Handling Sibling Rivalry

January 28, 2009
How can we handle sibling rivalry among our children? As parents we might have good intentions and a strong desire to raise children that get along well.  But we need more than that; we need good thinking (understanding) and strategy (knowledge and wisdom).

Don’t enforce harmony.  It only causes deeper problems.  Your children will see it as you picking favorites.  Face it; our prejudices from our upbringing always play a role in such situations.  Instead, allow your children to work out their differences to an acceptable solution. Just see to it that they don’t hurt each other in the process.  Teach your children the values of great families and let them know you expect them to live up to them.

Your children can get along.  They can learn to love, protect, and develop each other.  Teach them to value each other’s special abilities and talents.  Encourage them to do special unexpected nice things for each other. They can be each other’s best friends.

Esau and Jacob portray strong sibling rivalry. Jacob went as far as to cheat his brother out of the blessing that the eldest should receive. God did choose Esau to serve the younger, Jacob, but Isaac and Rebekah encouraged sibling rivalry by choosing favorites.  Isaac’s favorite was Esau because he enjoyed the venison Esau brought him but Rebekah favored Jacob.  Choosing favorites drove a wedge into Isaac and Rebekah’s relationship.  They didn’t confer with each other about their sons’ future and Rebekah even deceived Isaac.
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I want to walk with you spiritually this year, inviting you to read the Bible through from cover to cover; from Genesis 1 all the way to Revelation 22:21.  If that sounds too difficult for you and your kids, you can join in again after you have taken a break or join us for the days you’re up to it.  We will start on Sunday, January 18th and finish Saturday, January 16, 2010.  I promise that you will understand the Bible in a much deeper way if you read it through from cover to cover in a year’s time.

Accept my challenge to read the Bible through in one year chronologically, including the Old and the New Testament.

Day 11: Today read:
Genesis 24:52-26:16
Matthew 8:18-34
Psalm 10:1-15
Proverbs 3:7-8

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