Nov
23
Natural Jealousy
Filed Under Devotional
The rule about actions and reactions is a solid axiom in science and human behavior. Wow, how we try to teach our children to be good losers!
I remember our son and daughter-in-law pressing home the point to our grandson. He understood the concept, but it came out a little skewed one day after a baseball game when he shouted out to a teammate, “Great job at not being so bad today!” A valiant attempt.
The fact is that the natural reaction is to hate losing and to direct that emotion, at some level, towards the winner. Jealousy and malice are in our DNA and we have to learn to control it.
“Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.” Genesis 4:8
“Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.” Genesis 27:5
“Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?’ Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.” 1 Samuel 18:8-9
Prayer: Father, help me to have joy for those that, through honest effort, do better than me and leave the others to you.