Sibling Rivalry: August 18, 2010

Today's Word for Wednesday August 18, 2010

SIBLING RIVALRY

DEFINITION

Seeking to achieve the same object or goal as a brother or sister; trying to equal or outdo a brother or a sister.

SCRIPTURE

"Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other. "Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams." Genesis 37:19-20

"Whoever hates his brother is in darkness and walks around in darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness had blinded him." 1 John 2:10

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Sibling rivalry is very common. Just ask anyone who has been part of a family with two or more children. Sibling rivalry is certainly not new. It began in the family of Adam and Eve with the rivalry between their sons, Cain and Abel. Another Biblical example was the sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob, the twin sons of Isaac. Apparently they were at it while still in the womb as we read in Genesis 25:22, "The babies jostled each other within her." Later on we read in Genesis of the sibling rivalry between Jacob's son Joseph and his ten older brothers.

By definition, sibling rivalry stems from the desire to out do a brother or sister. In Joseph's family, Joseph was the favored son of Jacob and Jacob had made it very obvious. The ten older brothers saw Joseph as a rival for their father's love and esteem. Adding fuel to the fire of their resentment was what they considered to be Joseph's arrogant attitude. It was because Joseph had two dreams in which the brothers bowed down to Joseph. They became bitterly jealous and coveted Joseph's relationship that he had with their father. That rivalry turned to hate toward their brother.

John tells us in I John 2 that anyone who hates his brother is walking around in darkness and doesn't know where he is going. Hate is in itself a sin because it leads us to greater sin. Hate blinds us and keeps us from the light that is in Christ Jesus.

As a result of their hate for Joseph his brothers were walking around in darkness. They were blind and couldn't judge right from wrong. Apparently, Jacob was unaware of what his favoritism was doing to his family and blind to the feelings of his older sons. He certainly did nothing to take control of the situation.

There will be rivalry between siblings and their parents have a responsibility to be aware of their children's feelings and help them to learn to work out their differences. Children must be taught to care about each other and to be sensitive to one another's feelings. It is hard to mistreat someone you love and care about. Learning to get along with siblings enables children to get along with other children. As we have said before the parents must "set the example" and teach their children.

LEARNING

Our memory verse for this week is found in Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things.

PRAYER

Help me to be aware of my children's feelings and assure each one that they are loved and valued for who they are. Help me to teach them to love each other and work out their differences. Help each one of us to be forgiving of one another as Jesus has forgiven us.