- James 4
Are you at war with someone? Is there anyone you seem to dislike because of their behaviour? Is there anyone that irritates you? Does anyone you know, without even doing anything bad to you, affects you so much because you just can't stand them? Watch out! There is a bitterness in your heart and you need to let go of it. The bible asks, what is causing the quarrels, fights, and let me just add bitterness among you? And although most people can't figure it out, or they are just denying their true feelings, isn't it because of the desires you have that other people possess in their lives that you don't have? Sometimes we are not aware that we are already jealous but the right term for this would be envious, or what the old testaments describes as covetiousness. When we envy others, this is where the root of hate and bitterness begins. It is a dangerous emotion that we have to shake off the moment we first notice it because if you do not control such emotions, these emotions will be the driving force of how you live your life.
Envy causes people to do things that are not right, justifying themselves and their acts of doing that which is not pleasing to GOD through the feelings of selfpity that they nurse in their hearts. But GOD knows each one of our hearts and HE knows our deepest motives that results to every desire that we have. Instead of driving & scheming to get what you want, it is most wise and less troubling to ask these things from GOD. Instead of envying why others have what you want to have but don't have it, why not let them just be happy with what they are blessed with and wait till GOD blesses you with it? It doesn't mean that when you have all that you want in life, you will be happy, because envy is such a deep emotion it allows you to be so unhappy and dissatisfied despite the fact that you already have everything you want. Sometimes, you just want to bring that person you envy the most down, you don't want to see them succeed or achieve things. Why feel like this? Why do you even have to live like this? You don't have to be trapped by such destructive emotions! Get your heart right with GOD or else you will never be happy & satisfied to enjoy all of GOD's blessings if you continue to harbor those destructive emotions in your heart. When GOD confronts us and exposes the deep motives of our hearts, we have to be humble enough to admit our sinful ways and ask for HIS grace to rid us of those unhealthy and destructive emotions. Only HIS grace will free us from our sinful nature. So don't be afraid to admit your weaknesses to the Compassionate LORD, HE will deliver you. More than anything, HE wants you to enjoy the abundant life HE offers you, the HE died for you to live abundantly. HE gave up His life so you coul be whole, be healed, and be free from every evil desire, take what GOD is offering to you and don't look back. Take it, be free and live! And If you are one of those that are constantly envied, don't be poisoned by the haters around you by hating them back. The one thing they need that they are too proud to admit is that they need prayers, they need your prayers.
