Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Two Wolves

This is a story that I have heard repeated several times in my life. The thought is a good one, it can be related to a scriptural standard. It is interesting that so many of the stories of the seculars are taken from scriptural principles and changed a little to accommodate the writers bent. Here is the story as it was written in the daily news one day.

"One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said: "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil - it is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other is Good - it is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

We all have one or the other that we tend to feed the most. We all want to strive to feed the good one. Hopefully, all The Daily News readers are challenged by this old Cherokee's explanation and strive to make our communities better by trying to live by this example."

Ernie Gerald

Longview"

The story of the two wolves can be likened to the struggle that goes on in a Christian's heart. We have two natures, the old man that is dying, our flesh, and the new spiritual man that is living, controlled by the Holy Spirit. If we feed our egos and our desires we will become selfish and arrogant. If we feed on God's Word, trusting in the Holy Spirit to change us, we will be more and more Christlike in direct proportions to our seeking God. Without God's food, The Bible, we will starve spiritually and become less and less like Christ and more and more like the world. If we feed ravenously on the Word of God, we will become more and more like Christ.
As Paul once said, "more of Him and less of me." Each day we need to ask the questions, "Did I live for myself today, or did I live for Christ." "Did I carry out my duties in deference to others, or did I do what I wanted for my own pleasure or aggrandisement." These are hard questions to be honest about, but necessary for growth. Thank the Lord that He can make us Christlike, if we want Him to do so, He will do it.
We must remember that the story of the wolves as it was told in the paper is not Biblically acurate. We can not do our own changing. If we try, it will not last because it will be in the flesh and not a true change and will foster pride in our own accomplishment. When the Lord changes us, it is permanent producing humility and true Christlike love, AND, will last for eternity.
Blessings to all today!
Gwendolyn