BIG BROTHER

(Psalms 60:11) O give us help against the adversary, For deliverance by man is in vain. The Big Brother household members always react with outrage when their little alliances collapse; they seem genuinely amazed that a fellow contestant could betray them. Mutual reliance breeds teamwork, and combines individuals' strengths with synergistic efficiency to overcome unthinkable obstacles and achieve unimaginable results. Nevertheless, even the most ideal of partnerships hold plenty of potential for conflict and failure. King David of Israel frequently rediscovered the potential for friendships to sour and alliances to fail. He learned through bitter experience that God is the only friend who sticks closer than a brother, the only ally who would never turn against him. While God is the only perfectly reliable source of help, we still find it occasionally necessary to seek human assistance. When that happens, we can insulate ourselves somewhat against human betrayal by remaining constantly dependent upon God as our primary friend, ally and advisor. And if we maintain that relationship throughout all of life's trials, when someone inevitably fails us, though we may be hurt, we will not be devastated. Instead, we will recover quickly and proceed through life with hardly a hitch in our stride. If their alliances held that well, BIG BROTHER's viewer ratings would crash like the fool's gold dirigibles they are.