The Fruit of the Spirit 12 (Love does not envy)
In the previous article, I started to share what Love is. I share the passive and active functions of love, being that it is patient and the same time, kind.
In today's article, I shall progress to share what LOVE is. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up” I Corinthians 13:4
The next thing to consider is that Love does not envy or get jealous. Envy is a sense of dissatisfaction with and opposing to the prosperity and Happiness of others compared to your own. I will also say that “Envy is pain at the sight of Excellence or beauty in another.”
Envy promotes unhealthy competition and rivalry among people. Rilvary is the most conspicuous trait of men in their relations with one another. We see it everywhere. And most ridiculously, in the church of God.
The motivation many people have is to be better than their next neighbor. Someone once asked me, “What is wrong with being motivated to be better than my next neighbor?” “Everything!” I responded. Because you won’t walk in sincere love with someone you compete with. Therefore, Your relationship with your brother should be out of love and not as a result of competing with Him.
You don't need to compete with anyone. God also has his plan for your life. Therefore, trust Him to know what is yours and follow it by faith. If being the first is your position (which I believe is every position of every child of God), then follow that with all diligence and faith and not with a motivation to outlast your classmate.
You cannot see yourself in competition with someone and see a need to pray for him to succeed. When you need to help such attain success, there will be resistance in your heart.
When a heart is filled with the love of Christ, He doesn't feel awkward over another man’s success because He knows He is already successful in Christ Jesus.
Another notable trait of envy is selfishness. That makes a man think and say, “Why is it happening to Him and not to me?” That is why an envious man will resent the good of others as though it is an injury to Him.
Love can never thrive in an envious heart. “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there” (James 3:16). There is no atmosphere to culture and breed hate and evil like an atmosphere filled with envy and strife. There are many examples from the scriptures to verify that. So, I will list some obvious ones:
Cain started with envy against His brother, Abel—it proceeded with murder and much eviler.
Haman against Mordecai and all of Israel—When He plotted to wipe out the whole generation of Israel because he was jealous.
Joseph Brothers against Joseph—Joseph’s brothers did a lot of evil and shenanigans to Joseph: From intense hostility to assaulting him. They sold him, denied him, and many others because they hated him.
Saul against David. And the list continues until now.
Envy brings out evilness in the heart of men. I have heard this several times, “I don't know why I hate this person” I know it! It is just because someone has not allowed the Love of Christ to fill his heart but has created space for envy to rule and reign in his heart.
Beloved, God has a plan for you. It is not dependent on anyone but on Him. So, let’s support one another in love. Let us promote one another. Let us appreciate one another. Our destiny is in the hands of Christ. In Him, you are already victorious. So walk in this victory and stop seeing yourself in competition with your next neighbor.
God is the lifter up of your head. He has already paid the ultimate price for your success. So, you can trust that it will emerge as you yield to the Holy Spirit.
In today's article, I shall progress to share what LOVE is. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up” I Corinthians 13:4
The next thing to consider is that Love does not envy or get jealous. Envy is a sense of dissatisfaction with and opposing to the prosperity and Happiness of others compared to your own. I will also say that “Envy is pain at the sight of Excellence or beauty in another.”
Envy promotes unhealthy competition and rivalry among people. Rilvary is the most conspicuous trait of men in their relations with one another. We see it everywhere. And most ridiculously, in the church of God.
The motivation many people have is to be better than their next neighbor. Someone once asked me, “What is wrong with being motivated to be better than my next neighbor?” “Everything!” I responded. Because you won’t walk in sincere love with someone you compete with. Therefore, Your relationship with your brother should be out of love and not as a result of competing with Him.
You don't need to compete with anyone. God also has his plan for your life. Therefore, trust Him to know what is yours and follow it by faith. If being the first is your position (which I believe is every position of every child of God), then follow that with all diligence and faith and not with a motivation to outlast your classmate.
You cannot see yourself in competition with someone and see a need to pray for him to succeed. When you need to help such attain success, there will be resistance in your heart.
When a heart is filled with the love of Christ, He doesn't feel awkward over another man’s success because He knows He is already successful in Christ Jesus.
Another notable trait of envy is selfishness. That makes a man think and say, “Why is it happening to Him and not to me?” That is why an envious man will resent the good of others as though it is an injury to Him.
Love can never thrive in an envious heart. “For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there” (James 3:16). There is no atmosphere to culture and breed hate and evil like an atmosphere filled with envy and strife. There are many examples from the scriptures to verify that. So, I will list some obvious ones:
Cain started with envy against His brother, Abel—it proceeded with murder and much eviler.
Haman against Mordecai and all of Israel—When He plotted to wipe out the whole generation of Israel because he was jealous.
Joseph Brothers against Joseph—Joseph’s brothers did a lot of evil and shenanigans to Joseph: From intense hostility to assaulting him. They sold him, denied him, and many others because they hated him.
Saul against David. And the list continues until now.
Envy brings out evilness in the heart of men. I have heard this several times, “I don't know why I hate this person” I know it! It is just because someone has not allowed the Love of Christ to fill his heart but has created space for envy to rule and reign in his heart.
Beloved, God has a plan for you. It is not dependent on anyone but on Him. So, let’s support one another in love. Let us promote one another. Let us appreciate one another. Our destiny is in the hands of Christ. In Him, you are already victorious. So walk in this victory and stop seeing yourself in competition with your next neighbor.
God is the lifter up of your head. He has already paid the ultimate price for your success. So, you can trust that it will emerge as you yield to the Holy Spirit.
The article is written by Peter Ayoola Fakeye (PAF)
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