Love as Brethren – Do not envy (2)!

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren …” 1 Peter 3v8 (KJV)

1 Corinthians 13v4 (NIV) says “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy…” To envy is to have “a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another’s advantages, success, possessions, etc. … Envy denotes a longing to possess something awarded to or achieved by another…. ” (www.dictionary.com). If we love our brethren, we should not envy them, for love does not envy. Proverbs 14v28 (AMP) says “A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body, but envy, jealousy, and wrath are like rottenness of the bones.” Are you envious of someone or people today? Are you longing to possess something they have or are you becoming discontented because of their own advantage and success? Cry out to God to help you. In the Bible we see how Cain was very angry when Abel’s offering was accepted and his wasn’t. God spoke to him, the Bible saying “Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4v6-7, NIV). Now we know that Cain heeded not the advice of the Lord but went ahead and killed his brother, thus having the first human murder recorded in the Bible. Is sin crouching at your door? Are you about to make a decision based on envy? See below the conversation between John the Baptist and his disciples about Jesus. In all things, seek the glory of the Lord. Don’t be envious of your brethren. Be united in Spirit.

Supplementary Text

“So they came to John and reported to him, Rabbi, the Man Who was with you on the other side of the Jordan [at the Jordan crossing] – and to Whom you yourself have borne testimony – notice, here He is baptizing too, and everybody is flocking to Him! John answered, A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing, he can take unto himself nothing] except as it has been granted to him from heaven. [A man must be content to receive the gift which is given him from heaven; there is no other source.]… He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]” John 3v26-27&30

Father, I thank You for Your love. Please search my heart and remove every trace of envy and discontentment. Forgive me for seeking my own glory. I pray that You fulfill Your purpose in my life and that You be glorified in the Church in Jesus name.