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- Oct 26, 2007
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And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food. 1 Kings 21:4 ESV
It’s easy to see how a king could look ridiculous as he pouts and laments a field he can’t buy. While he had no shortage of fields and wealth in his kingdom, Ahab let his desire for land destroy his contentment and even drive him to condone the owner’s murder.
Such a scene appears over the top today, but it illustrates the real problem of envy, which steals your enjoyment of what you have. When you are focused on what others have, or on what you can’t have, you essentially lose sight of what you do have. Your enjoyment of God’s blessings is blocked by the dark clouds of envy.
If left unchecked, envy can take hold and push people to take actions they never would have considered at first. While today’s reading sits on the more extreme end of the spectrum, it remains a true illustration of how much damage envy can do to you and to the people around you.
Prayer: Lord, help me to enjoy the blessings You have given me with gratitude.
It’s easy to see how a king could look ridiculous as he pouts and laments a field he can’t buy. While he had no shortage of fields and wealth in his kingdom, Ahab let his desire for land destroy his contentment and even drive him to condone the owner’s murder.
Such a scene appears over the top today, but it illustrates the real problem of envy, which steals your enjoyment of what you have. When you are focused on what others have, or on what you can’t have, you essentially lose sight of what you do have. Your enjoyment of God’s blessings is blocked by the dark clouds of envy.
If left unchecked, envy can take hold and push people to take actions they never would have considered at first. While today’s reading sits on the more extreme end of the spectrum, it remains a true illustration of how much damage envy can do to you and to the people around you.
Prayer: Lord, help me to enjoy the blessings You have given me with gratitude.
