It’s tough realizing you aren’t enough. In a sense that was the gist of Samuel’s speech to the people of Israel in I Samuel 12. He talked about their sin and chasing after other gods, but also that God used men like him to being them back to God. But Samuel (and the other judges) were not enough. They wanted a king. Not because they wanted a definitive leader. Not because they prayed and God said, “Do this.” No. They wanted a king because the nations surrounding them had one.
Such is the nature of envy. “I see. I want. I must have.” Envy wants what someone else has. What I have is not enough. The Israelites questioned the rule of God as sovereign. He wasn’t enough. His men (and women) weren’t enough. So, as Tripp says, “Envy causes you (them) to question the goodness, faithfulness, and wisdom of God. Envy accuses God of not knowing what He is doing or of not being faithful to what He has promised.”
I know one thing envy does to me. It causes me to forget. To forget God’s goodness. To forget God’s grace. To forget God’s blessings. I’m so busy thinking of what I don’t have, I forget what I do have. And that is tragedy #1. Just like the people of Israel who forgot God’s goodness and leading and clamored for a king, I, too, forget and clamor for a new thing. Something for me.
“Father, sometimes I know I want something else. Material things take over. But worse is when I push you aside and think I can run my own life. Yeah…that doesn’t work. Help me to stop envying and start being satisfied.”
Is it any wonder “Thou shalt not covet” is one of the Big Ten? I’m reminded of this (paraphrased) quote from C. S. Lewis: “The man who has God and has everything has no more than the man who has God alone.” We would all do well to remember that.
Blessings, Bill!
I love that quote Martha! Thanks for sharing that.
Envy…
It takes my focus off God and places it on me. It shifts my focus onto others. It causes me to doubt who God is and forget the many blessings He has given me.
I like how Tripp also points out how envy assumes that I know the circumstances of another as well. When I think I deserve something that someone else has, it is me basically saying that they don’t deserve it.
I would do well to simply go through life thanking God for my life and the provision he has already given me to sustain my life and count everything else as bonus.
Ryan
Well said Ryan. I too would do well to go through life thanking God for my life and all He has given me.
It’s a tendency for all of us. We look out past and through our provision and blessings to look for what someone else might have… never stopping to realize that the greatest gift we have is to be at one and peace with our Father.
Excellent reminder.