Daily Scripture Threshing for Sarurday, May 25, 2024
Today’s Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-12
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NRSV): "Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful."
We need to understand what the Bible says about jealousy and envy. They are spiritual abd natural cousins, and neither of them made it to anywhere near the nature and character of Christian love. When envy is in your life, you will always wish to have what someone else's things, gifts, place and position even if what you had is/are better. If your case is jealousy, you'd find yourself worried that someone else might be better, richer, gifted than you and might take what you have, your place or your opportunity. Envy drives you to want to compete. You'd also want to sing because your neighbor shined and was celebrated when she sang. you'd fund wanting to do the same thing. And if you're unable to do it, you feel jealous.
Perhaps, we all need to learn from Sir Walter Scott, who for many years was the leading literary figure in the British Empire. No one could write as well as he. Then the works of Lord Byron began to appear, and their greatness was immediately evident. Soon an anonymous critic praised his poems in a London Paper. He declared that in the presence of these brilliant works of poetic genius, Scott could no longer be considered the leading poet of England. It was later discovered that the unnamed reviewer had been none other than Sir Walter Scott himself! The reason not many Christians can do that today is because jealousy has kicked genuine love out of place from among us.
Byron's rise could not diminish Scott's reputation. Nothing of anyone else can stop what God has done, will do or can do for you. The Ten Commandments warned that we must not covet anything of our neighbor. It is jealousy that makes us think that what we possess by God's mercy can be taken away by another: be it our jobs, our possessions, or our reputations, or ministry. We need not fear that our people will be lured away by some other person who, when compared to us, seems to be more influential, capable or successful. Envy and jealousy always consume, but love and humility always set free!
Quote for the Day: "If you feel pain when others receive the recognition or blessings you desire you're possessed by the spirit of envy. If you are afraid of losing your recognition or blessing to someone else, you're possessed by the spirit of jealousy." (Simon Olatunji #quotablequote)
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, help us to cultivate a heart of love and humility that acknowledge and celebrate the greatness in others without feeling threatened or envious. May we embrace the successes of those around us, and may our focus be on building each other up rather than tearing down — in Jesus's most glorious name. Amen.
With all my love and prayers,
Rev Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.
Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)
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