“Are You Caught in the Fence?”

 

“Jealousy is such an easy trap to fall into.

It poisons a household and distorts reality,

until imagined slights become sore wounds.

It serves no useful purpose and renders me

unable to do God’s will.”

                                   ~ From Whispers of Friendship

I read this a few weeks ago and have been thinking about it ever since. I don’t know who wrote it but it sure is true. Being jealous steals our joy and makes it hard to be truly thankful for all God has done for us,  because we are really thinking He has done far more for another sister in the Lord.

It's awful when you think about it. You can’t really rejoice honestly with those who are in a time of rejoicing when you're jealous of them. After a while you can’t be happy for anyone about anything because in your heart of hearts….you wish it were you!

If jealousy is not dealt with quickly, you will begin to notice only the negative about people,

and why you think they don’t deserve anything good from the Lord.   You may even start to question God.

You might begin to ask questions like:

Why am I sick and someone else is healed?  Why wasn't my child chosen for the character award this month and that bratty kid was? Why do they always get to go on a vacation? Why do they get so much attention? Why do they get to have that position in the church? The list could go on and on and gets uglier as it grows!

It's so ugly to God, that He made the tenth commandment as a warning to us.  

Exodus 20:17  “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”

Jealousy is dangerous because it's one of those things you can hide in your heart where no one can see….at first.  It is possible to fake a smile and tell someone "I am so happy for you",

while seething on the inside all at the same time.

Matthew 15:8  “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

Eventually… the real contents of the heart will come out, because God’s Word is true.

Luke 6:45  “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil:

for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

We can always find someone who is just as weak as we are, that will listen to us. I have to ask myself. What kind of treasure did I leave behind when I talked to my husband,  a child or friend?

The truth is, it's none of my business why God blesses others the way He does, or why some people go through many trials. It's God’s business!

My business is stated in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”

Then…. leave everything else up to God.

Here is a story from God’s Little Devotional Book For Women .

"Several years ago, a newspaper cartoon was drawn of two fields divided by a fence.  Both were about the same size, and each had plenty of lush green grass. Each field had a mule whose head was stuck through the wire fence, eating grass from the other’s pasture.

Although each mule was surrounded by plenty of grass, the neighboring field seemed somewhat more desirable even though it was harder to reach. In the process, the mules' heads became caught in the fence. They panicked and brayed uncontrollably at being unable to free themselves. The cartoonist wisely described the situation with one word: "Discontent."

Like the mules, when we focus on what we don’t have we become blinded by the blessings which surround us. There is nothing wrong with desiring something, but to think life is easier in someone else's pasture is unwise.

Besides no matter where we are, we will still have to deal with the attitudes of our own heart.

If there is something you desire in life, no matter what it is, look to Jesus to help you bring it to pass. Meanwhile, remember to find pleasure in what He's already given you!

Hebrews 13:5  “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content

with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee is good enough for me!

Let’s just be satisfied…and content!

Love, Dianne