Highly Unusual

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you don’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong –you only want what will give you pleasure.
– James 4:1-3 (NIV)

I just happened to see just before noon today, a “highly unusual sight” of two mocking birds (?) engaged in a scratch and claw skirmish (a minor or preliminary conflict or dispute) while I was waiting for my prescription to be filled at the drug store. Just a short distance from where I was parked, a row of trees became the backdrop for a display of seemingly mortal combat. Whatever the reasons may have been, the two birds dotted up and down in nose diving fashion; one chasing the other until facing each other head on. The loud screeching could be heard, as specks of feathers floated in the air as contact was made. Suddenly, one of them hastened off to perch on one of the low limbed trees. The battle stopped and there was silence. I could see the one that flew off to take a brief rest somewhat unnerved as the other one was camouflaged (appeared to be part of natural surroundings) in the much taller tree where the routine of nest building and looking after baby chicks had taken place. Just maybe!

At the blink of an eye, the bird on the low limb saw where its opponent was and headed in that direction. The battle was on again. Absolutely fascinating! Within a short while, however, both of them flew off in opposite directions giving evidence that the skirmish was an unresolved fiasco (complete failure). Even though the whole thing had to do with birds, James 4:1-3 gives us something to think about.

The Holy Spirit, speaking through James, outlines that quarreling and fighting among believers is always harmful. Most importantly, conflicts come as a result of the evil desires in us that erupts when we want more possession, more money, higher status, or more recognition, etc. When we don’t get what we want, we fight in order to have it. The inside war never stops. The eye opener, as I see it, is that we should submit ourselves to God, ask Him to help us get rid of our selfish desires, and trust Him to give us what we really need. Once a relationship with God is established and faith becomes a reality; then the next step surfaces – being on the alert [underlined for emphasis], which has to do with being vigilantly attentive; watchful, mentally responsive and perceptive.

Long after the mocking bird incident was over and I had labeled it as a “highly unusual” episode from nature, being on the alert stuck with me. 1 Peter 5: 8,9 clearly gives the reason why being on the alert is so important: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy prowls around like a roaring lion looking for some to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of suffering.

The rationale is that lions lurk in the tall grass seeking out easy prey; they choose their meal ticket from solitary animals and those that are not alert. The Apostle Peter warns us to watch out for Satan when you feel alone, weak, helpless, and cut off from other believers, or if you are so focused on your trouble that you forget. Selah