https://odb.org/MY/2022/02/28/choosing-celebration
I guess we cannot avoid making comparisons with our family, friends and colleagues as that is probably one of the ways we are able to know where we stand in relation to others, to form the basis to spur us to go from where we are. We want to progress in our career, ministry and life. Thus comparing ourselves against our parents, our siblings, relatives, friends and colleagues is natural and is not wrong. It’s just that sometimes comparisons give rise to envy and jealousy, and sometimes envy and jealousy could lead us to take more destructive action against the person we are envious of. Thus looking at it from the other perspective, it is also wise not to gloat and pride ourselves too much like a peacock if we are doing well as it could then invoke the envy of others.
How do we avoid envy and jealousy within us? Today’s ODB article suggests that the opposite of envy is celebration and thus we celebrate and be happy despite us lagging behind. I should add that we should work harder at what we do and focus on our work and life but I can see the goodness in celebrating instead of envy. This is because envy in most cases is self induced and thus self destructive. It is something like resentment and unforgiveness and bitterness. Envy just eats us from within and will consume our passion if we allow it to overpower us and take control.
Celebrate and be contented with our lot in life. Work harder if we want to be better. Train and practice more. Find ways to improve ourselves but at the base of it, celebrate what God has given us. Celebrate where we are now. Instead, focus on God’s plans and purposes for us. That is much more important than what we can and have achieved in our life. If we look at this in that perspective, we will see that our worldly and even ministry achievements are nothing compared to what God wants for us to be. That’s what matters most and that’s where most of our energies should be directed to. All others are just fringes. That is core. In the end, we run our own race and have our own finish line. Who reaches first or last does not matter at all, so long as we all reach our finish line and complete our own race. If it helps us to complete our race, by all means compare. If it causes envy and jealousy, resentment and bitterness, unforgiveness and hatred, then don’t. Let us all just commit unto Him our lives and our journey with Him that we will not be distracted by envy but be propelled to move forward by His calling upon our lives to fulfil His plans and purposes for us!
Ronnie's Thoughts 