For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. James 3:16
Each person has things that others do not have. These things can be physical things, such as cars and houses, or non-physical things, such as their appearance or knowledge. As one sees what someone else has it is common for a person to be jealous and begin to be filled with envy for that item. The world then pushes that everyone deserves and needs to have what everyone else has whether it is deserved and earned or not.
After talking about the tongue, James talks about wisdom and states that anywhere envy and self-seeking are, there is also confusion and evil.
Stores are filled with things that people want but don’t always need. Salesmen and ads push that people need what they have, regardless of whether it can be afforded or not and whether it is truly needed or not. The world is focused on pleasing self at all costs.
As people purchase things or gain smarts, people often find themselves unhappy and desiring even more. Someone else always appears to have more and better things. The end result is envy and confusion. What was seen as something good, and desirable is now worthless and of no real value because there is something better out there. Envy rises up because someone else has it.
Unlike the world, followers of God are not to be filled with envy and become self-seeking. They are to focus on seeking God and what He wants. They are to be content with what God has given them. This comes when one only compares oneself with Jesus. Envy is pushed out because it is all about God, His kingdom, and others, not self.
No matter how much or how little you have there will always be someone who has more than you. It will be easy for you to be caught up in envy that the world pushes and seek more for yourself than what God has granted you to have. All that it will bring is confusion and sin into your life. You will not be content with how God has already blessed you. Do not allow yourself to be envious of others, but seek God and be content with Him. He will give you all that you need with abundance. Put your focus upon God and His kingdom and you will have more than you need.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know what God has blessed you with; that God will reveal areas of envy and self-seeking in your life; that you will seek God and His kingdom first in your life; and that God will help you push out any envy in your life.
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This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Insights from Tom
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