Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a ESV
Today we start looking at some characteristics that love does not have. First on the list: Love does not envy. My dictionary says that to envy is to have a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another’s advantages, success, possessions, etc. Another definition is a feeling of grudging or somewhat admiring discontent aroused by the possessions, achievement, or qualities of another; or desiring to have for oneself something possessed by another. Basically, when I envy somebody, I’m making myself unhappy because I want something they have.
Love does not envy. If I love the way God wants me to, then I’ll be happy for someone because he’s got good things, be it possessions, talents, or position. I won’t focus on what I don’t have but be glad that my loved one is blessed.
So how do we see this quality in God? This one may be a little harder to recognize, because we’re talking about something that God is not, but think about it this way. God doesn’t begrudge me good things in even the tiniest way; in fact, all good things are gifts from Him.
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. - 1 Timothy 6:17 ESV
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. - James 1:17 ESV
I sometimes don’t recognize His gifts because I’m in the here and now and God has an eternal viewpoint. I might want one thing, like complete healing, but God gives me what I need, like energy to get through the day. This helps me to keep my eyes on Him, looking for the next thing. He constantly surprises me with unexpected gifts.
Think About: What good things has God blessed you with recently?
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