Why can't we all just get along?

Sibling Love/ Rivilary Photo Feb 2010

I have boy/girl twins that are four years old now. They have been together all their lives and they love each other.

They also fight like crazy. Why?

Because they want different things at the same time. Or because they want the same things at the same time. Or because they want the same things at different times. Or because.... I think you get the idea.

In short, they want what they want when they want it, regardless of the other person.

Little Boy has recently become obsessed with playing Mario. The problem is that this game takes up our only TV, which everyone else wants to watch. So we have to take turns.

When the timer goes off, signalling the end of his turn and the beginning of his sister's turn, Little Boy goes into meltdown mode. He curls into a fetal position on the couch over the TV remote, sheilding the controller with his body from all invaders and screaming, "No! No! No!"

As I peel his limbs slowly from the remote control, explaining as patiently as I can that his turn is over, he sobs piteously, "But I want it to always be my turn!"

Isn't that just like a human being? We all want it to always be our turn. We want what we want when we want it.

And that's why we can't get along.

That is why there is no peace in the world, and no unity in the church. But this is not how God wants us to be.

So what is God's plan for us?

Ephesians 3:6
And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

You can imagine the Jews of the first century saying indignantly, "What? We're supposed to share with the Gentiles? But I thought we were the chosen people! I thought it was OUR TURN!!! Why would He do this?!"

Ephesians 3:10
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display His wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 

So it is His will that we display unity and love to all our brothers and sisters.

And even let them have turn sometimes...