Remember the time your best friend got a new bicycle in elementary
school? Remember the time someone else took the girl you wanted to take to the
Prom? Remember when your neighbor bought a house on the lake and you couldn’t
afford to do the same? How did you feel? Were you happy for them, or were you
jealous? The funny thing about jealousy is that it does nothing to harm
the person who actually got the benefit for which we are jealous. It only
affects us. It makes us grumpy, unlikable, and discontent. If we truly
love others, the way that God commands us to, we will never be guilty of
envy. 1Corinthians 13 teaches us that love does not envy. As we all
know, envy is what lead Cain to kill Abel. Can you imagine killing your
own brother because of envy; Because you could not be happy about something
good happening for them? If we truly believe in the teachings of the
bible, we will realize that this life is temporary. In the end, there
will be no room or need for jealously. At that time, all of God’s
children will have the same reward, and all of the earthly possessions will
pass away. However, jealously in this life can keep us forever experiencing
that level of “equality”.
Action Item: Today, think of someone who has recently had good
fortune, or has achieved some kind of success. Give them a call and let
them know how proud and happy you are for them.