Why him, not ME?

A monk who lived in the desert who resisted all the Devil's efforts at temptation. The demons that whispered to the man of greed, lust, and hatred were rebuffed as the man turned his heart to God. Then, one demon whispered, "Your brother was just made a bishop!" The monk fell immediately into the sin of envy wondering why he was not given the position: "All these years of devotion and they recognize my brother?"

Ever envied another, wondering ‘why them, not me?’  I will confess that I have and that nothing good followed. If we start to look around and compare ourselves to others we will grow discontent and from there, slip into envy. Somebody is running ahead of us in some way.  

Despite our education, he makes more money. 
His marriage looks so great; we struggle to keep ours intact.
He proudly displays his kid’s trophy, our kid struggles just to get an average grade.

The all-too-common tendency in us is to see the 'advantage' that is enjoyed by the other guy.  Envy blinds us to our blessings. It causes us diminish another's success. It robs us of opportunities.  No wonder the Bible says that "envy rots the bones." (Proverbs 14:30, NIV)  

A true test of noble character is contentment with God’s gifts and the ability to celebrate the success of another person!  David, whose story unfolds in 1st Samuel, went to serve King Saul after his victory over the giant, Goliath. David served him well, but all Saul could hear, every time he looked at the teenage hero, was the echo of the women’s voices who sang David's praises.  "Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands." (1 Samuel 18:7, NKJV) Envy drove the king mad.  Saul sent David away from the court, trying to get him out of the public’s eye by giving him charge of a small contingent of soldiers on the borders of Israel.  How did Israel's hero respond to being sent to the frontier? David was faithful in obscurity! God saw to it that he continued to succeed in everything he did.  This made Saul “even more afraid of him." (1 Samuel 18:13- 15, NLT) Over the next 20 years,  Saul's jealousy drove him deeper into insanity. At the same time, David's character grew stronger as he faithfully and selflessly served God and king.

Are you able to celebrate another's success?
Are you an encourager or an envier?

James gives no excuse for envy.  The Spirit shows us that it is a seed of all kinds of sinful behavior! "If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:14-18, NIV)   What an amazing and practical Word.  I pray to own it in my heart, do you?

Stay centered in God’s loving acceptance, always giving thanks!  Nothing kills envy more quickly than true gratitude which feeds real contentment.  There are amazing things to learn about those who live around us and life is richer, much richer, when it isn't about 'me, mine, and myself.'

The devil was the first to injure himself and others on account of jealousy and envy. Before he had ever hurled anyone else down by the impulse of his envy, he himself was hurled down by it. Through envy, he himself became a captive before he had ever taken anyone else captive; he himself was wrecked before he had ever wrecked others. How great an evil is it by which an angel could fall, by which such lofty and illustrious grandeur could be defrauded and overthrown—by which the one who deceived was himself deceived! Ever since then envy has raged on earth. Those who are perishing through jealousy are simply obeying the author of their ruin, imitating the devil in his envy.  - Cyprian of Carthage.  (a church father who lived about 200 AD)  (as quoted in Discipleship Journal : Issue 120. NavPress, 2000)

_______________

Father, I accept Your will for my life.

I pray for the grace to wait for You in hard times,

to give thanks in good times, and

to be faithful in all times!

Teach me to do my personal best as I remember

that You never forget, never overlook, and

klnow everything – even those things hidden.

Jesus, I pray that Your love will fill up my heart

making me a person who overflows

with life-giving words and encouragement

growing out of true gratitude.

Amen.

(Thank you for reading along.  CWTW will be back in your inbox on July 31. It’s time to take a break)