A bunch of wild animals

Galatians 5:13-16 reads:

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

I found some very interesting thoughs in Robertson's word pictures about verse 15 that I thought I would share.

Paul is encouraging the brethren to leave behind the bondage of fleshly rituals and not focus on such things, but to sincerely love each other because that is the summation of God's will for us. In stark contrast is the common practice of biting and devouring each other. That phrase was commonly applied to wild animals or angry dogs in their approach to whatever "meal" they might have. The "consumed by" phrase is like the picture of two snakes swallowing each other's tails where they are both wholly consumed. So, when we're "introverted" and looking at each other to find fault rather than focusing outwardly to find those that need to hear God's message, we're like a bunch of wild animals tearing up a carcass. The end result is that - though we aren't literally consumed (and digested) - we are so caught up in the fighting that we are completely worthless for carrying out the work that God has for us to do.

So, don't devour each other, instead hunger for God's righteousness and seek to be filled by serving Him!