A Facebook friend (I’ll call her Monique) posted about an experience of being snubbed by another woman (let’s call her Jackie). Monique cited she couldn’t understand why because she’d never done anything to Jackie to cause this reaction. To make matters even more difficult to understand, this incident occurred at her church.
Made me think. When have I slighted others and why? Jealousy? Envy? I know resentment is wrong and have struggled with it in my own life. Why do we wander into this plight? What may have caused Jackie to snub Monique? Possibly comparisons?
Monique has a lovely singing voice. A successful husband and marriage. Two beautiful children.
Perhaps Jackie envied her. Would love to sing. Had a troubled marriage or husband without a job. No children but always desired to be a mom. Any of Monique’s blessings may have caused Jackie’s resentment.
Have you considered this perspective? A friend of mine at work shared a truth she learned from her mom with our Bible study group. We tend to look at someone else and envy one part of her life. Instead we need to consider the whole package—her entire life. We can’t just want one of her blessings. We need to consider all she’s experienced. Do we want everything in order to gain that one part?
What if we desire a friend’s seemingly perfect marriage? Do we want the torment she endured when her husband nearly committed suicide? Do we envy her large home and new car enough to bear her pain and suffering resulting from a son on drugs?
When I think about the people I’ve envied and look at their entire life, I realize my need to be content with what I have and to be thankful for God’s bountiful goodness.
Proverbs 14:30 says, “A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones” (NLT). A peaceful heart is a much better alternative to cancer in the bones.