Thanksgiving Yes . . . Envy No!

[cmc]

Thursday, November 5, 2009


Stop your anger! Turn from your rage!
Do not envy others—it only leads to harm.
Psalm 37:8 NLT

As the recipient of God's grace, you have every reason to celebrate life. After all, God has promised you the opportunity to receive His abundance and His joy—in fact, you have the opportunity to receive those gifts right now. But if you allow envy to gnaw away at the fabric of your soul, you'll find that joy remains elusive. So do yourself an enormous favor: Rather than succumbing to the sin of envy, focus on the marvelous things that God has done for you—starting with Christ's sacrifice. Thank the Giver of all good gifts, and keep
thanking Him for the wonders of His love and the miracles of His creation. Count your own blessings and let your neighbors count theirs. It's the godly way to live.

As a moth gnaws a garment, so does envy consume a man.
St. John Chrysostom

How can you possess the miseries of envy when you possess in Christ the best of all portions?
C. H. Spurgeon

When you worry about what you don't have, you won't be able to enjoy what you do have.
Charles Swindoll

Too many Christians envy the sinners their pleasure and the saints their joy because they don't have either one.
Martin Luther

Today's Prayer

Dear Lord, deliver me from the needless pain of envy. You have given me countless blessings. Let me be thankful for the gifts I have received, and let me never be resentful of the gifts You have given others. Amen



Steve Arterburn/New Life Ministries

[cmc]

When you worry about what you don't have, you won't be able to enjoy what you do have.
Charles Swindoll

I have to comment on this one. Although it's not the only time I've done this and certainly won't be the last...I've had problems with this area.

Of course, the solution is simply stated in this devotion....but it's not that easy to live out; not if I'm being honest.

Today, as I read this; I'm reminded of a particular situation many years ago where I came home from a prayer meeting in another believers' new home and afterwards felt envy.

It doesn't really matter what I was envious about but that in my own discontent I wished for what they had. Some of what mattered so much to me at that time involved ministry opportunities that were not coming my way. Some of it was personal and material.

I didn't like feeling that way, but they seemed to be successful in some areas where I had experienced struggle and loss. I didn't remain envious but had to work it out in my heart and mind for awhile in order to:
1. be right with God
2. keep my serenity
3. respect others rights to be blessed
4. be happy for and love those I envied

That was the flashback...and here is the flashforward.

Years later, as it turned out, none of what seemed so good about them was even true! I began to see God's blessing in my life; and it was an eye opening, heart stopping kind of experience. Humbling too.

Once it dawned on me that each and every thing I saw in them that I wanted.....was an illusion and I could actually see that what God had done in my life and what He had given me were real blessings that nobody could deny or remove.

With time, I also realized the wisdom of God by making me wait and for allowing me to struggle more than what I thought these others had struggled. I can barely keep from crying when I realize His great love and care for me in my family. I also appreciate Him allowing me to see the truth and that no matter how I had prayed way back then...God stood firm with his reply of "no" in order to bless me later.

I know that I won't always get to 'see' the whys or hows after the fact...but on those rare occasions when I do-- I'm going to try hard to never forget and do my best to not fall into that trap of envy. Being grateful is my win-win.

Here's a favorite verse that reminds me about this topic. Please note that my intent is to use the word "they" to represent not only 'them' but it also refers to myself.

It's sort of a biblical version of the Rule#62: "Dont' take yourself too seriously."

"We do not dare to compare ourselves with those who think they are very important. They use themselves to measure themselves, and they judge themselves by what they themselves are. This shows that they know nothing." 2 Corinthians 10:12