Ignoring Your Own View
Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? (Psalm 27:4)
Jealousy is a problem because it blocks and blurs our vision of life, preventing us from enjoying its beauty. It obstructs our vision with envy, spite, and resentment. It distracts us from the blessings God has given us, and from the strength we have within us.
For the believer, jealousy is the most vicious enemy that is at war with the heart. Proverbs 27:4 says, “Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?” The Apostle Paul argued that a sure sign of spiritual immaturity is the presence of jealousy and envy, because it emanates from the flesh. And when jealousy is present, so is the sin of comparison.
The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that more than 10% of our daily thoughts involve making a comparison of some kind. This constant comparison is harmful to our self-esteem, detracts from our happiness, and gives us a biased account of our own skills and experiences.
When you are comparing what you have to what your neighbor has—your life, your relationship, your house, your car, your family—it robs you of your joy and peace. This happens because jealousy and envy always last longer than the happiness of those we envy.
Jealousy takes no account of the tears behind the smiles we covet. Jealousy does not acknowledge the pain and agony that was the price of the anointing. It does not acknowledge the price paid in joy, happiness, balance, and stability in life of the one we are jealous of. We see the success of others, but we don’t know their struggle or how much it cost them to get the life they have.
We see a couple smiling, but don’t know the secrets and pains they had to overcome for the relationship to work. We see successful small business owners, but don’t know the sacrifices they had to make for their business to enjoy moderate success in a rough economy. And while we are jealous of them, while we are coveting what others have, we are ignoring the beauty right in front of us, the glorious view from wherever we stand.
So let me encourage you to not ignore your own view. Don’t miss out on what God has blessed you with because you’re too busy wanting the blessings He’s given to others. Enjoy where He has you, what He’s given you, and where He’s taking you.
Jealousy is a problem because it blocks and blurs our vision of life, preventing us from enjoying its beauty. It obstructs our vision with envy, spite, and resentment. It distracts us from the blessings God has given us, and from the strength we have within us.
For the believer, jealousy is the most vicious enemy that is at war with the heart. Proverbs 27:4 says, “Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?” The Apostle Paul argued that a sure sign of spiritual immaturity is the presence of jealousy and envy, because it emanates from the flesh. And when jealousy is present, so is the sin of comparison.
The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology found that more than 10% of our daily thoughts involve making a comparison of some kind. This constant comparison is harmful to our self-esteem, detracts from our happiness, and gives us a biased account of our own skills and experiences.
When you are comparing what you have to what your neighbor has—your life, your relationship, your house, your car, your family—it robs you of your joy and peace. This happens because jealousy and envy always last longer than the happiness of those we envy.
Jealousy takes no account of the tears behind the smiles we covet. Jealousy does not acknowledge the pain and agony that was the price of the anointing. It does not acknowledge the price paid in joy, happiness, balance, and stability in life of the one we are jealous of. We see the success of others, but we don’t know their struggle or how much it cost them to get the life they have.
We see a couple smiling, but don’t know the secrets and pains they had to overcome for the relationship to work. We see successful small business owners, but don’t know the sacrifices they had to make for their business to enjoy moderate success in a rough economy. And while we are jealous of them, while we are coveting what others have, we are ignoring the beauty right in front of us, the glorious view from wherever we stand.
So let me encourage you to not ignore your own view. Don’t miss out on what God has blessed you with because you’re too busy wanting the blessings He’s given to others. Enjoy where He has you, what He’s given you, and where He’s taking you.
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