Deadly Envy
- Thread starter christianguitarist
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
One word: Thankfulness. Human nature is to focus on what we don't have, which makes us dissatisfied with what we do have and leaves us continually unhappy. And getting what we wanted doesn't help because then we always want something else.
There's a reason the Bible repeatedly stresses being thankful. It keeps us appreciating what we do have.
There's a reason the Bible repeatedly stresses being thankful. It keeps us appreciating what we do have.
I should mention there is nothing wrong with wanting what you don't have. As I said to a friend the other day, aspiring to more than you have is a good thing. If it were not human nature to want more, we would all still be living in thatch huts and hunting for breakfast to cook over the fire.
The problem comes when we focus so much on what we don't have that we forget to appreciate all we do have.
The problem comes when we focus so much on what we don't have that we forget to appreciate all we do have.
S
I envy people who can afford things like a vacation, eating out, buying new clothes, newer car, etc. I can barely afford the basics on my income. I don't have to do all those things all the time but lets face it, never being able to do something fun gets pretty discouraging. But it bothers me most when my focus is on what I see others getting and on what I don't have. I have to get myself back to being grateful and thankful to the One who provides what we need even if we don't have a lot.
J
NO I have not struggled with this. I am blessed as I am alive, I have food to eat and a roof over my head. All blessings come because I work hard with GOD's help. Each week I serve those less fortunate and am reminded how truly blessed I am. YES I would love a vacation to Australia, however I am not envious of those I know who go. I am happy for them and know that some day I will get there. I feel you need to be happy that you are a live and see the GOOD and POSITIVE things around you. Otherwise many things can tear you down.
This is actually an EASY one. There have been several studies about practicing gratitude and how it benefits people. There are TWO major benefits of practicing gratitude--contentment and joy.
But here's the deal, it has to be a PRACTICE. So, it's not an "attitude of gratitude," but actual behaviors. Here are some suggestions:
1. Start a gratitude journal that you write in everyday.
2. Set a timer on your phone/watch and at a certain time each day, take a moment to think of all that you are grateful for.
3. If you already have a well-established scripture/prayer time, incorporate gratitude into that time. So, before or after you read the bible, list all that you're grateful for, OR before/after you pray consider all that you are grateful for.
4. Make a gratitude bulletin board (or you can use your fridge). On little slips of paper, write down what you are grateful for and put it on the board. Add to it each day.
5. Same as above, but put it in a jar. Add to it each day, and take time to read through them once a week, once a month, etc.
6. Do a "gratitude challenge" with a friend. Each day email or text each other a list of what you are grateful for.
etc.
etc.
Ultimately, you have to work it for it to work. Take on a regular practice and you'll begin to notice that your envy diminishes and your joy increases.
But here's the deal, it has to be a PRACTICE. So, it's not an "attitude of gratitude," but actual behaviors. Here are some suggestions:
1. Start a gratitude journal that you write in everyday.
2. Set a timer on your phone/watch and at a certain time each day, take a moment to think of all that you are grateful for.
3. If you already have a well-established scripture/prayer time, incorporate gratitude into that time. So, before or after you read the bible, list all that you're grateful for, OR before/after you pray consider all that you are grateful for.
4. Make a gratitude bulletin board (or you can use your fridge). On little slips of paper, write down what you are grateful for and put it on the board. Add to it each day.
5. Same as above, but put it in a jar. Add to it each day, and take time to read through them once a week, once a month, etc.
6. Do a "gratitude challenge" with a friend. Each day email or text each other a list of what you are grateful for.
etc.
etc.
Ultimately, you have to work it for it to work. Take on a regular practice and you'll begin to notice that your envy diminishes and your joy increases.
Believe me my friend when I say that those who have more or have found a partner are not as happy and content as we think they are. Having more money and more posessions comes with its own set of problems. You will have to pay higher taxes and give the government a higher percentage of your income; you will have to pay higher maintenance and insurance costs on the things you own, you will have to be wary of those who will try to take advantage of you (for example repairmen might charge you more because you have a big house or a nice car, or a woman might only like you for your money), you will have family members always asking for money and will get angry if you can't give them any, etc..
As for those who have partners.. they can't do stuff that their partner disapproves of. This might including eating certain foods, going certain places, wearing certain clothes, even saying certain things or acting a certain way. Also, when there is a disagreement it can ruin a whole night or a whole weekend or the other person can threaten a breakup, etc.. It can be an emotional rollercoaster. And then there's the head games (making the other person feel guilty, pretending there's nothing wrong when there obviously is, asking you tricky questions like "does this make me look fat?", jealousy, etc..).
All we tend to see is the positive side of having more or being in a relationship, but its really not all that..
As for those who have partners.. they can't do stuff that their partner disapproves of. This might including eating certain foods, going certain places, wearing certain clothes, even saying certain things or acting a certain way. Also, when there is a disagreement it can ruin a whole night or a whole weekend or the other person can threaten a breakup, etc.. It can be an emotional rollercoaster. And then there's the head games (making the other person feel guilty, pretending there's nothing wrong when there obviously is, asking you tricky questions like "does this make me look fat?", jealousy, etc..).
All we tend to see is the positive side of having more or being in a relationship, but its really not all that..
Last edited: