday and it can happen to me and you anytime, anywhere. I try and remember what John said in his vision Revelation 1. He actually saw Jesus and Jesus was clear who He is.
Revelation 1:17-18
New King James Version
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying [a]to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of [b]Hades and of Death.
How, with Jesus on our side can Petty cost us anything. I don’t know, man, it happens, like I said, all the time. The deception of this world is very powerful and without severe dedication to scripture and prayer, I will lose the battle, by my own hand, I will destroy my future in the name of “whatever,” possibly even the name of God. The Price of Pettiness is the rest of your life or mine. If I buy the lie, that seems so easy to believe, I will never know what God had planned for me. In my arrogance, I will say and do anything to go against what is good for me, and eventually, if not somehow brought to my senses, believe that Jesus is a myth and Pettiness will become my false god and Jesus is a myth. Believe me, I assure you, Jesus is not a myth, but the world, the deceiver, will have you believe differently. Don’t believe “differently” and check yourself right now if this chapter is warning you.
Romans 8:34b
New King James Version
…and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Are you recognizing this Chapter in your life, in your head, in your heart, in your bent, good for nothing, attitude? You don’t even know it’s going on…, right now, you want to do something, you’re feelings have been hurt, there’s an envy circling around your head, and you’re going to do it, whatever it is. You’ve got it all worked out, you’ve even filled in the gaps of what’s happening whether it’s happening or not. You’re dead set, you’ve got your people lined up as well, you’ve sold everybody on the idea. Whatever it is, whoever it is.., this is your test and if you blow it, guess what, you get to have your own way and by golly people will know you are the boss. Guess what else? You’ve just sold your destiny ticket — you’ll be loved by God for sure, but chasing your tail the rest of your life.
Proverbs 6:14-15
New International Version
who plots evil with deceit in his heart, he always stirs up conflict.
Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
In these times of Pettiness, you’ll say to yourself, “no, that’s not me, no, I’m doing the right thing, following the Holy Spirit, God is speaking to me, I’m a steward of…., bla, bla, bla..”, it’s all a lie when it is born in Pettiness. And you are the victim along with all the things you break. It’s often said that in jealousy and deceit, one is so committed to revenge, that a person will take down the victim even if it means he goes with ‘em, hence the term, “I’ll see you in hell.” Petty is the doorway to all of it. What is the opposite of Petty? What is the solution. If you are strong enough in Faith, these words will soften your heart and break the spell.
Matthew 5:9 New International Version
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
