16

Jump Start # 938

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 938

 

1 Samuel 16:12 “So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the Lord said, ‘Arise, anoint him; for this is he.’”

This week our Jump Starts are going to focus upon David. There is more about David than any other O.T. character. His resume is impressive: king of Israel, writer of Psalms, giant killer, after the heart of God. In the N.T., Jesus is referred to as the “son of David” several times. Christ is the descendent of David and sits upon his throne. David is impressive, incredible and very human. When he is doing well, it’s hard to beat David. When he fails, he really fails.

 

Our passage today is where the story of David begins. He is a teenager watching the family sheep out in the field. God was so disappointed with King Saul that a new leader was sought. God already knew who He wanted. Samuel, the prophet is set to the home of Jesse. Jesse had 8 sons. The fact that David is out watching the sheep tells us that they were not a wealthy family. People of substance would hire servants to do that task. David, most likely followed each of this brother’s footsteps. As soon as the next in line was old enough he was sent out to watch the sheep. I expect all eight boys had spent their time in the fields watching sheep.

Shepherding wasn’t a glamorous job. It was very lonely. The sheep were not in pens but out in the meadows. They had to be watched. They were easy targets for wolves and they would wander off if not looked after. While the family was in the warm house eating a meal together, the shepherd was out eating his meal alone watching the sheep. While the family slept in a warm bed, the shepherd slept out under the stars. There was no one to talk to while watching sheep. No cell phone…no Ipad…no Ipod…no gameboy…no earbuds to listen to music…no angry birds to play…just the shepherd and his imagination. I think an afternoon of that today for most teenagers would drive them batty. They would be so bored that they couldn’t stand it. While alone with the sheep, David did something that his brothers never did. He connected with God. Many of the Psalms reflect the outdoor universe that the shepherd would have experienced. David seemed to capture that and use it to grow a faith and a relationship with the Lord. Instead of wasting time wishing he was somewhere else. Instead of day dreaming about a bunch of nothing; instead of getting into trouble, David connected with God. With his harp he made his own music. Many of the Psalms were songs. Songs that David sung while out with the sheep. He wasn’t singing the top 40, he was singing praises to God.

This is why God chose David. Up to this point all David had done was watch sheep. He hadn’t severed in the military. There is nothing that tells us that he excelled in studies. He didn’t show any traits of great leadership. A teenager alone with the sheep. Yet he wasn’t alone. Nor did he waste his time. God saw something. God chose him to be the next king of Israel. A kid who knew nothing about armies, policy, foreign affairs, the workings of government, law or even working with people—God chose him. There was something that God saw. Something on the inside. Something that would grow and nurture into a great king.

There are lessons for us right here.

First, don’t give up on all young people. Don’t think that they are all shallow, unspiritual and lazy. David wasn’t. I’ve seen teenagers across this country who are excelling in what they are doing. Kind, helpful, faithful and loving the Lord—many of us “grown ups” could learn from them. Give them a chance. God did with David. Use them. God did with David. It’s tough being their age. Most of their classmates don’t have a clue, a moral guide, or any idea of what they should do beyond Friday. Dysfunctional homes are the norm any more. It’s hard on young people. When you see those who are trying, give them a hug and let them know you are proud of them. Do something for them that will be meaningful.

Second, we all have periods in which we are alone with the sheep. It may be long periods of time or it may be just short moments within a day.  Summer jobs can seem like time alone time with the sheep. Home with little babies can seem like that. Traveling on business can seem that way. Away in college is like that. Staying out with the sheep was not a career move. It’s not what David wanted to do for the next twenty years of his life. His brothers did it and moved on. Now it was his turn. We all have been there. Those cruddy summer jobs. I once worked for a place that raised gold fish and shipped them all over the world. There was a crew that sorted the fish. There was a crew that brought the fish in from the ponds. There was a packing and shipping crew. In the process of all of this, some of the fish didn’t make it. Massive trash cans were placed along the tables so the dead fish could be scooted off into the trash cans. There they remained. Dead fish. Until the trash cans were nearly over flowing then it was my job to load those heavy trash cans into the back of an old beat up pickup that was full of flies and drive it to a hill and dump them where about twenty years of dead fish lay rotting. The smell was overwhelming. I nearly tossed my cookies every time I did it and I had to do it once a week. I look back now and I never did what David did. I hated that job. I dreamed of getting out just as quick as I could. I longed for college to start so I could leave that job. There are ugly parts of shepherding as well. Sheep don’t do well with bugs, especially the ones that get in their ears. They can’t scratch their ears like a dog can. It drives the sheep crazy. Their only relief is when the shepherd puts his fingers into the sheep’s ears and pulls the bugs out. UGH. That’s probably worse than dead fish. Yet we don’t find David cursing his birth order, wishing to be somewhere else, wasting the day throwing rocks—he connected with God. He saw God in the hills. He saw God in the stars. He thought. He meditated. He reflected. He was spiritual.

I wonder how much time we waste wishing we were somewhere else, doing something else? Could we use the time to pray? Could we use the time to help someone? Could we use the time to be more spiritual? Waiting in traffic…pray or check the email? Sitting in study hall…doddle on paper or connect with God? Sitting in the doctor’s office…read the office magazines or reflect spiritually?

We all have times like David. God saw something in that teenager. He didn’t have his dad telling him to pray and think about God. He was out alone and chose to do that on his own. He didn’t have a preacher giving him assignments for the week. David’s heart led him to God.

 

What a great beginning…no wonder God saw something there. He was different than his brothers. He chose God. I wonder how we’d do with the sheep?

Roger

 

13

Jump Start # 937

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 937

 

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

 

This week we have taken a look at a few negative attitudes that we often carry with us. Those attitudes affect our relationship with God and they tarnish our relationships with others. Some of these are so common and ingrained within our culture that we accept them without realizing that this is not the way God wants us to be. Our series has taken us through guilt, jealousy, anger and hatred. Many of those are connected together. It is not uncommon to witness these all in one day.

 

Unfortunately, there are many more that we could have included in this list. In the works of the flesh Paul lists: enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying. To Timothy, Paul warned that there would be some who are:  lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

What ugly lists. Why do people become consumed with these things? Why do they allow themselves to think this way? Many, do not know God. Many grew up with these attitudes being the norm. Many do not know any other way. Most of this can be summed up by the expression, “stinkin’ thinkin’”. Stinkin’ thinkin’ leads to stinkin’ behavior. Stinkin’ thinkin’ is very contagious. One person starts gossiping and soon every one else jumps in and does the same. One person starts being negative and the whole conversation turns sour. That’s what stinkin’ thinkin’ does. It dominates the work place. It is all too common at home. It is found much too often among God’s people. We accept it. We get used to it. We join in with it.

Our passage today is often directed toward behavior, but it begins with our attitudes and our way of thinking. Do not be conformed to this world—that is true in dress, attitude, lifestyle, morals, behavior and in thinking. Conformity means to go along with, blend in, accept, be a part of. The world is drifting downstream. We are upstream people. Paul told the Thessalonian church that we are of the day and not of the night. We can’t change the world, but we can certainly change ourselves. It begins with our thinking.

Renew the mind. Make the mind new. Think new. Think like Jesus. Throw out those stinky thoughts that hurt others. Through out those mean things that shouldn’t be said. Throw out this obsession the world has with self. Have this mind in you that existed in Christ. Put on the mind of Christ is what the Philippians were told. Renew. Fresh. Godly. Righteous. Good.

 

It’s time to get back in the driver’s seat of our thinking and not let the nightly news determine what kind of mood we will be in. Do not let the weather determine your spirit. Do not let the work place, the class room, or even the church house set the tone for how you feel and think. Rise above that and renew, make new, that mind.

 

Easy to say, hard to do. Hard to do when all you see is stinkin’ thinkin’. It’s hard when stinkin’ thinkin’ makes you think that way. In many ways what our verse is telling us is to take leadership of our mind. Instead of being a follower and doing what everyone else is doing, take the lead. Renew…do not be conformed…prove what is acceptable to God. Your thinking is going a different direction than others. Your thinking is based upon other things. Your thinking sees beyond the obvious. Your thinking is dominated by the word of God and you see the big picture of things.

 

The opposite of renew is staying old. Old paint on a wall looks dull and dirty. Old salad needs to be pitched. Old thinking doesn’t cut it. Renew. Refresh. Thinking from above. This is what Paul is driving at.

Our culture is dark and negative. The Christian isn’t. Our culture is mean and selfish. The Christian isn’t. Our culture is stuck on ‘woe is me.’ The Christian isn’t. Our culture’s favorite song is: “Gloom, despair and agony on me.” The Christian isn’t singing that song. We live here but we are not from here. We live here but we belong somewhere else. We live here but we are different than the natives here. We don’t fit in. We don’t belong. We are not comfortable. We are sojourners that are passing through. This world is not our home is our song. The thinking of this world is not our thinking.

 

The Christian ought to be the fountain of hope, optimism and answers. He ought to be the breath of fresh air in a hot and stale world. All of this comes from our thinking.

Renew your mind. Today would be a great day to start!

Roger

 

12

Jump Start # 936

Posted on September 12, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 936

Titus 3:3 “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.”

 

This week we have been looking at some of the unpleasant and even wrong emotions that we have to deal with. Emotions such as anger, jealousy and guilt. These often get the best of us. They are so regular in our life that they can seem normal. We even have a game on our phones called, “Angry birds.” It’s not just birds, it’s ANGRY birds. I’m just waiting for someone at church to start leading the song, “Angry Birds…” instead of “Angry Words.” Our verse today reveals yet another emotion that is often found within our hearts. I wish there weren’t so many of these, but there are. I find this laundry list of “bad thinking” more than an interesting and technical study but a reality check. These are the things that we face. These are the things we must fight, control and conquer through Jesus. We can appear so sweet and pleasant at times and then become so mean and ugly at other times. All of this reminds us that we are a work in progress. The work is not finished. God is not done with us.

Our passage reminds us that we all have a past, even the apostle that wrote these words. Our past can trip us and keep us from excelling as we ought to. Our past can rise up and some days it seems that our past isn’t really past at all.

 

I want to give special notice to the final words in this verse. Paul said that we, including himself, was hateful and hating one another. Hate. Hatred. That cursed feeling toward others ruins relationships and keeps us at a distance with others.

 

Paul, as a Jew, had a long list of those that he would have hated. Jews hated Gentiles. Jews hated Samaritans. Jews hated Christians. Jews hated Romans. Jews hated tax collectors. Jews, sometimes, even hated other Jews, especially those who were not of the same group. Many Jews grew up learning to hate. Many of us have done the same. Some hate “foreigners.” Some hate those of a different race. Some in the middle of the country hate those who live on either coast. Those on the coast hate those in the middle. Republicans hate democrats and democrats hate republicans. I went to Purdue University—we had strong feelings against Indiana University and especially Notre Dame. Dislike and hate are not the same level. I dislike seeing people throw trash out their car windows. That dislike would never lead me to doing anything mean to them. Hatred will go that far. Because of hatred, some have no limits what they could do to another person.

 

I have found that hatred can be taught. A child can grow up in a home with prejudice and evil speaking toward a group of people is as common as mashed potatoes. Unless there is some real effort, that child will become an adult with the same hatred. A lot of hatred is generic. It’s not toward a specific person, but toward a group of people. Often, hatred is not based upon anything personal, but something that they heard about. Hatred is often founded upon misinformation and ignorance. We don’t want to admit that, but that is the truth.

 

The Jews were comfortable with hating their enemies. Jesus referred to this in the sermon on the mount. There Jesus said to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Jesus, who died for all, has no room for hatred in His kingdom.

 

Even among those who follow Jesus, I have seen hatred. There is a hatred toward those who worship differently. Mean things are said about “those people.” Some would not go out of their way for “them.” Hatred does that. It builds walls, instead of bridges. It isolates instead of reaching out. Hatred uses words like “us” and “them.” The “us” is right. The “them” are wrong. Haters will not go out of their way for “them,” because they are not one of “us.”

I’ve also seen that hatred lives next door to fear. Being afraid of someone or something has led to hating them. You won’t find a hater praying for the one he hates. That doesn’t happen. You won’t find one with hatred going out of his way for the one he hates. Doesn’t happen.

 

Our verse reminds us that Paul and others once hated. Christ changed them. It is possible for a person who hates to stop hating. It is possible for someone who grew up in a home filled with hatred to overcome that and be the spirit that Jesus wants. It can happen. Paul and those with him are proof of that. Paul once hated. He stopped that. He no longer hated. He changed.

You start chipping away hatred when you realize that each of us are made in the image of God. All of us—black, white; American and all nations. It helps realizing that Jesus died for all, including the guy I hate. Jesus loved the guy I hate. Jesus wants the guy I hate to spend forever in Heaven. If Jesus wants that, what’s my problem?

 

Then you start thinking about all of this and it makes you realize that the hatred that you have held in your heart has not made you a better person. Your spouse never says, “I’m so glad you hate. It’s made you such a delightful person.” The church will never hold your hand up for hating others. No, hatred makes us miserable. It eats at us. Hatred makes us think dark thoughts that we shouldn’t have. Hatred nourishes the bad attitudes that leads to more trouble. Hatred doesn’t do any good at all.

Next, it starts coming to your mind that God may very well be more pleased with the guy you hate than He is with you, especially since you harbor hatred in your hearts. Hatred doesn’t make you more Christ like. It isn’t something that we admire in others. We don’t like to be on the receiving end of hatred. Christians are. Jesus said that would happen. People love darkness more than light. Christians are light—so it figures that we will be hated. We will be hunted down. We will be the made fun of. We will be tried and tested. We are hated, however we do not hate in return.

 

Then you start praying, really praying for the person that bothers you so much. You pray about that co-worker—not that a dump truck would pull out in front of him. No. You pray that he has a good day. You pray that he follows Jesus. You pray that God can use you to show him Jesus. You pray that you have better feelings toward him. You pray to see good in him. You pray and pray and pray. The more praying you are doing, the less hating you will be doing.

 

Will people still bug you? Of course. Will some people be rude? Yes. Will some co-workers continue to work the system and be lazy? Yes. Will some church members drive you batty? Certainly. Will your patience be tried? Yes. Will some push your buttons? Yes. Are there days that you feel like a one way vacation? Yes. With some, will you have to count to ten? With some, you may have to count to one hundred! Will you be hated by others? Yes. But, even with all of this, you do not HATE. You want the best for them. This is God’s way.

We can never be what God wants as long as hatred rules our hearts. This is easier for some than others. Still, it can be done.

 

We were once haters…been there. But not any more, thanks to Jesus. Be honest here. Do you need to do some heart surgery and remove some hatred? Get about it.

You’ll be glad once you’ve conquered this. Others will notice, especially God.

Roger

 

 

 

11

Jump Starts # 935

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 935

Ephesians 4:26-27 “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”

 

This week we are looking at some of the negative emotions that we often must learn to conquer in our daily walk with the Lord. So far we have taken a look at guilt and jealousy. Today, we consider anger.

 

Anger comes with many labels such as: mad, fuming, blow a gasket, blow my top, tiff, furry, rage, inflamed, vexed. Anger comes in several degrees, from mildly irritated to ready to punch someone’s lights out. We are not our best when we are mad. Our voice becomes louder and we talk faster, our blood pressure rises and nothing else seems to matter when we are mad. The trail of destruction that follows anger is not pretty. Holes punched in walls, chewed out co-workers, cussing, throwing things, making a scene, to being arrested for disorderly conduct.

 

It seems to me that we live in an angry society. The movies and music are angry. Violence is all too common in schools, work places and road ways. Our tolerance and patience is running thin as a country. It doesn’t take much to set some people off.

 

Our passage helps us to understand how God’s people are to deal with anger.

First, the passage does not say NEVER be angry. That’s not going to happen. That’s not good. Things ought to bother us. Things ought to out rage us. What those things are and how we deal with them are a different matter. It’s not fair, nor Biblical to say “Never get angry.” The hurting of the innocent, the mockery of God, the advancement of false ideas ought to bother us, anger us and drive us to positive actions.

 

Too often, we let little things get us angry. We get more upset over a scratch on our car than the misuse of God’s word. It’s the personal things that seem to make us steamed up the most.

Second, the passage list two negatives, two “do nots.” Do not let the sun go down on your anger. Deal with your anger quickly. The more your anger simmers the madder you become. Anger doesn’t improve with time. The more you stew over something the more you start thinking of getting someone back. Revenge often follows anger.

 

The second do not is “Do not give the devil an opportunity.” Anger does just that. It is a formal invitation to Satan to come into my heart and mess things up. Out goes love, prayer, fellowship and goodness. It is replaced with hostility, hatred, violence and finding a way to get even. Anger is opening the door to Satan. Anger is not the worst thing that can happen. Violence, hasty decisions, cursing, hateful words can cause lasting damage. Long after you have cooled down from being mad, someone you love will remember the cold statement, “I don’t love you.” Apologize all you want, you said it. Come up with a dozen reasons why you said that, stress from work, not feeling well, bothered by this, yet, they will remember you said it. Flowers won’t erase those words. The damage has been done. It can be recovered but it is hard. The devil smiles.

 

Harsh and angry words said at church can be apologized for, but the damage is done. Satan smiles. The cruel things said at work can lead to you being fired. The angry way you disciplined your children can make them afraid of you. Your quick temper will keep brethren from putting you in a leadership role at church. Your path of destruction embarrasses your family, shames your spouse and makes people wonder what is wrong with you. And Satan smiles.

 

Anger, like a mean dog, needs to be put on a short leash. You need to watch it and work on it. All the good you do can be destroyed by one angry moment.  A couple of suggestions: do not let anger come from the pulpit. The pulpit is the platform to preach God’s word and not be used as a whipping post. Angry sermons do not make good sermons. Calm down preacher. Take a breath. Take a vacation. Get focused. Chewing the brethren out from the pulpit, when it’s a one way conversation is not only not fair, it’s not what God wants from His preachers. Secondly, parents do not discipline when mad. Our kids can really make us mad sometimes. The spanking of discipline and the spanking of anger are not the same. Discipline involves instruction and changing behavior. Anger leads to abuse and injury. Calm down parent. Don’t say things that you will later regret. Don’t go overboard with things. There are days that the thought of sending our kids to the moon seems very inviting. Go join the circus is another great idea that crosses the mind of an angry parent. It’s easy to go to extremes when angry.

 

Well, what am I supposed to do? I get mad. First, as Proverbs teaches us, the one who controls the spirit is greater than the one who conquers the city. Instead of being controlled by anger and going for a ride, hold on to the reigns and you control your spirit. Find ways to think, calm down and be reasonable and rationale. Righteousness is not achieved through anger, James tells us. I have found that the less I say the better I am when I am mad. Didn’t always do this in the past. Blood boiled and I let others know it. Not good. Recognize your emotions and take control.

 

The two “do not’s” remind us that we are in control. Saying, ‘I can’t help it because I was mad,’ doesn’t fly with God. Do Not…Do Not. You hold the reigns to your emotions.

Find a time and a positive way to deal with what bothers you. Some things are out of our control and getting mad doesn’t put us in control. You may have planned an out door event and it rains like dogs and cats. That forces you to change things. Getting mad and staying mad at rain isn’t going to do anything but make you more miserable.

 

Usually when we are angry, we’ve put God on the sidelines. Mistake. Don’t do that. Keep God close. Pray. Consider passages like our verse today. Think, what would Jesus do.

When you lose your cool, get it back. Ask God for help and forgiveness. Work on patience. That is generally why we get so angry so quickly, we lack patience. That is a virtue.

Anger management—the best source is the Bible. The best example is Jesus.

Roger

 

10

Jump Start # 934

Posted on September 10, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 934

1 Samuel 18:7-8 “And the women sang as they played and said, ‘Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.’ 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?”

Yesterday in our Jump Starts we wrote about guilt. Another emotion that plagues many of us is jealousy. King Saul sure had a belly full of jealousy over young David. The nation was gripped in fear. The Philistines and Israel stood ready to go to war. The champion of the Philistines, Goliath, the giant, taunted Israel every day for forty days. He wanted a one on one challenge. Send out your best to fight is what the giant wanted. He was huge, seasoned and experienced. There is no one who could conquer Goliath. Not only was facing him certain death, it also meant that Israel would be captive. We know the story. Young David arrives bringing food for his brothers. He hears the taunts and decides right then to defend the name of God. Five smooth stones. Young David running toward the giant. A stone in the forehead brings the giant down. Off goes his head and the Philistines run. Israel goes after them. The nation is saved. Immediately David is a national hero. He comes home to a heroes welcome. A parade and the delight of the nation.

It’s been a long time since this nation has had a national hero. We have sports stars but that’s not the same. Earlier wars have produced heroes. During WW I, a Canadian pilot shot down the famous German Red Baron. He became a hero. Alvin York, Sgt. York, captured dozens of Germans all by himself in WW I and he became a hero. WW II produced several heroes. Brave soldiers risking their lives for the sake of freedom inspires an entire country.

For Israel, that’s what David was. He was the hero. All of this attention, praise and accolades stirred up a bitter and jealous spirit within King Saul. People like David more than they liked him. People thought David was better than he was. Our passage says that Saul became very angry. If you are familiar with this history you remember that Saul throws a spear at David at least twice, tries to have his men kill him at night and demands a dowry that would certainly bring his death. David escaped every time. Saul’s mental state collapses and he becomes obsessed with killing David. Saul ignores the nation and foreign affairs in the pursuit of killing David. His jealousy destroys him and takes over all clear judgment.

Jealousy will do just that. Some areas are more prone to jealousy than others. Sports and music are ripe with jealousy. Everyone wants to be on top and when it is someone else, the green monster of jealousy takes over. Wicked thoughts, trash talking, bitterness fill the heart.

A person doesn’t have to be a prize athlete or a major music star to be troubled with jealousy. It happens to us who live on main street. It’s every day at work. It thrives in neighborhoods and even among brethren in church. Some can’t hear a compliment toward another without thinking it’s a dig at them. A neighbor points out another neighbors nice landscaping. Immediately, the jealous person thinks, he must think my yard stinks. Someone compliments a song leader at church, another song leader hearing that thinks, ‘I must be a lousy song leader.’ Preachers, especially guest preachers, are too often given way too many compliments. The syrup is a bit heavy. The in house preacher after hearing all the praise begins to think it’s time for him to pack his bags. Jealous.

It’s been said that the hardest position to fill in the orchestra is SECOND violin. Everyone wants to be in the first chair. Jealous. Wanting the attention that is going to someone else. Saul wanted people to be singing about him. They weren’t. They were singing about David. The young shepherd boy was more important than the king at that moment.

Jealousy can ruin a marriage. It can lead to someone quitting a job. It can created headaches and tension at church between members. Jealousy feeds bitterness and anger and hatred. A dishonest person will try to undermine the person they are jealous of. They will try to destroy them and make them look bad. They will sabotage work projects. They will spread gossip and rumors about them. They will try to tarnish the praise that is going to the person they are jealous of. Jealousy is a miserable condition. A person doesn’t think well of the person they are jealous of.

We can be jealous of someone’s looks, ability, opportunities, and accomplishments. Face it some people are better than you. That’s hard when you are doing your best and others are still better than you.

God doesn’t want you to be jealous. One of the works of the flesh, in Galatians 5, is jealousy. It will keep you from Heaven. It affects the way you think and treat others. It distorts things and makes you think too much of yourself.

Do preachers get jealous of each other? Yes. Should we? No.

So, how do we deal with jealousy?

  •  Saul should have been leading the praise for David. Saul was shaking in his boots when Goliath taunted Israel. David was on his side. Teamwork and the team concept helps with jealousy. The quarterback gets the attention at the end of the game. However, he realizes without the coach, the plays, the blockers, the receivers, he’s nothing. He’s in the limelight, but there was a team that got the victory. Team work is the key in a marriage, a business, and a church. Leaders, such as Saul, can create the team atmosphere or they can fuel jealousy. Saul was not a team player. It was all about him. That led to his disaster. Jealousy is not so much about the ability of the other person as it is about my thinking. The proper view of self will go along way with keeping jealousy in place.

 

  •  When we are the one who is praised, include the team. Don’t forget the team. Honor the team. Our manner of handling compliments can make others jealous. There is no room for “I am the greatest” speeches. Have you ever noticed how many times Jesus talked about the “least in the kingdom.” That was important to Him. The Lord also said that the greatest in the kingdom would be the servant. Jealousy is lessened when those praised give attention to others.

 

  •  Don’t be too good to compliment others, and mean it. There are others who are better than you. Learn from them. Be thankful when they are on the same team as you are. Fake compliments are worthless. Be real. Appreciate good talent.

 

  •  Look to Jesus. He was humble. He didn’t need to tell others how great He was. He served. He listened. He cared. He allowed Himself to be interrupted. When asked, He went. He was there. People knew He cared. We can learn from that. Too good or too big to pick up a piece of paper off the floor? Better look in the mirror. Too talented to teach a kids class at church? Better look in the mirror. Too important to volunteer? Better look in the mirror. Society doesn’t get this. The big shots act like big shots. They don’t seem to care about the little guy. They seem to forget who buys the tickets that pays their salary. Disciples of Jesus are not to be this way. They are different. They are like Jesus.

 

  •  Pray for help. Jealousy doesn’t go away. Like mold, it seems to grow and spread. God doesn’t want you this way. Be honest with God in your closet prayers. Jealousy tends to make us think too little of self. Our value seems low when we are jealous of others. God doesn’t see you that way. You have talents. You have your own style and are gifted by God. Get busy and do what you can for the Lord.

Saul became very angry with David. How sad. He had a great help in David if he only had a better attitude about him. How are you doing with jealousy?

Roger