When we think about the severity of machlokes and how much we lose from it, we will run away from machlokes. Similarly, when we think of the reward of avoiding machlokes, we will be inspired to be as cautious as possible to prevent any sort of discord.
The Shlah writes, "The sin of machlokes is worse than avodah zarah... Even a drop of machlokes is too much! That one spark can create a fire until everything is destroyed."
The Gemara (Sanhedrin 7.) says that one is punished with one hundred punishments for making a machlokes. This is learned from the pasuk (Mishlei 17:14), ԀԀԀԀ ԀԀԀ ԀԀԀԀԀ ԀԀԀԀ, and ԀԀԀԀ is gematriya one hundred. Furthermore, ԀԀԀԀ spells ԀԀԀԀ ԀԀԀ, a hundred punishments.
In contrast, avoiding machlokes will save you from a hundred problems. Chazal (Sanhedrin 7.) say, "Fortunate is the person who hears his disgrace and remains silent..." The Shlah writes, "One machlokes pushes away a hundred parnasos." Therefore, we understand that those who avoid machlokes will receive parnassah in abundance.
The Rambam writes, "Don't contaminate your souls with machlokes that destroy the body, neshamah, and wealth... hate it, run away from it."