Drover wore a path all the way around Prince Rooster’s pen— evidence of an ongoing test of wills between the two. Drover considered himself the second most important creature on the place. Only the man was more important than he. On the other hand, Prince Rooster recognized no one as his superior.  

Dozens of times Drover raced around the pen, feinting, barking, and biting at the wire that separated him and Prince Rooster. If it weren’t for the wire, he could make short work of his foe. From his elevated perch, Prince Rooster crowed defiantly at his antagonist. He probably wasn’t even aware of the protection the wire afforded. Neither pet was interested in any agenda other than his own.  

From the man’s perspective, Drover looked dumb and Rooster looked ridiculous. Certainly neither of them appeared important. What does God think when He watches humans like me striving for preeminence? the man wondered. Do we look as ridiculous as Drover and Rooster when we jockey for jurisdiction, strive for status, and posture for prominence? How often do we exult in our own excellence, unaware that only the thin wire of God’s preservation stands between us and destruction?  

There is only one kind of striving that will benefit us beyond this life: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate” (Luke 13:24). All our energy and passion is required for this objective. Striving against one another in competition for some manmade standard of importance is both futile and absurd. God placed us here to help one another along our course to eternity, not to compete with one another. Let Drover pursue his foolish antics, while we focus on the things that are important from God’s perspective.  

So much strength is wasted competing for status; 

None’s left to resist when temptation comes at us. 

From Paws on My Porch, by Gary Miller
© 2015 TGS International, PO Box 355, Berlin, Ohio 44610 
Used by permission