Siblings, Slaves & Sons

If you don't want to be treated like a slave then start acting like a son! That's what I would like to say to some people. Especially when they can't get past their feelings of jealously when others are raised up to sit in papas lap for a season. Though they have access, as children of God to the same Father, they cannot handle it when God restores or uses one of their spiritual siblings in the ministry. We call this in the natural realm, sibling rivalry. While at times it is cute to see this play out when children are at a very young and innocent age, it's not so cute if they keep exhibiting this kind of behavior on into their young adolescent lives. In fact its rather appalling to watch grown men or women act like children and fight over things that they see as their territory, or their toys, so to speak. Things get really sad when they start fighting and scraping over their parents affection.

Look at one of the greatest examples of sibling rivalry in history, its the story of Cain and his younger brother Able (Genesis 4:1-15). This tragic story goes even deeper than a botched offering or the chosen profession of these two brothers. It is a classic example of "sibling rivalry" or what the scriptures would deem as a work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Like the story of the two brothers in Luke 15, this story involves a Father, two brothers, a house, a field and an internal struggle. But the story in Genesis chapter four ends far worst as the older brother ends up murdering his younger brother in a fit of jealous rage.

While the story In Genesis has a sad ending, the story in Luke has a much happier ending because the younger brother is reunited with his family. But the story doesn't leave us with much hope about the elder brothers future.

The elder brother didn't get tripped up over his brothers new shoes, his royal robe or his fancy new ring. He only complains to his father about the "fatted calf." Isn't that always at the bottom of every wrong motive? If you search long enough, you'll find mad-cow disease at the bottom of almost every carnal jealous sickness in the world!

You see sons serve the house, servants serve their own agendas. The older brother had access to everything that his father owned, but he chose to live as a servant in his own house instead of an heir to his own inheritance.

Stop living as servants and start serving the  fathers house. Dad has everything that you, as a son or daughter needs. Walk in the light of sonship and not as slaves.--Randy Burton