23rd April 2021
LOVE DETERMINANTS
David Abankwah
(SERIES: Day 3)
…..love does not envy…..
-1 Corinthians 13:4 | NKJV
Envy is the painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage. In simple terms, envy is the feeling of wanting to have what someone already possess. I don’t want to be biased here, but truth be told, women are weaker when it comes to envying. They envy for most important and less important things. Some can even envy the hair of others. Envy is one character that, when you have, you will never progress in life. How long are you going to be envious of everything people have? When you have everything that everyone has, what are you going to do with them?
Yet, some people are not bothered at all about the adverse consequence that envy brings. Hypertension, pressure, fear, bitterness, and other cardiovascular diseases are all products of the reactions of envy. Because Simon, the sorcerer envied the power the Apostles had, it created bitterness in him (Acts 8:18-23). Envy is a waste of time because instead of focusing on your success, you spend that time focusing on others. Envy also makes you do unnecessary comparisons which often prevents your progress. Many people have died before their time from cardiovascular diseases that came about as a result of envy.
Envy also slows brain activity making you lack peace of mind. Instead of concentrating on the good stuff, you see yourself concentrating and wasting time on things you are not going to have. Not only women are envious, but certain males also have a problem in this area because of lust. Guys almost have all the body parts of women, yet, certain guys are envious of the body parts of other women. You have body but you will turn and look at someone’s body again. Don’t you have a backside, man? Why don’t you look at yours? All sorts of lusts are associated with envy. Without envy, you will never lust after the things people have.
The reason many people pass through dubious means of making money is because of the envy of the riches or wealth of other people. Love is not lustful. That is why love is not sex and sex is not love. Envy is not part of the dictionary of love. When you have love, you will seek the betterment of the lives of others. You will be happy when people are more successful than you. A real leader looks for the elevation of his followers instead of their suppression. Your destiny and mine are not the same. Instead of pulling people from the ladder of success, push them to attain greater heights. Who knows who will help someone in the future? When love leads, envy can never be a follower.
•| Prayer Diary |•
¹Lift up prayers against the carnal nature of envy that creates resentment in you anytime you behold the success of others. ²Lift up prayers for the desire for people to be more successful than you (mention their names as you pray). ³Lift up prayers for the state of joyfulness concerning any advantage enjoyed by another person which you should have possessed rather. ⁴Lift up prayers for the divine nature of feeling happy for the success of others’ ministries in the name of Jesus Christ.
Quote
“Love is not a race. When you have this mindset, you will not have bitterness for people when they succeed”
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
2 Kings Chapters 14-16
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© 2021 David Abankwah
David Abankwah 