«Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing» (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
One symptom of envy that we usually overlook is the difficulty in recognizing and appreciating the talent of others. Someone stands on the church platform to sing a solo, but instead of appreciating the song, we become obsessed with the only note that wasn’t sung perfectly. A friend bakes a cake and gives us a piece to try, and we think: Not bad, but I would have put in less sugar and more lemon peel.
We generally don’t see this as envy. We justify it as honest assessments, or even as constructive criticisms. However, if we are not able to celebrate the achievements of others and rejoice for them from the heart, it is nothing more than camouflaged envy. In Siervos para su gloria [Servants for His glory], Miguel Angel Nuñez reflected, «When we have difficulty recognizing the talent of another, it is nothing but a sign of envy; we justify ourselves with phrases such as, ‘I can’t applaud others because then they might be proud,’ but the reality is that, in the Bible, we often find God praising many of His children.»
It is true: God spares no praise. God said that Moses was the humblest on the face of the earth (see Numbers 12:3). God said that Job was a blameless and upright man (Job 1:1). God said that David was a man according to His own heart (see Acts 13:22). The apostle Paul, following this example of identifying and appreciating talent in others, exhorted the brethren to imitate Timothy (see Philippians 2:19-24).
Our role is not to make sure that the people around us remain humble by skimping on praise and burdening them with criticism. Our role, Pastor Nunez says, «is to encourage the other, to build him up, to motivate him, to help him; and God takes care of the rest. This allows us to appreciate the talents of others.» Learning to detect and celebrate the talent of others will protect our hearts from envy.
Lord Jesus, please give me X-ray vision, like Superman’s so I can detect the talents of the people around me, and a big, generous heart, to rejoice in them.
Fill my mouth with words that build others up, confirm them in their calling, for the glory of Your name. Amen.
#WomensDevotional
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Perez & Angelica Cuate
