“But as for me, my feet had almost
slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm
73:2-3, NIV)
There are raw materials though minuscule in quantity have power that is momentous.
There are simple little words or phrases that can cut deep into
friendships and relationships. There are
emotions though small in initial thought can overpower all goodness leading
to obsessions and sinful or destructive behaviors.
Such is envy, though small, it is powerful. A little envy goes a long way. A little envy can immobilize wise and
thoughtful actions. A little envy can consume
our normal personal functioning with obsessive patterns that lead to anger and
frustration. A little envy can take balanced
priorities in our life and tilt us towards seeking after fame, money,
activities with an abandoned foolish dedication. A little envy can be a wedge in friendships
and relationships. A little envy can
make us something we are not. It can
make us beastly, bitter and incredibly obsessed. A little envy goes a very long way.
Envy needs to be set aside when we sense it in our lives, realizing the
true nature of its consuming power and the destructive results it will bring if unchecked. Instead we need to rest in God’s counsel and
destiny seeking after His ways. The
truth … of all our days being His will counter envy and its power to turn us
away from following our Lord and His plans for our lives.
“When my heart was grieved and my spirit
embittered, I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with you; you hold me by
my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me
into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the
strength of my heart and my portion
forever.” (Psalm 73:21-26, NIV)
Suggested Bible Reading ... Psalm 73
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