Bible Study & Devotional 246
Guiding Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:4 ‘And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.’
🔴Never Content
written by: Torrie Slaughter
Envy prevents us from being satisfied with our purpose. As the teacher in Ecclesiastes explains in verse 4, greediness steals our life’s meaning.
The warning for us to be content and follow the path God laid for us is the wiser choice.
Tiny Gains
I’ve noticed that envy starts small. It’s almost unrecognizable until bitterness and anger settle into one’s demeanor. Perhaps a friend receives a gift or goes on an incredible trip. Maybe a co-worker gets a promotion, or your neighbor’s garden is flourishing. If we aren’t able to genuinely congratulate or encourage, we sow seeds of envy.
Living with a constant need to outdo others is exhausting. And that attitude places a barrier between God and us. To labor with envy as motivation kills, steals, and destroys that which we want to build.
Consequence
The Bible tells us what we can expect when envy festers in our hearts.
- Proverbs 14:30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
- Job 5:2 Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.
So, how do we live as Christ-followers rebuking the sin of jealousy?
The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 5:26, “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Do not permit yourself to think that you are better than your brothers and sisters. All things are possible with God, and casting our doubt, fear, and envy at the feet of Jesus helps us become lovely. Through the Holy Spirit, we can overcome the sin of envy by gaining emotional self-control. Train your thoughts to obey Christ and love from the inside out.
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your word. You are the Healer, the ultimate Physician of our hearts. Father, we ask that you tear down the walls of bitterness, anger, pride, arrogance, and envy. Please remove it from our hearts and renew a right spirit within us. Amen
🔴 The Bible In A Year Daily Reading Plan
Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7, Psalm 47:1-9, Proverbs 22:16
This devotional was written by Torrie Slaughter the founder of Our Given Purpose® for A Daily Purpose Bible Study & Devotional. Want to hear more? Tune in on Mondays and listen to Our Given Purpose the Podcast and on Fridays to Talking on Purpose with Torrie the Podcast & Internet Show. Torrie also hosts a YouTube channel of the same name.
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True, thank you, friend! Envy tries to make us believe we are doing something, when all credits goes to God. Everyone can have a special place in the body of Christ. 🙏🏾☀️