Which of the following are similar to the ways you've served Christ in your family? [check all that apply]
• Taught your kids to see God's glory in nature
• Washed the dishes without being asked
• Played a board game with your kids
• Encouraged your wife to finish her master's degree
• Attended a child's open house at school
• Worked fewer hours to be with your family
• Set an example of a godly prayer life for your children
• Held a crying child
• Swung on the tire swing with your daughter
• Told your wife why you're still in love with her
• Told your son he's got what it takes
• Coached soccer
• Let you child correct you now and then
• Fixed the vacuum cleaner
• Taught your sons to ride a bike
• Listened patiently to a complaint of your wife
• Taped your child's artwork to your office wall
• Admitted to your kids that you were wrong
• Told your children how Christ entered your life
• Cleaned up vomit
• Taught your children to love books
• Been romantic without expecting sex
• Told your daughter she's smart/beautiful
• Set standards for your kids and stuck to them
• Dealt graciously with a busybody neighbor
• Peeled carrots
• Watched movies together
Tilted Playing Field? Theme of the Week: Green-Eyed Monster Sunday, July 11, 2004
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Men of IntegrityJuly/August 2004Tilted Playing Field?Theme of the Week: Green-Eyed MonsterSunday, July 1174Who Said It
Bob Sorge was a pastor for 14 years, as well as a music director at Elim Bible Institute. But in 1992, he suffered a vocal injury that left his voice extremely weak and painful to use. He had to resign his pastorate, and still is unable to sing.
Now Bob writes and ministers by speaking at conferences and churches able to accommodate his restrictions. His books include Exploring Worship and Envy: The Enemy Within, largely based on his own spiritual journey.
What He Said
Before the injury, when I was young, energetic, and whole, some might have looked at my strengths and abilities and been tempted to a little envy. After the injury, I was more to be pitied.
Now it was my turn to deal with envy in my heart. While being crushed by the Lord, I was tempted to look with envy at those seemingly exempt from God's disciplining hand. I watched others appear to run and jump with liberty and joy while I sat in my cell and chafed against my chains. "Lord," I've been tempted to ask, "why doesn't my brother experience even a little of the pruning I'm experiencing? I'm not asking you to obliterate him, but couldn't You level the playing field a little?"
Following Jesus is itself a full-time job. If I give my undivided focus to that, I'll not fight as much with envy because I'll not be comparing my journey with someone else's. Although I may struggle at times with my lot in life, one day I'll fully understand the wisdom of the course God has marked out for me.
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