Sunday Highlights
Envy – the topic of today’s Baggage message.
Man, we carry so much baggage in our lives. Each week of this series has uncovered another piece of luggage that I’ve packed at some point in my life. Amazing how much a person can carry around unknowingly. We get so used to the weight of this emotional baggage that we don’t even realize that it’s there or how it’s affecting us.
Here are some highlights from Pete‘s message:
Scriptures: Genesis 4:3-8, Exodus 20:17, James 3:16
We envy because there is a difference between who we are and who we think we should be.
Some things about envy:
- It destroys relationships.
- It happens between close friends
- It grows naturally in relationships between equals.
- It breeds in proximity and therefore destroys community.
Envy is not a STUFF issue.
Envy is not a PEOPLE issue.
Envy is a SPIRITUAL issue.
- You’ve got to own your envy.
- You’ve got to get straight who God has made you to be.
- You’ve got to figure out who you want to please.
Psalm 73:23-26
“Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow week, but God remains the strength of my heart.”
That’s my prayer for each of you – that God would be the strength of your heart, that you would discover who God has made you to be and to refuse to compare yourself to others, ending this battle with envy.
This is so good, Ive been in ministry for 10 years and have seen it up close. I may repost this one!
Envy, funny to think but I did not struggle with this much until I became Christian. I was perfectly happy(which I wasn’t I just did not know any better ) in my life before God because I did not know anything different. Then in becoming christian at first it was really hard , I realized these people had so much more than me on every level and I to wanted what they had, and if God loved me the same as everyone else then why was I given the life so seperate from him for so long . I got really hung up on that for awhile…luckily God is now my father , my church is my family and life is transformed. I still have to deal with the green eyed monster but then again who doesn’t……
The kicker for me is that last one: “You’ve got to figure out who you want to please.” I do soooo want it to be true of me that I desire Jesus more than anything on earth, even more than the approval of others.