Scripture

Do not fret because of evildoers; Do not be jealous of the wicked. For there will be no future for the evil one; The lamp of the wicked will go out.

~Proverbs 24:19-20, LSB

Quote

Jealously begins with full hands; it is fueled by the fear of loss. Envy begins with empty hands, lamenting what it does not have.

~Chuck Swindoll

The LSB is the only major translation that translates the Hebrew word qānā’ as jealously. All other translation use the word envy. The two words have something in common but obviously they have different definitions. Actually the Hebrew word for fret means to burn with passion and this certainly describes jealousy. It is possible that both are alluded to in Proverbs 24:19. I thought Swindoll’s explanation made sense: jealousy deals with what we have that we do not want to lose. A man can be jealous about his wife or even his possessions. Envy is wanting what the other man has: perhaps his wife or his possessions. There are many things that stir envy. We tend to envy those who are better looking, more intelligent, more gifted, more successful or even happier. Jealousy is not wanting the other to have what you have. Envy is wanting what he has that you don’t have. Either one stirs the passions and can make us miserable.

Swindoll presented a question that got me to thinking. He said, “What if you and all that you have were to be transplanted into a third world country?” Wow! Never had this thought before. I am happy here in Morgan Country and at Grace Point and Danville. Yes, we have a few millionaires on both sides of the County but I don’t envy any of them. They have more than I do but that is no problem because I have more than enough. June and I just returned from having lunch is a very expensive restaurant. Counting our tip, our meal was thirty-three dollars. You may be thinking, “That is not expensive.” Not to you perhaps but to us it’s pricy. We could have eaten at McDonalds for half that amount. I am kidding! We can afford a thirty-three dollar meal. I sat there and ate my food with no qualms. The restaurant was filled with people like us enjoying a meal. In a third world county I could not do this: I could not enjoy a delicious meal while there were a hundred hungry kids looking through the window. I just couldn’t and neither could June.

Think about folks, June and I are just common people here but in the third world we would be filthy rich. I wish Swindoll had kept this question to himself because it disturbs me. How could I be happy with so much wealth when everyone around me had so little and were fighting to survive? It is something to think about. Do you still want more, perhaps be a millionaire or a billionaire? Not me! I can’t hardly manage the responsibility I have now, and I sure don’t want more.

What are the lessons? The first is…Don’ envy the wealthy. Material wealth has no future. The big fire will get it someday.  I admire the highly a successful businessmen like Trump and millions of others but I don’t envy them. Some of these highly successful people are good to me and I appreciate what they do, but I do not want what they have, and I do not want to lose what I have. I guess I err on the side of jealously. I love being average, being a tiny fish in a huge pond, being content with what I have and the ability to help others. The greatest joy in my life, other than Jesus Himself, is the ability to give. Fifty years ago, June and I could not buy you a cup of coffee; today we could buy you a steak at Big Mike’s. We live in a small house thanks to a gracious landlord and we drive two of the cheapest vehicles on the road but this is the way we want it. The less we spend, the more we can give. Our grand kids think Big Mama is loaded and as far as I am concerned, that is the way it should be.

Extra

I could say much more about the subject above but I decided it was best to stop. I think most everyone has gotten some rain. Some got more than three inches and some got less. We don’t have any mud now but we did after the rain on Thursday. I praise the LORD for the rain.

I praise the LORD for two good services yesterday and for the divine intervention of the blessed Holy Spirit. I love it when He preaches. No one responded but I sensed the Spirit moving.

I hope you have a good Monday and a great week. Thanks for reading the blog and thanks to a certain man who paid for it. May the LORD bless him and you.