Top X July 12, 2025 Devotional
July 12, 2025
PROVERBS 14:30 | 30 A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but jealousy makes the bones rot.
There is a feature of envy that is implied by the practice of comparison. Comparing our looks, wealth, popularity, or achievements to others puts our identity in an unstable position. There will always be people who are ahead of us in some way so we will always feel as if we have under achieved. Our successes will be diminished, and we may become bitter over the circumstances or people who have failed to recognize or reward us. We then begin to feel victimized. What should be sources of joy become sources of resentment, all because our blessings and achievements don’t match someone else's! Everyone else’s glories seem to feed our shame and inadequacy. There is no end to envy because there is always someone whose life seems better than our own.
Does the success of others threaten you?
Gracious God,
Check my resentment and help me develop a deep sense of thanksgiving for my mentors, supporters, friends, and encouragers.
Amen.
