ENVY AND DISCONTENTMENT

 

PROVERBS 24:19 - DO NOT FRET OVER EVILDOERS, AND DO NOT BE ENVIOUS OF THE WICKED.

Envy is a nasty characteristic/attribute to possess.  Envy is defined as "a feeling of discontent or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck."

Whenever I see pictures of people on road trips or vacations, that wicked emotion tends to rear its ugly head.  I saw a collection of photos on Facebook recently of two women (living in sin) who were showing off their travel pictures and for a moment or so, I became envious and resentful.

My first thought was, "Why is it they get to go places and do fun things, basically, do whatever they want and go wherever they want, but I don't?"

Then the verse above, Proverbs 24:19, came to mind.  Well, let me tell you, it's hard NOT to be envious, especially in this case.  My husband put the book The Art of Divine Contentment by Thomas Watson in our Kindle app and I should take the opportunity to read it because seeing others enjoying going places and seeing new things has the tendency to stir up that sin in my heart.

Discontentment is a joy-stealer.  Envy will stir up discontentment in a heartbeat.  It will cause you to look at what you don't have and be resentful that you don't possess it and be resentful of what you do have and that can cause you to miss out on the blessings you already possess.  You miss the good that's right before you while looking at what others have.

I need to be reminded of contentment and not let other's "good fortune" steal my joy.  I need to remember my joy is found in Christ, not in material goods or special experiences.

Those two women I mentioned earlier may be enjoying their life right now, living this lifestyle in sin, but without repentance, their happiness is short-lived because their destiny is eternal punishment unless they turn to Christ.  Our eternal destiny in the new heaven and the new earth will far exceed what we can experience right now.  So, while I may not get to experience a life traveling and seeing all the beautiful places our country has, it can never compare to what's waiting when Christ returns.