Bench Warmer
Theme of the Week: Green-Eyed Monster
Bob Sorge
Friday, July 16, 2004
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Key Bible Verse: For jealousy and selfishness are not God's kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual … (James 3:15). Bonus Reading:James 3:13—18
"Have you ever played on a team where you spent a lot of time on the bench, watching your team's star player start every game, get the most playing time of anybody, and then also finish the game? You have a choice in that position; either you can be envious or you can decide to be glad he's on your team.
Flipping through a Chris-tian magazine one day, I kept coming across one name advertised for this event, for that cruise, for having written this book, and so on. Then on the best-seller list, his name—Max Lucado—was right there at the top.
I stopped and thought to myself, Why does this guy bug me? I've never met the man, and he bugs me. And just that quickly the Holy Spirit whispered in my heart, "Envy." I was envious of Max Lucado because it was his book that was the number one best-seller and not mine!
Well, I repented immediately, of course. But I discovered the following month, when reading the magazine, that somebody else was best-selling author that month.
I've come to realize that there'll always be somebody more gifted than me. Why can't I rejoice that they're on my team? So, by His grace, that's what I've purposed to do.
—Bob Sorge in Envy
Adapted from Envy: The Enemy Within (Regal, 2003) by permission.
My Response: Who is someone more gifted whom I'm glad to have on my team?
Thought to Apply: Envy is rebellion against God's leading in the lives of His children. It's saying God has no right to bless someone else more than you.
——Erwin Lutzer
Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click
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Sovereign Lord, keep me from envying the accomplishments of others. Instead, make me grateful for and content with the gifts You've entrusted to me.
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