Lesson 236: The Crow Within Us

Army of Tennessee Chaplain David Chaltas

THE CROW WITHIN US

My mother was always surrounded by animals. She loved them with a passion as if she had a kindred spirit with them. She had several bird feeders in the yard and always kept them full for the different species that came around the old house. She had a red tinted one for the humming birds, another for her wrens and a bigger one for the larger birds who came in to eat the seeds. I recall her telling me a story about a bird once. It went something like this.

All the birds would gather at their feeders in the morning or evening and eat. They all knew which feeder they were to eat out of. All that changed when a big black crow started coming in to the big feeder. At first he was leery and would only eat the corn and seeds that fell to the ground. But as he grew bolder, he began not only eating from the feeder but would chase the other birds away from the feeder. He became so possessive that not only would he run them off but would not allow my Momma to fill the others without a fight. She had to dodge his dives and verbal insults. It got to the point that his greed dictated an end to my mother?s willingness to feed the birds due to the fear she had of the black crow.

The other birds quit coming to feed from the feeders but the crow did not have time to eat for fear of their return. He was ever vigil of someone obtaining something that he felt belonged to him. Soon the food ran out but he would not leave his conquests. His strength waned but he would not abandon his possessions. He became so weak that he could no longer fly. One evening while my mother was doing dishes and looking out the window at bird of greed, she saw old tom pounce upon the crow. Before she could get outside to help the wicked animal, the crow lay lifeless on the ground. His greed had been his demise.

Soon the other birds returned to the bounty of my mother?s generosity and no one spoke of the crow again. His ways had cost him everything and eventually led to his death. Such are the wages of sin.

Do you recall the parable of the Rich Fool? Jesus offered the following example on greed in Luke 12: 13-21. ?13Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me." 14Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?" 15Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." 16And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' 18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." 20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' 21"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." Luke 18:17-25 demonstrates will greed and the love of things. ?17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. 18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

How many times have we pushed aside the needs of our friends, family and loved ones to satisfy our own personal wants? How many times have we closed our ears to the voice of our conscience, as we took what we wanted and gave nothing back to those in need? When were you the crow and not only chased others away but also attacked the very one who fed you and gave you life through that feeding? How often have you forgotten your commission and the commandments of Christ?

Don?t worry my friend. All have sinned and come short of the love of God but God?s love is faultless. When we earnestly seek His forgiveness and resolve to do better, He once again offers you His bread of life, His corn of plenty, His everlasting love. He is the God of all things and will meet your needs according to His riches.

So let the crow within depart from your life and feed the spirit of brotherly love, offering a helping hand to those in need. I charge you with this: do things not for praise of man or woman but without their knowledge. For the rewards you are storing are heavenly and not meant to be of this world. Feed the birds, live and let live! Fighting the crow from within, I remain your humbled servant, the old general