Jealousy, Envy, and Selfish Ambition

Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his good works with the unobtrusive humility which is the proper attribute of true wisdom.

But if you have bitter jealousy, envy, contention, rivalry, and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the Truth.

This superficial wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual animal, even devilish (demoniacal).

For wherever there is jealousy, envy, and contention, rivalry, and selfish ambition, there will also be confusion, unrest, disharmony, rebellion and all sorts of evil and vile practices. - James 3: 13-16

Jealousy and envy are ugly emotions. Throw in selfish ambition and you have a recipe for pain, sin, and heart ache. It is a very sad thing when churches, ministries, pastors, and Christian businesses compete or try to one up each other...or "be better."

A while ago I read over some book proposal guidelines for a few Christian publishing companies. One of the things that they want is for the writer to investigate books that will be in "competition" with their book. I felt a sting in my gut when I read that. Don't misunderstand me, I understand that it is a business.

However, when it comes to the Body of Christ there should be something deeper going on then just "business." Should we "compete?" Shouldn't we ALL have the same goal?? Shouldn't we TRUST God? Doesn't He OWN everything anyway???

We, as Christian have a calling to help the lost and encourage other Believers. There should be a sense of us all striving for the same things...to PLEASE the Lord and help others. Not compete, beat, and get ahead.

There are even rivalries in churches. There are denominational lines, my church is bigger than your church syndrome, we have the better church disease, our music is better than so and so's church, and many more.

Why?

What exactly are we competing for? Do we really think that God is smiling at such behavior? Didn't Jesus say to love one another. To love our neighbor as we love ourselves? Shouldn't the Church as a whole be concentrating on supporting one another?

I believe that rivalry, selfish ambition, and jealousy are one of the causes to the lack of power in the Church today. If we got over ourselves, stood together, and supported each other we would change the world! For sure! We would be a force. We would be UNITED. Can you imagine a world where Christians actually ACTED like CHRISTIANS???

Hmmm...Something to think about, eh?

Let's Pray,

Daddy God, Please forgive me for ever feeling envy, jealousy, or trying to compete with my brothers and sisters. Forgive me for not acting in a manner that pleases You and brings glory to Your Name. I ask that you help me to be a blessing to all people. I pray that you show me ways that I can be a bless others. Help me to love and let go of any and ALL envy, rivalry, jealousy, and selfish ambitions that I may have. Thank You. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

Blessing and Cursing

With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God's likeness!

Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.

Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter?

Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water. - James 3:9-12


Two faced "tongue"...or sword! Do YOU have one?

We have all been guilty of this to some degree. We put on a smile to someone's face and when they are not around we say something rude about them or maybe we participate by listening to gossip about them.

Another example is when you see a woman at church not dressed as conservatively as she should be...or even at the mall...then you may say something not so nice about her because of how YOU feel about her outfit. The real issue is US...NOT her! God does not see her that way. He LOVES her and sees beyond that aspect of her. As followers of Christ, shouldn't we? Who are we to judge anyone?

It can also be something simpler...

Have you ever been nice to someone's face, but then not ever want to get to know them because of status, preconceived ideas you have about them, or some other issue that has nothing to do with being a follower of Christ.

We are daughters to the King of Kings. We should never allow our mouths to become something that brings dishonor to God's Holy Name. When people of the world see us participating in gossip or speak rudely about another person it gives our Savior a bad rap.

Or, in the modern world we live in, if we post negatively about someone on our blogs, in chat rooms, forums or PM's, WHO are we really representing? Surely not Christ??

This behavior gives the world yet another reason to scoff at the Church. When we participate in such talk and behavior, we look like hypocrites. We "say" that we are Christians and then we speak like heathens. We need to remember that we are the ONLY bible that some people will ever read.

We also need to remember that we can affect other Christians too, especially baby Christians. We can either turn them off or mislead them into behaving as sinfully as we are. So, it is always best in all circumstances to speak with love and kindness. We should use our mouths to be a blessing to all who hear us no matter what and no matter who!

Another thing that stands out for me is our dialog. If we cuss and swear when we talk not only do we look uneducated, but we are speaking in a manner that we don't even allow our children to. In school, if a child swears they are disciplined. Why is it OK for us adults to do it?

Look at what these Scriptures say...

Galatians 6:7-10:

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

OUCH! We better be VERY careful WHAT we are sowing, ladies!

I look at it this way. If I tell my children they shouldn't do something, should I be doing it? What will I be teaching them? Living as a person who says, "do as I say, not as I do" is nothing more than a hypocrite. And that my dear sisters will cause our children to run from God not to Him when they grow up.

My point: Speak well of others no matter what and speak like intelligent God loving Christian women! Show LOVE...or should I say "SOW" love to ALL people...NO matter WHAT!

Our God deserves nothing less!

Let's pray,

Daddy God, please, forgive me for ever speaking badly about another person. Forgive me for ever participating in gossip. Forgive me for ever using foul language. Forgive me for ever being judgemental, critical, or unloving to others. I repent and submit my mouth, heart, and mind to You and Your ways. I ask that You help me to always remember that I was bought with a very high price. And because of that I only want to bring glory and honor to Your Precious Name with my tongue. I ask that you help me to cultivate a LOVE walk and to see other the way YOU do. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.

Copyright © Lara Velez

How to Gain Control of the Tongue

If we set bits in the horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about.
Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!

And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man's nature), being itself ignited by hell.

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human genius.

But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless, undisciplined, irreconcilable, evil, and full of deadly poison. - James 3:3-8

I think that the tongue can be the most destructive force in a persons life. I think that what James is telling us in these Scriptures must be taken very seriously. The tongue is not to be taken lightly.

I agree that the tongue cannot be tamed. However, if we prevent the tongue from ever becoming contaminated we will have no need to tame it. It will already be under the authority of the Lord.

I believe that our battle with the tongue begins in the mind. II Corinthians 10:5b says; ...and we lead every thought and purpose captive into the obedience of Christ. We need to submit before there is ever a word said. When an unclean, wicked, or useless thought enters our mind, that is when we must reject it and submit it to the Lord.

Let me try to give you a practical example...

Let's say that you and your husband are having a nice day, and you decide to make it nicer by going for a walk. While on your walk a very attractive and scantily clad young woman walks into your husband's line of sight. You see him take a quick peak and move on. At first you say nothing. However, you are thinking up a storm. You are thinking one or more thoughts like these; "Who does he think he is?, I can't believe that he checked out that bimbo!, What a jerk!, How could he do that with me walking right next to him?, I guess I can't blame him...I wish I had a body like that." (You may think different negative thoughts. These were just for my example.)

After a few minutes of useless pondering you may say something like; "I saw you looking at that woman, and I don't appreciate it!" Then he may respond; "What woman?" Then you lose your cool and a fight begins. Why? Because you let your thoughts run amuck. Then you allowed them to form words that are pointless to say.

The point is, think about what you're thinking. If the thoughts are negative or have the ability to go to places that are unhealthy or pointless, then lay them down. Hold EVERY thought captive under the authority of Jesus Christ. Then they will never become a hurricane like force of words that have the power to destroy relationships. This was just one example. You can use this same concept with just about any annoying or troublesome situation.

Let's pray;

Daddy God, please help me to gain control of my thought life. Help me to pay closer attention to what I am allowing myself to think. I want my thought life to be pleasing to You. Help me to recognize my thought before it becomes a sinful and hurtful word. Thank You for Your Word and for loving me enough to warn me of my tongues potential power for destruction. In Jesus Mighty name, Amen.

Forgiving Yourself

For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech, never says the wrong things, he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature. - James 3:2

This is a very important Scripture to understand for those of us who beat ourselves up with every mistake we make.

I am one of those. I catch myself sometimes, dwelling on what I could have done, should have done, or how all my problems must somehow be because I am not good enough. I can hear the enemy whisper in my ear..."you are just God's 'step child,' you will never measure up." I do my best to fight him and his horrible mental attack. However, there are times when a grenade will slip past my shield and I will receive it and find myself wondering if it IS true!!

We must all understand that we will never be perfect while we live on earth. We can't. It is IMPOSSIBLE. There was only One perfect person and that was Jesus. He was the Only One and there will NEVER be another.

He died so that we no longer have to be slaves to sin. We will still sin, but it no longer has to control our lives. We have the power to overcome sin. As we grow in the Lord, we will most definitely sin less. The closer you get to God, the less and less you will want to sin. However, we are still human in human bodies. We still have a flesh and are still capable of making mistakes.

When we make a mistake, God wants us to repent and then receive His forgiveness. You see, when we ask Him to forgive us, He forgets. He chooses to no longer remember the wrong that we did.

Keep in mind, this doesn't give us license to sin...that can be a dangerous game and is another subject. It does, however, give us the assurance that when we make a mistake, God loves us and will forgive us when we truly repent.

We are the ones who have a problem forgetting. We are the ones who seem to have this ridiculous desire to have a self loathing pity party that never ends. Who are we to throw the gift of forgiveness back in the Fathers face?

If He forgets our mistakes, shouldn't we?

Let's pray,

Daddy God, thank You for loving me and being quick to forgive me when I mess up. Lord, I ask that You help me to forgive myself. I ask that You help me to receive Your forgiveness when I ask for it and then pick myself up and move on. The precious gift you have given me is sometimes overwhelming. I cannot always understand how You can love me so much. I will choose from this day on to accept Your forgiveness and press on! In Jesus Mighty, Loving, and FORGIVING Name, Amen.