22Apr
“The saddest words of tongue or pen are the simple words; it might have been.” What is the source of discontent? What stimulates regret? There are many attendant circumstances to discontent, but those circumstances only fan the spark of envy, producing a flame of dissatisfaction.
My first adult memory of the power of envy came, of all places, at a Pastor’s Conference. I was a young pastor in Moses Lake, WA, having a great time learning to lead a church. God had already blessed with many precious people who joined us in an attempt to advance the Gospel.
We were not wealthy, but we were happy and well-fed. One way or the other, God steadily supplied needs and was visibly at work around us. I had not been a pastor long before, I wanted to increase my knowledge and skills for the ministry, so I went to a Pastor’s conference. As I met and talked with other pastors, we made and deepened friendships. Well prepared speakers equipped us with insights from years of ministry experience. All was going well.
As I listened to descriptions of other ministries, a shadow fell over me. It was a strange monster draining the contentment from my soul. Listening to others describe their experiences; the fangs of discontentment injected the poison of envy. What had changed? Nothing! Yet, my satisfaction was waning.
Grace ministered the antidote to envy’s poison. It is a serum of pure gratitude. Thoughts of what God had done and fellowship we enjoyed as a church desiccated my attacker. We are all subject to what has come to be called “The Greener Grace Syndrome.” That same shadow monster creeps into our minds in contemplation of relationships, careers, clothes, houses, and virtually every consideration of our lives.
Oblivious to the shadow monster’s methods, we allow gratitude to languish from neglect while we wish we had or were like someone else. Solomon called out the beast in his comment, “All achievement springs from one person’s envy of another.” (Eccl. 4:4 NIV) The vaccine is gratitude. Apply liberally!
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