For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
James 3:16 ESV
I get a little envious of others sometimes. In fact, truth be told, I often fight the temptation to crave what my friends and neighbors have. I covet.
Don’t get me wrong. . .I’ve read the Ten Commandments. I know we’re not supposed to struggle with envy. But this whole thing about not coveting your neighbor’s donkey has always been a little hard to grasp. Is it actually possible to be jealous of a donkey, or have I completely missed the point?
In order to better understand this concept, I decided to put the scripture in modern terms. Here’s what the final commandment might say, if the Lord had waited until the 21st century to share it:
- Don’t envy your neighbor when he gets a brand new SUV and you’re still driving a 1999 Chevy that once belonged to your uncle, who passed it to your father, who in turn passed it to you. Instead, thank God that you have a vehicle to drive. There are actually people on the planet who would give their eye teeth to have your car.
- Don’t envy your friend when her husband takes her on a second honeymoon to Hawaii. Instead, pray for her safety, and for a season of refreshing for her marriage.
- Don’t be jealous when the guy across the street can afford a landscaping service to care for his lawn and yours hasn’t been manicured in months. Instead, get out the lawnmower and get to work. You probably need the exercise.
- When on an airplane, don’t envy the people in first class. Thank the Lord for frequent flyer miles and enjoy the ride.
- When standing in the check-out line at your local grocery store, don’t envy the lady in front of you who apparently has the funds to do serious shopping. Thank God for your coupons and your ability to budget wisely, then wait patiently for your turn.
You get the point! I can’t really blame the donkey for my troubles. Jealousy is something that I can learn to control, and you can, too. With God’s help, we can get rid of the donkeys in our lives.
Challenging Thought: Have you struggled with envy? How can you overcome the temptation to be jealous of others?
Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!
