JUNE 21, 2013
Greedy
Birds
Read: 2
Corinthians 9:6-15
God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you . . . may
have an
abundance for every good work. —2
Corinthians 9:8
Every
year when I put out the hummingbird feeder, the busy little birds start
battling for position. Even though there are four places at the “table,” the
birds
fight for whatever place one of their neighbors is using. The source of
food at
each place is the same—a reservoir of syrup in the bottom of the
feeder. Knowing
that all the feeding stations are equal, I shake my head at
their greediness.
But
then I wonder, Why is it so much easier to see the greed of the birds
than it
is to see my own? I often want the place at “God’s table” that someone else has,
even though I know all good things come from the same source—God—and that
His
supply will never run out. Since God can prepare a table for us even in the
presence of our enemies (Ps. 23:5), why be concerned that someone else might
have
the station in life that we want?
The
Lord is able to give us “all sufficiency in all things” so that we will have
“an
abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). When we recognize the
importance
of our work as ministers of the grace of God (1 Peter 4:10), we’ll
stop fighting to
take over someone else’s position and be grateful for the
place God has given us
to serve others on His behalf.
Thank You for the privilege we have to serve You by
serving others, Lord. Help us to be content to fill
the place where You have put us, so that
You might be glorified through us.
Resentment comes from looking at others; contentment comes from
looking at God.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
