James 3:14-16
But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every evil practice.
I don’t often find myself “bitterly” envious. I am not sure what that would be like. But I think that envy and selfish ambition become more likely when people live isolated, solitary existences, caring only for themselves, and not allowing themselves to become invested in the lives of others. Jesus called us to love our neighbor, not to compete with them. We were never called to advance ourselves at the expense of others.
Holy Lord, help me to work with others, all of the time, at every opportunity. May I be thankful for what I have, never envious, never mean-spirited. Amen
Becky, transforming
James 3:14-16
‘Good instruction from James. When I read this, I immediately thought of the discussion group this week when I said I was envious of Bev’s spring bulbs.…… Although I don’t think it was devious or evil, it did cause me to pause. Perhaps a better response would have been to tell Bev how happy I was for her that she was able to enjoy these bulbs up North, we really need to choose our words carefully. Although I do not consider myself an envious person I still need to choose my words carefully and express my thoughts in a positive and loving manner.
Heavenly Father, help me to be a positive and thoughtful person to those
people around…
James 3:14-16
I do remember being jealous of others as a teenager. Their parents had more money so they had all the latest fashions. My mother made many of my clothes. Their homes were larger and in a “better” part of town. As I looked back on it as a young adult, I realized I had the best of everything. Parents who loved me and so many neighborhood friends that are still friends to this day. I will say I never tried to cover up or boast or lie about anything.
Prayer: Gracious God, you gave me the best of everything, but I had to grow up to realize it. Amen
Jealousy
Wednesday, November 6th, 2024
James 3:14-16
But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
God knows whether our heart is pure. He knows what our intentions are before He acknowledges our request for wisdom. He knows for certain whether we are being drawn away from Him by our jealously or drawn closer to Him by the inner power of the Holy Spirit. Regardless of how spiritually mature or immature we are, we are all sinners in…
James 3:14-16
The book of James is full of actionable instructions on how to live the Christian life. He does not mince words here, calling bitter envy and selfish ambition demonic. Indeed, the Commandments declare, “You shall not covet.” Bitter envy or jealousy can be all-consuming and never leads to anything positive. If left to run its natural course, jealousy will surely result in bad outcomes. Learning to live in contentment and gratitude for the gifts God has given to us individually can stave off the green demon of jealousy. This may well be more difficult for those less materially blessed than others, but this is where being guided by the Holy Spirit can keep us on the narrow road.