Sibling Rivalry

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There is one person in the world that has the ability to awake the competitive beast inside of me more than any other does: My little brother. That punk and I have been at war since the day he arrived at MY house. If it wasn’t Nintendo, it was four square. If it wasn’t pool, it was grades. If it wasn’t over little Debbie Swiss cake rolls, it was getting the last leg of bbq chicken. Our entire lives have been a longstanding, but friendly, battle to the death! I wish that I could say that we have since matured and begun to nurture our ties that bind…but nope…we still boast about whose Master’s degree was more difficult to obtain.

Fortunately, throughout all of our bloodthirsty bickering, neither one of us has ever wished anything but happiness for the other. There is no one else that I would wish more success. There is no one else that put such effort into. And, there is no one else that I pray for more.

Matthew 5:22
“I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” – NIV

Who can say that they have not experienced a little sibling rivalry? The words in Matthew 5 address every single one of us, even those of us without siblings.

Once we become parents, and have children of our own, perhaps then we can see things from God’s perspective. God sees all of humanity as brothers and sisters of the faith. He does not side with one of us and forsake the other even in times of extreme disagreement. No, God patiently offers unconditional grace and instruction in hopes of teaching His children to grow in unity.

Siblings, however, are out for blood. We expect those against us to get in trouble or, somehow, meet their demise. It doesn’t really matter what the issue is when we know we are right. God should bless us and punish them.

Let us hope, for the sake of humanity, that we all grow to be like our Father.