Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Psalm 95, 1 Samuel 18-20

Have you ever been envious of someone? Have you ever been upset when someone else got something that you didn’t? Someone else got a real Cabbage Patch doll, but you didn’t. Someone else had a new pair of Jordans, but you didn’t. How about when someone else got a promotion at work or an award at school, while you were passed by? Or maybe that guy you liked asked out your best friend instead of you? Envy rears its nasty head in all kinds of places and all kinds of ways.

As 1 Samuel 17 ends and 1 Samuel 18 begins, Saul asks David to lead his army, and yet Saul is very angry when he hears the women celebrating and singing David’s conquests. Even though the women sang of Saul defeating thousands, that’s not good enough when compared to David’s ten thousands, “and Saul eyed David from that day on” (1 Samuel 18:9 ESV).

Unfortunately, I have witnessed similar animosity and envy between Christian individuals, ministries, and churches. Rather than seeing one another as God’s fellow workers, linking arms together, all too many Christians are jockeying for position – judging their own success by getting more members, more followers, or more likes. Their concern isn’t for the purity and spread of the gospel. Their concern is for the popularity of their own personal ministry.

Let us not be like Cain, “who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous” (1 John 3:12 ESV). Rather, let’s be like Paul, who wrote, “He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:8-9 ESV). Remember that love is patient and kind, not envying or boasting, nor being arrogant or rude (1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV). Let’s “rejoice with those who rejoice” and “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15 ESV) instead of being mad at those who rejoice and rejoicing at those who weep.

Envy is the way of the Pharisees (Mark 15:10), the way of the world, but not the way of Christ and His followers.

Heavenly Father, Thank You for the body of Christ here on earth. We pray for each and every member, each and every pastor, teacher, ministry leader, church planter, every one bearing the name of Christ around the world. We pray that You will unite them to Your Word, to the gospel, and to one another. Protect us from the enemy, our adversary, the devil who wants to bring division and confusion and darkness. Keep us from envy and backbiting. Keep us on the straight and narrow path. Keep us close to the cross. For Your glory and our good, we pray. Amen.

Before closing out, I want to give a “shout out” to some national ministries that have been great blessings to me.

Bible Memory aka Scripture Typer – I’ve been using the Bible Memory app for years and years!

Albert Mohler’s The Briefing Podcast – I’m not much into following the news. Mr. Mohler helps me with that.

David Guzik’s Enduring Word – I’ve used many of his resources when I’m studying for teaching at Community Bible Study. I love that I can choose to read, watch, or listen since his site includes written material as well as videos and audio downloads. You can even find links to his teachings on the Blue Letter Bible website and app by clicking on “commentaries.”

Truth for Life with Alistair Begg – I love how Mr. Begg teaches expositionally through the Bible verse by verse with passion and application.

Got Questions – A great resource when you’re researching something. For example, their  article called, “What does the Bible have up say about envy?” ends with this paragraph. “The root of envy is a dissatisfied heart. We experience envy when we cannot have what our heart desires. We have not yet learned the secret of contentment (Philippians 4:10–13), of delighting ourselves in the Lord. The most effective way to avoid envy is to trust in the Lord and delight in Him: ‘Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun” (Psalm 37:3–6).'” Amen!

Ray Comfort and Living Waters. I can’t get enough of his videos. Here are two that I watched this week!

What ministries have blessed you? Why? Leave a comment.