< ALMA 29 >
Jealousy vs. Alma-style joy
Jealousy comes from the idea that "their success means less for me".
The reality is that God's goodness is not scarce, it's not a limited resource. There's plenty of it for everyone. God doesn't run out of blessings or love.
Some people have different callings, different missions, but its all for the same Lord. The key is to understand "what has God entrused to me right now?" Then invest your energy there.
One key to overcoming envy is to pray for those you feel tempted to envy. This is one of the fastest ways to soften a heart. Matthew 5:44 - pray for those who despitefully use you could also be to pray for those who trigger comparison and envy.
Doing that seems really unnatural, and that's normal, you are changing your internal wiring.
Celebrate goodness nomatter where it comes from. Get away from the mentality: "I'm happt that I converted people" to "I'm happy becuase people were converted" It's not about me, it's about other people and ultimately God.
The truth is that jealousy is really just feaer in disguise. Fear of being overlooked, fear of being insignifcant, fear of not getting credit for your hard work. The truth is that those things happen in any organiation run by men. It's just something that happens, even in the church (actually it happens a lot here).
But the gospel answers these three fears: You are known, you are needed, you are loved. Isaiah 49:16 notes that Christ has graven us upon the palms of his hands. That means you.
The key is to learn to rejoice whenever God's purposes move forward, no mater through whom.
Jealousy comes from the idea that "their success means less for me".
The reality is that God's goodness is not scarce, it's not a limited resource. There's plenty of it for everyone. God doesn't run out of blessings or love.
Some people have different callings, different missions, but its all for the same Lord. The key is to understand "what has God entrused to me right now?" Then invest your energy there.
One key to overcoming envy is to pray for those you feel tempted to envy. This is one of the fastest ways to soften a heart. Matthew 5:44 - pray for those who despitefully use you could also be to pray for those who trigger comparison and envy.
Doing that seems really unnatural, and that's normal, you are changing your internal wiring.
Celebrate goodness nomatter where it comes from. Get away from the mentality: "I'm happt that I converted people" to "I'm happy becuase people were converted" It's not about me, it's about other people and ultimately God.
The truth is that jealousy is really just feaer in disguise. Fear of being overlooked, fear of being insignifcant, fear of not getting credit for your hard work. The truth is that those things happen in any organiation run by men. It's just something that happens, even in the church (actually it happens a lot here).
But the gospel answers these three fears: You are known, you are needed, you are loved. Isaiah 49:16 notes that Christ has graven us upon the palms of his hands. That means you.
The key is to learn to rejoice whenever God's purposes move forward, no mater through whom.