Have you
ever wanted to be like someone else? Have you ever wanted to be like that
person so badly that you found yourself salivating at the thought of having
their skill or popularity? Maybe you’ve said something like, “If I could just
sing like her … .” or “If I could only kick
the ball like him … .”
Maybe the
person was a good friend at school or college, and she got all the good acting
parts while you were put in charge of props. Maybe he’s currently a professional
colleague who seems to get all the recognition for a job well done, but you’re
the one who’s put in all the hours.
Or perhaps
it’s the person at church who has become everyone’s spiritual darling, and it’s
ripping you apart, because she’s your best friend. Envy, jealousy, hurt and anger
have set in, and you’re becoming more and more agitated and less and less
content with the state of your own life. It’s a downward spiral, killing your
friendships, your fellowship, and your peace of mind.
It’s easy
to get caught in the current. I know. I’ve been there.
As an
author, I watched colleagues and friends find publishing houses and receive
contracts long before I published my book. I was always truly happy for them on
the outside. But on the inside that contract offer to them was a flaming
poisonous arrow of envy and jealousy that hit dead center of my heart.
In my
suspense novel, Light Out of Darkness,
one artist’s envy of another artist’s talent resulted in an impulsive action
that led to regret and changed the course of the rest of his life and others. In
the end, he lost his faith and eventually lost his mind.
How do we
prevent the downward spiral of envy, jealousy and covetousness before it
destroys our lives? I would like to suggest
ten principles that can help us gain perspective when we feel tempted to
succumb to these destructive emotions.
Remember:
1) You Were Created with a
Unique Purpose.
Psalm
139:13 – 18 confirms God’s creative purposes for us. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works … And in Your book were all written the days that were
ordained for me (vs. 14 and 16).
2) You Were Created with
Unique Talents and Abilities
1
Corinthians 4:7 exhorts us to have a proper perspective of our unique gifts. What do you have that you did not receive?
And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? The
Message version puts it this way: Isn’t everything you have and everything you are sheer gifts from God? So what’s the
point of all this comparing and competing? You already have all you need.
3) God Gave You
Responsibility for Your Own Work.
Galatians
6:4 – 5 implores each person to take responsibility for his own work and not
worry about someone else’s. But let each
one examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boating in regard to
himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one shall bear his own
load.
4) Your Worth is Not
Dependent on Your Performance.
Romans 5:6 – 8 establishes
God’s love for us, poured out through Jesus, His Son, who chose to become sin
for us to save us from sin and death. But
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us (vs. 8).
5) Relationship is More
Important than Celebrity.
Philippians
2:1 – 4 encourages us to rejoice with our friends when good comes their way. Do nothing from selfishness or empty
conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another more important than
yourselves … (vs.3).
6) Your Work is About
Pleasing God and Not Man.
Colossians
1:10 – 12 confers on us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord—working to
please Him rather than to please man. Walk
in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in
every good work … (vs. 10).
7) Your Choices have
Consequences for Good or Bad
1
Samuel 16: 13 – 14 warns us to guard our hearts against jealousy and envy that
lead to death. Then Samuel … anointed him
[David] … and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David … Now the Spirit
of the Lord departed from Saul …
8) A Moldable Heart will
Reap Eternal Blessings in the Hands of a Sovereign God.
Jeremiah
18:1 – 8 reminds us to stay soft in the hands of God to continually fashion us
into a vessel for His good purposes. But
the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so
he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make (vs. 4).
9) You can Trust the Lord
for Your Future.
Proverbs
3:5 – 6 promises that if we trust God in all things, He will establish our way.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and
do not lean on your own understand. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He
will make your path straight.
10) The Lord Always has Your Back.
Psalms
27:1, 3 assures us that we can trust God for his sovereign care. We need not
fear what lies ahead or the enemy that might be around the corner. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom
shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? … Though
a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; Though war rise against me,
In spite of this I shall be confident.
Note: All
Scripture references are from the New American Standard Version.
