I wish I could say I am always content. I wish I could say I never complain. I wish I could say I have never envied the life of another. I wish I could say I am better at counting my blessings than I am at assessing what I don't have. These are all wishes because I know envy still lurks in my heart. It is part of the dark results of the sin that still resides there.
When envy rules your heart, the love of God doesn't. Envy is selfish to the core. Envy always puts me in the center of the world. It makes everything all about me. It causes me to examine life from the sole perspective of my wants, needs and feelings.
Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own. Harold Coffin Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill said, religion is meant to teach us true spiritual human character. It is meant for self-transformation.
Hindsight will turn into insight if one is thankful. Thankfulness does not come naturally. Everyone struggles at times with envy or is jealous because of the old nature rising up. Being thankful on purpose can kill those envy thoughts.
I love the last quote. Yes, I am thankful I have a cup! I learned a long time ago that if I envy what others might have, I might find out that what they have isn't really what I wanted or bargained for, and I am much better off with whatever God allows me to have. He knows me best and He knows what is best for me! It's good to hear from you. I pray you are keeping warm and staying healthy. Please take care and God bless.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Pam - that last quote is fantastic, Betty!
ReplyDeleteThanks, too, for reminding us that socialism plays on the basest instincts of our humanity, never the lofty ones. Seeing those in our nation now who would turn our country into a socialist cesspool just rends my heart in two.
May we continue to pray for this nation to be one under God.
Blessings!
I agree with Martha's assessment on socialism. It plays on the basest instincts of humans, of having everything given to them. God never had the idea that we would possess everything. We are to work, to struggle, to find fulfillment in labor. I wish I was free of "wanting."
ReplyDeleteI love that quote! That is so good. I think social media fosters a mindset of envy. Scrolling through other people's lives, comparing them with our own, creates an illusion that the grass is greener everywhere else than our own yard. In the olden days, we only had to guard against envy of those we know in real life - now it is all over the place at our fingertips if we are online, and it is such a playground for the enemy. May God help us all to be so careful and grateful for our own, individual, beautiful lives. Life itself is such a gift from Him. God bless you, dear sister.
ReplyDelete'Envy is the art of counting the other fellow's blessings instead of your own.'
ReplyDeleteWow, that hits home, doesn't it. Thanks for speaking the truth we need to hear ... and reminding me to be thankful again, to even have a cup.