Feed the Wolf of Good

February 15, 2023

From Joseph Wamack

An old Cherokee chief was taking a walk with his son, a young brave, hoping to pass on to the boy lessons and wisdom about life.

"A fight is going on inside me," the chief says to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil-he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego. The other wolf is good-he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. This same fight goes on inside you-and inside every other person. It is the way of life."

The young brave thought and then asked his father, “But which wolf will win?"

The old chief simply replied, "The wolf you feed is the one that will win."

This is a dilemma. The Cherokee chief, in his wise ways, seems to have it right. There are two natures inside of us. Two sides, two parts, almost like two wolves to use the Indian way of thinking. There is a conflict within us-we do things we do not want, things we know are not best for us and will later regret, feelings and emotions stir, sometimes we control ourselves and other times we do not. Sometimes we find victory, and sometimes we face defeat.

This is a major dilemma-for everyone, including you and me and is part of the daily, earthly struggle. A question to consider- why don’t we see more victory?

There are two natures. There is the possibility of defeat but also the possibility of victory. It is not a sudden, one time, never struggle again victory. It is a succession of small victories as we choose good over bad, better over best, and allow the best to show in ourselves, revealing patience instead of anger as we ask God to come into our lives more often and change us from within.

The Bible says, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?“ (Romans 8:31-32). God wants to generously give us victory, but it is not without struggle. Nothing worthwhile was ever obtained without struggle. So daily strive for victory, under God’s grace. “Feed the wolf of good.” Watch for triumph and give God the praise.