I can’t believe I’m sitting in the YMCA ladies locker room to type this blog while my daughter (A, age 10) has swim team practice. (I should be working out). I’ve scurried all day and finally had time to stop and write down (type) what God continues to teach me.
Since my last post “Blog Battle”, God has used friends in my life to confirm what God taught me and continues to teach me about jealousy. One ladies ministry friend, Pam (see her blog at ephesians210girl.blogspot.com) sent me a message. She said she related to my blog battle and shared some verses of truth. She sent the verses in Numbers 11:23-29 about God giving his Spirit to two men in the camp. When Joshua found out about it, he told Moses to restrain the two. Verse 29 says, "But Moses said to him; "Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord's people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!" I agree with Pam when she said, "I want to be like Moses! I want to wish the best for everybody! I just want to put out there whatever the Lord has for me to put out there. Whether I am speaking or blogging or leading ladies min.(ministry) Even if only 3 people read it or only 3 people show up! I want to trust Him to handle the outcome."
Note: My daughter, A, read this blog on the way home from the YMCA. I didn't have the Bible reference for the story with me. When I told A about this story, she said, "It's somewhere between Numbers 11 and 13. I read it this morning." Talk about cool!!
Then this morning, God used the girls to remind me of the jealousy struggle we all face. My husband told my older two girls (A, and J, age 8 for two more days) that he would bring them McDonalds for lunch as a treat. My youngest daughter (M, age 6) would wait for another day because she eats lunch an hour and a half before the other girls. I decided to bring McDonalds to M and asked her what she wanted. She, of course, asked for a Happy Meal. J, my middle daughter, immediately yells, “That’s not fair. Daddy is not bringing ME a Happy Meal. I’m getting a chicken sandwich.” (Note: I’m cheap, or frugal. No, I’m CHEAP most of the time and encourage the girls to get the dollar chicken sandwich. I’m progressing from cheapness. When the girls were younger, I used to pack the girls sack lunches to go to the mall instead of buying food in the food court. We would try to sit at the tables that look like replica cars, or at the “airplane”, rows of bar stools).
I felt exceptionally gracious this morning, so out of the kindness of my heart, I decided to call my husband and ask if J could change her order to a Happy Meal. (I know some of you would have made her eat a chicken sandwich. I probably will next time). He agreed and my discussion with the girls began. I told her as parents we try to be fair, but life just isn’t fair. J never asked for a happy meal. Yet, she felt the injustice that her sister would get something “better”. J should have been excited for M. Instead, her jealousy resulted in anger. I explained that God teaches us to rejoice with others when they receive blessings, and not to be jealous, which may turn into bitterness.
I wanted a verse of truth, but I’m not hooked up to the internet. I literally opened my Bible to these verses (still in the bathroom of the YMCA, instead of Biblestudytools .com). These are not the verses I had in mind, but when I open to them and they speak truth on the subject I want, I call it a God thing.
James 3:14-16 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
Ouch! Truth hurts sometimes.
Who do you need to rejoice with instead of being jealous of? What is God teaching you about jealousy?
