My Moments Of Enviousness

Some of the little foxes we overlook...2 Cases I want to share with you...

Case of Friend 1: This lady, I love (didn’t know how much until yesterday) and she will forever remain dear to my heart. We have come a long way, from when we first met at the camp in Aluu, Rivers State. I was 10 and she was 11. We just liked each other immediately. We met again in University about 7 years later. Same class, same course. How coincidental – my matric. number was just before hers. We remained friends though she was the saint and I the sinner. Thank God she never stopped praying that one day I will accept the gift of salvation.

We both got employed by the same company – I first. But when her job came (a testimony I keep thanking God for) it appeared to be better than mine. She made more money than I did. Today she is an international staff and I a “national staff”. In my moments of enviousness, I asked God, “Is she not my ‘mate’ again? I thought I had more advantage in grades and degrees? How come you gave her such a great opportunity that she even has more salary than I?”

As I spent time listening to and getting involved with the kind of sacrifices she makes, I began to realize that she had very huge responsibilities on her shoulders. Responsibilities which if I had, I may have run away from. Responsibilities which, if she had my salary, she may not be able to handle. Only the “additional” that came with her job, position and opportunity could take care of such responsibilities. I thank God that He knows what is best for us, and in His love and sovereignty, He takes care of our needs.

Case of Friend 2: This lady and I got promoted the same time last year, and to the same level. She was given a house, a car and a driver. I forgot to thank God for my promotion but had my eyes on all that came with her promotion. One day when we got talking, she said, “I have a big house, a new car and a driver, yet I do not get to see my husband to enjoy all these things with because of work!” I felt very ashamed of being envious of this lady.

Have you ever been jealous / envious of someone let alone someone so close?

Many of us have grown with the concept of “mate”. Hence whatever our mates have, we feel we should have. Many of us have been taught “competition” that when it seems our mates have surpassed us, we feel left out and try to get what our mates have. In my case, not only was I being covetous, I failed to be thankful for what I had.

Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another [Galatians 5:26, AMP]

The standard for measuring ourselves should not be our “mates” because there will always be a time when some of our mates will have more than we do, and some others will have less than we do. Our standard for measuring ourselves should be the will and purpose of God for our lives.

And let us be thankful for the blessing of God upon our lives.

Have a blessed week ahead.