Our Daily Bread: Peace to YouSýnishorn

Porch Wars

This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. -1 Corinthians 12:25

There’s a war being waged on my porch these days. It’s a daily battle fought between Sylvester and Chris—two local squirrels I’ve enjoyed getting to know—over who gets to eat the peanut butter and nut treats I set out for them. One squirrel inevitably gets to the goodies first and jealously guards them with loud chattering, chasing away the other if he gets too close. Ironically, there are enough treats for both my squirrel friends. If they could simply share, they could both eat in peace. But, so far, self-protective survival instincts have prevailed, and the war continues.

Wars for survival may be what’s expected in the animal world, but the apostle Paul wanted new believers to know that it’s self-destructive and dangerous when it happens in the family of believers. Believers—those who’ve put their faith in Jesus—have been joined through His Spirit into one interdependent body, the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12–13). And in this body, fighting each other for our own survival is as ludicrous, Paul emphasizes, as our eyes saying to our hands, “I don’t need you” (v. 21).

Both when we’re in agreement and when we’re not, we have so much to learn from fellow believers (v. 22). We aren’t in competition with each other; we need each other. And in the face of the other, we see Jesus.

By Monica La Rose

When have you observed a competitive spirit causing harm in relationships? How have you been blessed by non-combative, mutually beneficial relationships?

Loving God, it’s so easy to descend into a spirit of resentment and bitterness towards others, even fellow believers in You. But we know that there’s a better way—teach us that way.