The other day while working in the yard, I noticed a slight odor that kept coming from the side of the house as I would walk around the corner. Yet as I looked around, I could not see, nor find anything that could be causing it. As the day went by the heat became increasingly hotter and as the heat index rose, so rose the stench of that odor that earlier had been noticeable but somewhat bearable.
At one point I called Prince Charles around to help me determine where the odor was coming from because it had become so unbearable just to take a breath at that point. Charles being the genius that he is….noted right away that it was coming from the garbage can. What a relief I felt knowing that it was something in the garbage can and not in my garage or house.
It’s funny how the odor was somewhat bearable boxed inside the covering of the garbage can; and though it had a slight odor to it early on, I was able to bear it until I could no longer breath in it’s presence. And it was only then that I had to deal with it.
Did you know that envy does the same thing to us spiritually if we let it go and do not deal with it. Maybe we try and cover it up for a while but in the end, it’s ugly presence in our lives will show up and someone will be able to spot it in our lives, even if we have tried to do our best to somehow cover it for a while.
King Solomon called envy “the rottenness of the bones” in Proverbs 14:30. Rottenness is what causes the odor of something that has gone bad or spoiled. That was exactly what I was smelling, coming from the garbage can…something rotten!
Envy is simply wanting something that someone else has. The scripture does not sugar coat the effects that envy can have on people. Cain was so jealous and envious of his brother’s offering to God that he killed him! Rachel envied her sister’s ability to bear children and her envy lead to anger and resentment. Joseph’s 10 older brothers resented and envied him because of the special treatment that their father showed Joseph. They were so envious of Joseph that they sold him into slavery and lied to their father about it.
The scriptures are full of examples of people that allowed envy to turn their hearts into a direction that cause them more grief than the envy itself! In Matthew 27:18, even Pilate knew that the priests and elders wanted Christ crucified because of their own personal envy of Jesus. Paul and Barnabas faced that same type of envy in their own ministries as well..the scriptures tell us in Acts 13 that when the Jews saw the multitudes turning to Christ that they were filled with envy which led to blasphemy.
Envy produces confusion in relationships and can eventually tear them apart. God hates coveting. Envy is a form of coveting. The best weapon to use to fight envy in your life is thanksgiving! You can not envy when you are being thankful! Being thankful is something that you can practice and get better at each moment that you choose to practice it; that is if you are truly wanting to change!
Proverbs 27:4 says “Who is able to stand before envy?”. Jealousy damages not only the relationship with another person but your relationship to Christ. James tells us in James 3:14-16 that …for where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. When we begin to envy, a part of us begins to die inside and if we are not careful before we realize it others will notice an attitude in us that is a stench in their nostrils and they will not want to be around us.
The person who feels resentment over what another person may have or possess, not only rots from within, but also insults the sovereignty of God. They are blaming Him for blessing the other person instead of themselves. Envy has a long root that must be dealt with in a serious manner, for if not, it will sprout its head back from where it was plucked and the sin starts all over again.
Learn to deal with envy or any type of sin before it’s roots get to deep in your life.
At one point I called Prince Charles around to help me determine where the odor was coming from because it had become so unbearable just to take a breath at that point. Charles being the genius that he is….noted right away that it was coming from the garbage can. What a relief I felt knowing that it was something in the garbage can and not in my garage or house.
It’s funny how the odor was somewhat bearable boxed inside the covering of the garbage can; and though it had a slight odor to it early on, I was able to bear it until I could no longer breath in it’s presence. And it was only then that I had to deal with it.
Did you know that envy does the same thing to us spiritually if we let it go and do not deal with it. Maybe we try and cover it up for a while but in the end, it’s ugly presence in our lives will show up and someone will be able to spot it in our lives, even if we have tried to do our best to somehow cover it for a while.
King Solomon called envy “the rottenness of the bones” in Proverbs 14:30. Rottenness is what causes the odor of something that has gone bad or spoiled. That was exactly what I was smelling, coming from the garbage can…something rotten!
Envy is simply wanting something that someone else has. The scripture does not sugar coat the effects that envy can have on people. Cain was so jealous and envious of his brother’s offering to God that he killed him! Rachel envied her sister’s ability to bear children and her envy lead to anger and resentment. Joseph’s 10 older brothers resented and envied him because of the special treatment that their father showed Joseph. They were so envious of Joseph that they sold him into slavery and lied to their father about it.
The scriptures are full of examples of people that allowed envy to turn their hearts into a direction that cause them more grief than the envy itself! In Matthew 27:18, even Pilate knew that the priests and elders wanted Christ crucified because of their own personal envy of Jesus. Paul and Barnabas faced that same type of envy in their own ministries as well..the scriptures tell us in Acts 13 that when the Jews saw the multitudes turning to Christ that they were filled with envy which led to blasphemy.
Envy produces confusion in relationships and can eventually tear them apart. God hates coveting. Envy is a form of coveting. The best weapon to use to fight envy in your life is thanksgiving! You can not envy when you are being thankful! Being thankful is something that you can practice and get better at each moment that you choose to practice it; that is if you are truly wanting to change!
Proverbs 27:4 says “Who is able to stand before envy?”. Jealousy damages not only the relationship with another person but your relationship to Christ. James tells us in James 3:14-16 that …for where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. When we begin to envy, a part of us begins to die inside and if we are not careful before we realize it others will notice an attitude in us that is a stench in their nostrils and they will not want to be around us.
The person who feels resentment over what another person may have or possess, not only rots from within, but also insults the sovereignty of God. They are blaming Him for blessing the other person instead of themselves. Envy has a long root that must be dealt with in a serious manner, for if not, it will sprout its head back from where it was plucked and the sin starts all over again.
Learn to deal with envy or any type of sin before it’s roots get to deep in your life.
Two things you need to remember in overcoming the poison of envy in your life:
First, learn to be happy with the sovereignty of God, for He truly does know what is best; chances are He is waiting for you to surrender that attitude before He gives you that desire of your heart Ps 37:4.
Second, Praise Him more! I can not stress how important it is for the Child of God to Praise! His word tells us that He inhabits the praise of His people…..Praise and sin can not live in the same moment of time….so learn to praise more…be thankful more…..and your attitude towards everyone and everything will change! Your disgust will turn to gratitude and you will put off a most fragrant smell that will draw people to you because of your sweet attitude!
I love you today and pray that you will find your way to victory over any sin that wants to entangle you and keep you from joy!
Bren
First, learn to be happy with the sovereignty of God, for He truly does know what is best; chances are He is waiting for you to surrender that attitude before He gives you that desire of your heart Ps 37:4.
Second, Praise Him more! I can not stress how important it is for the Child of God to Praise! His word tells us that He inhabits the praise of His people…..Praise and sin can not live in the same moment of time….so learn to praise more…be thankful more…..and your attitude towards everyone and everything will change! Your disgust will turn to gratitude and you will put off a most fragrant smell that will draw people to you because of your sweet attitude!
I love you today and pray that you will find your way to victory over any sin that wants to entangle you and keep you from joy!
Bren
2 comments:
Thanks Bren.
theresa trentham
wonderful devotional...I needed this today! Love you!
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