Fighting for the Food

    We started feeding the wild birds, putting bird seed on a wall next to our home. At first, they were curious and open to sharing. Many larger birds like dove and quail began to join the smaller birds after about a week. These birds too were willing to allow other birds in to their area to feed. But, the numbers grew and after only a few days, the birds were waiting on the fence for us to put out food.
     After about a month, large birds began swooping in and scaring off the smaller birds. I intervened by shooing them away and now they hover around the area, but are not as brazen. The interesting thing though is that today I noticed that the birds have all become aggressive and territorial about the bird seed. One dove started pecking at a quail that kept coming near her area, the quail kept backing away and then got two other quail and charged the dove to shoo her away! It is now down to gang behavior.
     The last straw to my bird feeding endeavor was that as I pulled the bag out today from under the enclosed barbecue area, seed scattered everywhere. Apparently a mouse had found the seed yummy as well. What seemed like a generous attempt to help the birds, became a way to bring out the "wild things" and the wild behaviors.
     Then it occurred to me, that is what has happened to our society. We thought we would "help" people by giving them free food (and monetary assistance) everyday so that they wouldn't have to go out and find it on their own. Once the people got used to getting free food they expected it to keep coming. Soon others were draw to the idea of not having to work to buy food and eventually criminals got involved in the government assistance and started exploiting a good thing for those that needed it.
     There seems to be a natural cycle in the world where what starts out as a good thing for many, somehow gets corrupted by a few and before you know it they are fighting for the "food." They are fighting for the "thing" that once was a gift or an offering of good will. They expect it now and are angry and disenfranchised when it seems to be "withheld." They feel entitled to the "food."
     The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 6:7-10 (NIV), "For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." Rather, as followers of Christ Jesus, we are to "flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith" (1 Timothy 6:11-12).

   2 Thessalonians 3:9-11(NIV)

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 
We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 

'The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.'