Not What They Seem
Not What They Seem
Where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. (James 3:16)
As Trudy and I stood waiting for the three o’clock bell to dismiss our kids from school, Nina glided toward her luxury SUV. “Look at her,” I said to my friend. “She has a perfect life. She’s gorgeous. Her kids are smart. Her husband is wildly successful. They even have a second home. I wouldn’t mind a life like that.”
“Do you know her very well?” Trudy asked quietly.
“Not really. We haven’t talked much beyond the usual mom chat.”
Trudy paused. “Well, let’s just say, sometimes things aren’t what they seem.” The bell rang, and students came flooding out of the building, just as Trudy added, “You might want to pray for Nina and her family.”
“About what? How can I pray if I don’t know what to pray for?”
She gave a little wave and started toward her car. “God knows,” she called.
Frankly, I didn’t think about Nina again until the following week. That’s when I heard two moms in the pickup line saying that Nina’s husband had moved out. Shocked and saddened for them and ashamed of my envy, I prayed—really prayed—for them this time.
Envy can start with one seed and grow to monstrous proportions, leading to all sorts of other sins, like covetousness (“I wish I had that house or her car”), gossip (“Listen to what she did to get that promotion”), discontent (“Why didn’t God give me a husband like hers?”). If nurtured, envy can overtake a believer’s heart and choke the life and light right out of it. Follow the advice in 1 Peter 2:1: “Rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.” Ask God for a grateful heart and a generous spirit in its place.