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.