Pecking Order

In Matthew 23:37 Jesus compared the Jews to chickens that He sought to gather under His wing. In the 1920's a German named Schjelderup-Ebbe coined the term "pecking order." He observed the social interactions of chickens and concluded that they ordered themselves regarding dominance and leadership and that this was "accomplished with the beak." The one who "ruled the roost" would peck his way to the top. There was some pecking going on among Jesus' apostles. They had barely been together as apostles for six months, and they were only six months away from carrying on the work of Jesus without Him. Another name for pecking order is selfish ambition. This sin is spoken of several times in the New Testament. Moses contended with this many times during His ministry. Korah, Dathan and Abiram, and even Aaron and Miriam challenged Moses' authority. Selfish ambition is named as a work of the flesh in Gal.5:20. In Phil.1:17 Paul says some preach Christ out of selfish ambition, and not sincerely. A key verse is Phil.2:3 where the saints are told to do nothing out of selfish ambition and vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Jesus' half-brother, James, speaks of harboring bitter envy and selfish ambition in one's heart, even boasting and denying the truth (James 3:14). The truth is found in who God created us to be. James tells us that the presence of envy and selfish ambition produces disorder and every evil practice (James 3:16). Note that the cousins of selfish ambition are vain conceit and bitter envy.

Usually the world seeks to establish a pecking order by determining who has the biggest, most powerful, and richest beak. In the case of the apostles they thought power and kingdom wealth was just around the corner. However, persecution and death are coming. When someone is trying to kill your group, do you really want to be the top chicken? Had they fully grasped what lay ahead they might have nominated someone else to be greatest instead of volunteering for the job. But, selfish ambition is powerful. Why do we like to be on top, in control, calling the shots, making things happen? Why is "importance" important to us? It goes back to self-worth and well being. In our minds our worth and our OKness is measured by where we are on the social ladder. When I walk into a room what do people think of me? Am I simply there or do people think I am there, and a certain feeling pings in their hearts because of it? We all want to matter. We want to count. I keep thinking of Joseph and Daniel who both rose to near the top of the pecking order in their day, but without any apparent selfish ambition. (Although Joseph couldn't resist messing with his brothers.)

Are we Ok with God establishing the pecking order, appointing people to positions of authority, and then our assuming our place in this order, being cooperative and compliant and supportive? I don't see it very often. We seem to want autonomy. We want to reserve our right to order our own lives regardless of how this affects others. James was right. This leads to disorder. I fear the kingdom of God is in a state of disorder because most are not content to follow God's appointed leaders (Acts 20:28; Heb.13). And, often these leaders are not willing to humble themselves to serve as little children. Jesus knew the future of His kingdom depended on His followers to care more for others than they did for themselves.