Have you ever looked at someone who was being blessed by God and thought…”Why isn’t God blessing me like that?”
Perhaps it is someone in ministry. Or someone in the same business you are in. Maybe even someone who is believing for the same thing you are believing for and their answer comes before yours does.
Perhaps it is as simple as someone whom God has tremendously blessed their tithe and giving. Maybe you say in your heart, “I am a tither and giver, why isn’t God blessing me?”
Whatever the situation is, if you are asking yourself that question, be careful.
Those words are seeds. If those seeds remain in your heart and thoughts, they will produce a harvest. And not a good one.
James 3:13-18 says, Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
The word meekness in this scripture is defined in the Webster’s 1828 Dictionary as; humility, resignation, submission to the divine will, without murmuring or peevishness, opposed to pride, arrogance and refractoriness.
If we are comparing ourselves to others. If we are critical of others, even in the privacy of our thoughts, it is rooted in pride. Pride, as we know, goes before a fall. On the other hand, James 4:6 says God gives grace or favor to the humble.
In the Passion Translation, James 3 says, If you consider yourself to be wise and one who understands the ways of God, advertise it with a beautiful, fruitful life guided by wisdom’s gentleness. Never brag or boast about what you’ve done and you’ll prove that you’re truly wise. But if there is bitter jealousy or competition hiding in your heart, then don’t deny it and try to compensate for it by boasting and being phony. For that has nothing to do with God’s heavenly wisdom but can best be described as the wisdom of this world, both selfish[b] and devilish. So wherever jealousy and selfishness are uncovered, you will also find many troubles and every kind of meanness. But the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form and it always bears the beautiful harvest of righteousness! Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace.
The Amplified Bible goes a little deeper, to say it this way;
Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his good deeds with the gentleness and humility of true wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be arrogant, and as a result be in defiance of the truth. This superficial wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, secular, natural, unspiritual, even demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder unrest, rebellion and every evil thing and morally degrading practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, morally and spiritually undefiled, then peace-loving, courteous, considerate, gentle, reasonable and willing to listen, full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without self-righteous hypocrisy and self-serving guile. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness, spiritual maturity is sown in peace by those who make peace, by actively encouraging goodwill between individuals.
Our view of others reveals what is in our heart. Either pride or humility. If we allow ourselves to be critical of others who are being blessed, God is not pleased. The word of God says if we have bitter jealousy or selfish ambition it is demonic. That, my friend, should be an eye opener.
If we become jealous of someone, it will not stop there. If we allow those thoughts to continue, we will become critical and judgmental of them. That is not the heart of God. Not at all.
The scripture goes on to say when we allow jealousy and self-ambition to exist there is unrest. There is disorder. Rebellion is present, and it opens the door for every evil thing.
As I said earlier, jealousy and self-seeking will produce a harvest you do not want…unrest, confusion and every evil work. Check your heart today and rid it of any jealousy or selfish ambition…in doing so, you will ensure a harvest of peace and righteousness.
Appoint My Days
I will not allow the word of God to depart from my mouth or my thoughts! I will meditate on it day and night. I will have success in all that I do, for I have committed all that I am and all that I have to the Lord!
Joshua 1:8, Proverbs 16:3
