4love does not envy… (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
The dictionary defines envy as „discontented desire or resentment aroused by another’s possessions, achievements, or advantages.” A person who is discontent or resents others who have more things, talent, or a better job, is a person who doesn’t appreciate God’s love for him or her. If they would receive God’s love for them, a supernatural contentment would settle into their lives.
Discontentment is envy and is at the root of all temptation. Take Adam and Eve as an example. Before the devil could get them to sin, he had to make them discontented. That was no small chore. How do you make people who are living in perfection dissatisfied? They had no needs. They had never been hurt or abused. They couldn’t blame their actions on their dysfunctional family. However, the devil made them believe they were missing out on something. He made two people, living in paradise, dissatisfied with perfection. That’s amazing!
This shows us that contentment isn’t a state of being but a state of mind. If perfect people living in a perfect world could become discontented, then certainly imperfect people living in an imperfect world can be discontented. That’s why the Bible admonishes us to learn to be content in all states (Phil. 4:11). Only God’s love will give us the contentment we desire.
Ask the Lord for a deeper revelation of His love for you today. Realize that any discontentment is envy, and God’s love is the antidote for this crippling attitude. Being content in His love is what will keep you from temptation.
