In review of 1 Corinthians 4:7-8 it says, “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.” (The Message)
Instead of focusing so much on what I don’t have and what didn’t happen, I can be grateful for what I do have. Unfortunately, this doesn’t come naturally to me, and not even for the apostle Paul, who said, “I have learned to be content.” Being content is a learning process.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 4:7-8, “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” (The Message).
Envy is based on the myth that I need more to be happy. Envy always looks at others and asks, “Why them? Why did they deserve it? I deserve what they have.” But gratitude says, “Why me? Why did God give me this? I’m blessed because I don’t deserve what I have.” It totally flips my perspective.
Although I struggle with envy, it’s hard to admit it because it’s such an ugly emotion. When I’m envious of others, I really want them to fail, because it makes me feel better that they don’t have more than I do. That’s pretty crazy, isn’t it? If I could only learn to be grateful for what I have, I could begin to get rid of these feelings of envy.
It’s important for me to understand that envy is not having a desire or a dream or a goal. Also envy is not looking forward to something or hoping that something can happen in your life or even wondering if I should have something. Envy is instead resenting somebody who already has what I desire or has reached a goal I have yet to obtain. Envy says I can’t be happy until I get that desire or goal. Envy is not being grateful for what I already have.
Yet the Bible reminds me that I already have more than I need and far more than I deserve. Every good thing in my life is a gift from God, and it is up to him to decide when and how he blesses me. It’s up to me to choose to be grateful and make the most of what I’ve been given.
As Ecclesiastes 6:9 says, “It is better to be satisfied with what you have than to always want something else” (GNT).
In summary, being content is a learning process. Everything I have and everything I am is a sheer gift from God. So why compare and compete? I have everything I need. Envy is based on a myth that I need more to be happy. Envy looks and asks why them, and I deserve what they have. Gratitude says, why me? I'm blessed because I don't deserve what I have. When I'm envious of others, I enjoy seeing them fail. What I'm learning is the envy is not having a desire, dream or goal. It's not looking forward to something or hoping that something can happen. Envy is resenting somebody who already has what I desire. Envy is not being grateful for what I already have. God's word reminds me that I already have more than I need and far more than I deserve. Every good thing in my life is a gift from God, and it is up to him to decide when and how he blesses me. It's up to me to choose to be grateful and make the most of what I've been given. It is much better for me to be satisfied with what I have than to always be wanting more.
Today’s devotion and verse remind me to be careful of envy. Rather it is better for me to learn to be content instead. It’s easy for me to look around at my peers and see how promotions and responsibilities are happening and my wondering why I’m not seeing the same for me. I must remember that God is teaching me through this process and will bless me in his timing, not mine. I need to continue to be grateful for what I have. Today I pray Father or you and your Spirit to remind me of this perspective. I ask for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. Help me lead the team to accomplish our goals for the next 30-60 days. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, Amen.
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