Has jealousy ever gotten the best of you?

One of the most damaging diseases of the heart is jealousy.  It frustrates friendships and wrecks relationships.  It makes us miserable.  It also causes people to behave in very strange ways.

Jealousy causes some to push themselves out front, demanding to be noticed and acknowledged.  It causes others to shrink back into the shadows — to socially and emotionally withdraw.  Jealousy messes up people’s lives!

To be “jealous” is “to feel envy of someone or their achievements and advantages; wanting something that belongs to another and to which one has no particular right or claim; to be fiercely protective or vigilant of one’s rights, territory or possessions.”

The Bible is not silent on this subject.  It gives us an accurate perspective of the impact of jealousy on us:

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy [jealousy] rots the bones.”  – Proverbs 14:30

“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth … For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.”  –  James 3:14-16 (NAS)

Jealousy is often referred to as the “green-eyed monster.” The origin of this phrase goes back to Shakespeare’s Othello where he wrote these words:

“O! beware, my lord, of jealousy; it is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.”

Jealousy truly is a monster.  It gains power over us by playing on our fears, our insecurities and our self-centeredness.  Like a monster, it looms over us, stirring all kinds of ugly emotions in us.  It makes a monster out of us.

Jealousy ultimately causes destruction.  Lots of horrible things have been done to others by jealous people.  Jealousy also causes many people to self-destruct.  They end up missing God’s best because of their preoccupation with the activities or advantages in someone else’s life.

How do we avoid being destroyed by jealousy?

• Recognize it when it shows up in your life.

• Deal with your personal fears and insecurities.

• Know that God loves you — you are important to Him — put your trust in Him.

• Rejoice when others are blessed, promoted and acknowledged.

• Become a promoter of others.  Learn to “toot the horn” for others, rather than for yourself.

Drive the “green-eyed monster” away from your life today!

Pastor Dale

Share this post

Hide Sites

One of the biggest killers in our world is resentment. It destroys joy, murders relationships and sabatoges spiritual, emotional and physical health. I am convinced that it sends some to an early grave.

Resentment is anger or bitterness that results from a real or perceived hurt or offense. It is an inner infection that doesn’t go away without active treatment.

There are several symptoms that accompany this spiritual illness.

• Resentful people build walls instead of bridges. They deal with their pain by shutting others out.

Resentful people withdraw into a world of emotional isolation. They reject others to avoid the possibility of being rejected. They take little or no initiative in relationship repairs or maintenance.

• Resentful people accumulate offenses. While resentment is sometimes the result of one big, painful event, more often it is the result of an accumulation of layers of little offenses.

This layered type of resentment is more subtle, and much less recgnizable by it’s victim. Over time, collecting offenses can actually become a dysfunctional hobby in a person’s life.

• Resentful people are driven by the need for payback.

Resentment always seeks satisfaction. Resentment is all about making someone pay for the pain we feel they have caused us.

While some folks are very open about their desires for revenge, most are more “sophisticated” in their approach. Their payback is exacted in passive-aggressive ways. Through rebellion, resistance, uncooperative attitudes, withdrawal, and the like, they patiently “get their pound of flesh.” They get their payback.

So how do we deal with this monstrous disease? How do we deal with the poison — the infection — of resentment?

Take a look at the Apostle Paul’s words:

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”. — Ephesians 4:31, 32

Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, told us to get rid of all remnants of resentment. He gave us the antidotes for this poison — the treatment for this infection:

• Kindness.
• Compassion.
• Forgiveness.

Tough words for someone who is angry, seeking revenge!  But it’s the way of deliverance.

Pastor Dale

Share this post

Hide Sites

I love the Bible.  I love it for lots of reasons.  In it we find:

• God’s promises — what He promises to do in us and for us when we obey Him.

• God’s precepts — commands and instructions to live by.

• God’s principles — the way of life that leads us to our highest and best.

The Bible is incredibly practical.  It gives us what we need for everyday living.

Recently I ran across a really practical verse in Scripture that caught my attention.  Take a look at it:

“He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.”  –  Proverbs 28:19

God has a heart to help and bless people.  He loves us and wants us to have all we need.  He wants to provide every resource necessary for our fulfillment and fruitfulness in doing His will.  He has given us principles that, when followed, will bring abundant provision to us.  He has established certain “ways” that work , but His ways involve and require our willingness to work.

In Proverbs 28:19 we find some guidelines for living an abundant life:

• Abundant living requires a commitment to “work one’s land.“

We can be a worker or a dreamer.  Dreamers dream.  Workers do.

While there is nothing wrong with dreaming, it should come with a warning.  Dreams not based in solid reality lead to fantasies.  A fantasy is an imagined, idealistic situation.  It is something that doesn’t exist.  It is something people can spend a lifetime chasing and never catching.

Chasing fantasies causes people to waste their time, and ultimately to waste their life.  Fantasy chasers are constantly enamored with and enticed by “something else, something more, something beyond.”  They have a hard time settling down, settling in, and focusing on the life God has given them.

• Abundant living requires working one’s “own” land.

Everybody has their “own land.” Our “land” is the opportunities, responsibilities and relationships that already exist in our life.  A person’s “land” is what is in front of them right now.

Fantasy focuses on what we don’t have but wish we did have.  Abundance comes from working on what we have to make it productive.  Fantasies are often used as an escape hatch from giving our best to what is currently in front of us and assigned to us.

• Abundant living is the result of God’s blessings on our work.

God could very easily pour out abundance on us without requiring anything from us.  Yet, in His great wisdom He has chosen to make us partners in the process of blessings.  He gives us His instructions and  the freedom to choose what we will do with them.  Along with His instructions, He reminds us of the consequences of our  decisions.

When it comes to abundance or poverty, God gives us a choice.  We can choose to chase fantasies or  to work our “land.” When we work to make our land productive, He shows up and showers blessings on us.  If we choose to chase fantasies, we end up in poverty — missing the best God intended for us; lacking the resources God desires for us.

Do you want an abundant life?  Stop chasing fantasies and give your best effort to make the “land” you have been given productive land. As you do, you will experience the full and fruitful life God designed for you to live!

Pastor Dale

Share this post

Hide Sites

We are all surrounded by people; family, friends, co-workers, business associates and acquaintances.  Regular interaction with people is a huge part of our daily lives.  Some folks possess a unique capacity to add to our lives.  When they come around they deposit something valuable, something that strengthens, challenges and helps us.  Our interactions with them yield a positive net.  They are refreshers.

The Apostle Paul understood the value of these kinds of relationships.  Paul would never have been able to accomplish all he accomplished for the advance of God’s Kingdom without some refreshers in his life.  While he was on the front lines — the cutting edges of Kingdom advance — suffering the bumps, bruises and pains that accompany such spiritual leadership responsibilities — he had some people in his life who helped keep him going.

Many times in Paul’s letters he references and expresses gratitude for the folks who added to his life and helped him do what he did.  Take a look at one example:

“I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.  For they refreshed my spirit and yours also.  Such men deserve recognition.”  –  1 Corinthians 16:17, 18

From these 2 verses we are able to learn some key qualities found in people who add value to others:

• Their presence lifts burdens rather than creating them.  Paul said, “I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Archaicus arrived … “ They came as burden-bearers.  Paul was very glad to see them because they came to relieve burdens, not cause them!  They were like a cool drink of water on a hot summer day.

They supply resources that are lacking. Paul said of these men, ” … they have supplied what was lacking from you … “ The Greek word translated “supplied” means “to complete or fulfill.” These men brought with them something — certain resources — that Paul needed for him to be able to do what God had called him to do.  People who add value to others supply resources that are lacking, be they spiritual, emotional or practical resources.

They are refreshers.  Paul wrote, ” … they refreshed my spirit … “ The Greek word for “refreshed” means “to give rest.” It is the same word Jesus used in Matthew 11:28 when He declared, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” These men were Jesus-sent refreshers to the Apostle Paul!  They were doing Jesus’ work of refreshing in Paul’s life.  Incredible!

Paul concluded his comments about these 3 men with a word of instruction to the Corinthians, and to us.  He said, ” … these men deserve recognition.”

Refreshers deserve to be honored, appreciated and recognized.  Why?  Because they do a great and important work.  Paul knew that these men, although unknown to most, were a critical part of sustaining him personally, enabling him to more effectively do the work God assigned him to do.

One of the greatest ministry we can engage in, and a ministry each of us should covet and pursue, is the ministry of a refresher.  Look for opportunities to lift burdens, supply resources and give rest to others.  As you do, God will take note of you, and others will be wonderfully blessed by you!

Pastor Dale

Share this post

Hide Sites