July 13, 2017
“You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” James 4:2 – 3
I love old western television shows. Big Valley and Bonanza are two of my favorites. I enjoy watching how the families handle their riches, how they help people and treat the people who work for them almost like family.
I wish they showed the families before their wealth. I wish there was a back story that told about the hardships, the misfortunes and the failures that the families had to endure before they became wealthy.
Repeatedly in the story lines, there is someone or some group who wants to take down the high and mighty Barkleys or Cartwrights. These people will do anything to see the families brought down a peg or two so they can know what it’s like to be “regular” people. What the envious person, or persons, don’t understand, is that the families already know what it means to be a “regular” person.
Can you image how much more the envious person/people would have if they took their energy and poured it into themselves? Working to lift themselves up rather than trying to tear someone else down. Working to become a better person, honing their gifts and talents so they can use them to prosper.
Have you ever felt envious of someone else? Have you ever thought, or even tried, to tear someone else down? Well, the Bible calls this type of behavior murder.
If you’ve behaved in a murderous way, you are not the only person. In fact, envy and jealousy are part of our human condition. But, if you are in Christ Jesus, you have the power and the authority to take control of your human tendencies.
If you realize that you’ve committed murder by being envious and jealousy, ask God for forgiveness and take the energy you’re using against someone else to build yourself up. You’ll be amazed at how much better your life will become when you focus on yourself.
Living Above Mediocrity
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