All glory to God who has been our strength and help. His name alone be praised. As we approach the end of September with just about four lessons left, we are to be even more expectant than we ever were, trusting that God is able to bless us greatly. In our lesson yesterday, we saw how that we are not to be easily provoked as believers, isn't it? We also learnt from that how we are to respond to anger provoking situations, right? I want to believe that the lesson blessed you and that you're doing as instructed. Praise God.
In today's lesson, we shall be seeing something different and if you have noticed, it's as though towards the end of this series, God has been speaking to us in a way that relates with to our lifestyle as believers, right? Haven't you noticed many times that people feel that they should be given more privilege than others? When a person seems to be doing great, rather that being happy with the person, some persons become bitter and wish they were the ones in such positions. What do you call this feeling of resentment, bitterness, and this inner sadness that one is prospering?
I do not think there's a better word to term it than to say "envy". Envy by Merriam Webster is the painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage. Can you see? This is very serious. It is knowing someone has something but rather for this knowing to help you rejoice with the person, it makes you resentful and that resentment is a painful one such that you begin to desire what that person has thinking that it should have been for you instead. This trait is not of God and should not be exhibited by a believer. Let's see the passage of scripture below,
"A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones" (Proverbs 14:30).
The scripture above seeks to explain the importance of having a sound heart and the naughtiness of envy. You see, when people become envious of others, they do themselves no good. Thinking that you're better qualified and should be entitled to the joy of another brings you to a point where you unnecessarily begin to punish yourself. The thing is most times, the person you're envious of doesn't even know. Envy torments the heart of the one who is envious of another. You may not know it but it is true. That you're not happy, who is it affecting? You of course. You are the only one having the pain, nursing the resentment and bitterness. No one would even share such with you.
Why are you envious of another? Is it the marriage of the person, his financial status, promotion at work, possessions and others? You don't need it. Be happy for them, and never wish something bad would happen because that's another thing envy does. It wishes something bad for another. The scripture says a sound heart (a heart free from envy) is the life of the flesh. Why would the scripture say this? For one reason, I think anything that wouldn't disturb the heart would in no way trouble your flesh. Envy not only makes the heart sick, it troubles the body. It has a way of making you look physically worn out and tired, why? Simply because your heart is greatly troubled with nothing but envy.
A heart that is free of it (a sound heart) is the life of the flesh. However, envy is the rottenness of the bones. You see, envy does no good. Scripture didn't say it is like the rottenness of the bones, but that it is exactly the rottenness of the bones. Can you stand the sight of rotten bones? If not, why then do you allow envy in your heart? You're not to give room for envy. The Lord cause his word to dwell richly in our hearts. Amen.
Thought for the day:
Are you envious of another? Why do you nurse resentment and bitterness against one who has done you no harm? Why have you given room for envy?
Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08161655758 or Email: [email protected].
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