Sibling rivalry

My brother and I foughtwhen we were younger...a lot. He is 12 years older than me, so he always won, but never-the-less, we always seemed to find something to fight about when I was growing up. I've been thinking about that this week because of a psalm that I read. Psalm 133 says that it is good and pleasant when brothers (and sisters) dwell together in unity. I think God specifically put that in there because He knows that brothers and sisters don't naturally "dwell together in unity".

Just look at the examples we have from the Bible itself.
The first siblings, Cain and Able...that sibling rivalry ended with Cain killing him.
Jacob and Esau - hated each other, Jacob stole his birth right and then ran away so Esau wouldn't "pull a Cain" on him.
Joseph - His brothers sold him into slavery and then told their father he was killed by a wild animal.
King David - His brothers all thought he was an insignificant joke...until he killed the giant.

My brother and I weren't perfect, but compared to those guys we look like saints. Lukily, that isn't the end of the Psalm. It goes on to explain what a "love-centered" unity and community looks like and how we can exist in it. If it helps you understand it, it has a lot to do with oil running down beards and dew on mountains (not the drink). I'm sure that makes it real clear...

We don't live in genuine community because we don't know how. It isn't natural, we need God's help...

That's what we're going to look into this Sunday...

peace,
glo