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I struggle daily with "anger." I suppose it is the "thorn" I have been given...........Now, that being said, my anger is not directed as yours is........mine is simply some thing happening that I did not expect to happen, or thought should not have happened, there being no logical reason for it happening.........and I can become angry because of it.
As I have continued my walk with and growth in Jesus Christ, I have gained more patience and understanding, and my anger has lessened, but I fully know it's a daily struggle and I must lean on Christ to defeat this thorn............
As for yours.............remember the Scripture that says God causes it to rain on the just and the unjust..........that is what makes God a Just God............We should not regret what others receive/have, rather rejoice for what blessings God bestows upon us..............for we are not to store up our treasures in this world, but in the world to come............Those who are not believers that seem to have so much earthly wealth and possessions have their reward.........but what reward do they have in the next?
What does it profit a man.............? (remember that Scripture, it may help)
As I have continued my walk with and growth in Jesus Christ, I have gained more patience and understanding, and my anger has lessened, but I fully know it's a daily struggle and I must lean on Christ to defeat this thorn............
As for yours.............remember the Scripture that says God causes it to rain on the just and the unjust..........that is what makes God a Just God............We should not regret what others receive/have, rather rejoice for what blessings God bestows upon us..............for we are not to store up our treasures in this world, but in the world to come............Those who are not believers that seem to have so much earthly wealth and possessions have their reward.........but what reward do they have in the next?
What does it profit a man.............? (remember that Scripture, it may help)
M
Thanks for that brother...if only my resentments were to the prosperous unbelievers ...alas it is toward the brethren ....those who have risen in the ranks - with whom I shared close fellowship- who now hold ranks in the church , have honour esteem and a life partner .....a car and good health who still slight me with their tone or attitude ..... how do I cope with not the anger at their attitude but the extent of their blessings ?
Well, that is quite different............note what I highlight in red...........any member of a congregation in whatever position who acts such as these are not acting in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
As well, the idea that they are to be "honored" or "esteemed" above other members of the congregation is also not in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The "life partner" comment bothers me somewhat...............are you simply saying they have a husband or wife? Any member of a congregation can have a husband or wife, surely that is not limited to those who serve in leadership positions.
Earthly possessions are not to be desired/coveted...............and just because one has a newer car, bigger home, whatever --- than another does not mean they are to be "honored greater" or "esteemed more" than any other member of a congregation.
Maybe you are seeking the wrong "blessings?" Don't know, and not knocking you........just saying........earthly possessions do not measure a persons spiritual blessings............
As well, the idea that they are to be "honored" or "esteemed" above other members of the congregation is also not in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The "life partner" comment bothers me somewhat...............are you simply saying they have a husband or wife? Any member of a congregation can have a husband or wife, surely that is not limited to those who serve in leadership positions.
Earthly possessions are not to be desired/coveted...............and just because one has a newer car, bigger home, whatever --- than another does not mean they are to be "honored greater" or "esteemed more" than any other member of a congregation.
Maybe you are seeking the wrong "blessings?" Don't know, and not knocking you........just saying........earthly possessions do not measure a persons spiritual blessings............
I would say that you must realize that Christianity isn't a "competition." It's not a contest of who can be the greatest Christian.....it's a heart thing........
God has a purpose for all of His children...........rather than seeking/desiring what another has.......seek after God's will for your life.......He has a purpose for you.............seek that and do that.............
God has a purpose for all of His children...........rather than seeking/desiring what another has.......seek after God's will for your life.......He has a purpose for you.............seek that and do that.............
D
We can look at ways to change your perceptions.
From Peter:
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result inpraise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
There is a lot of evidence in the bible that God does not spare the rod in those who are his:
[h=3]Hebrews 12:6-11[/h]New King James Version (NKJV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP]For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”[SUP][a][/SUP]
God has called you out on this because he wants you to stop looking at others and what they have. This is not love. Love is honoring the blessings they have and partaking in the joy of those whom you are supposed to love with a full heart.
Now, prosperity is not a blessing. I don't need to quote that one. Earthly fame is not a blessing. God loves those whom he requires greater patience and greater virtue. He meets us all fairly and justly. You don't have a good scope on the life of everyone involved. A person who is never challenged until cancer at age sixty will struggle more than a child who overcame cancer and had a relapse. In those challenges we are given the gift of seeing our faith in action and our trust in God grow.
And here is another thing. You have no right to be angry. Realize that while God is in control, your anger is calling him unjust and unfair towards you. I would warn you on being like this. My gut instinct would be the more you react in anger the more challenging things of this nature will become. Anger could be called a secondary emotion - most often fear is primary - your fear that God loves you less than these others. That is a critical fracture in your growth in Christ. You need to know that God loves you and has given you many blessings as well.
Our focus should be between ourselves and God. Not ourselves, others and God.
From Peter:
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result inpraise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
There is a lot of evidence in the bible that God does not spare the rod in those who are his:
[h=3]Hebrews 12:6-11[/h]New King James Version (NKJV)
[SUP]6 [/SUP]For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.”[SUP][a][/SUP]
God has called you out on this because he wants you to stop looking at others and what they have. This is not love. Love is honoring the blessings they have and partaking in the joy of those whom you are supposed to love with a full heart.
Now, prosperity is not a blessing. I don't need to quote that one. Earthly fame is not a blessing. God loves those whom he requires greater patience and greater virtue. He meets us all fairly and justly. You don't have a good scope on the life of everyone involved. A person who is never challenged until cancer at age sixty will struggle more than a child who overcame cancer and had a relapse. In those challenges we are given the gift of seeing our faith in action and our trust in God grow.
And here is another thing. You have no right to be angry. Realize that while God is in control, your anger is calling him unjust and unfair towards you. I would warn you on being like this. My gut instinct would be the more you react in anger the more challenging things of this nature will become. Anger could be called a secondary emotion - most often fear is primary - your fear that God loves you less than these others. That is a critical fracture in your growth in Christ. You need to know that God loves you and has given you many blessings as well.
Our focus should be between ourselves and God. Not ourselves, others and God.
I don't know God's plan for your life, but if you look at some of the biographies of some set aside for His divine purposes you can see wealth and prestige had very little to do with it. Job lost every possession including the respect of his wife and friends. Joseph was beaten by his brothers, sold into slavery, separated from his loving father, falsely accused and imprisoned. Elijah was hated, hunted down, suicidal, and ate some tasteless bread for years. The Apostles were tortured and martyred. As you can see the life we are living for is not this one its the one to come. Rather than compare yourself to those more fortunate, look to those who have no food to eat, no roof to shelter them, broken marriages, children who are suffering, then if God is truly working in your heart, you will soon see the wealth you posses and see that you even have some to share. Be of good cheer Mooky, Jesus is all you need!
D
You're welcome.
I've had the same thing to deal with, to be quite honest with you. Sometimes I refuse to go on facebook because while I'm struggling to live day to day (like the last week when I had no food for two days and was so thankful for the fresh bread, yes bread, someone bought me).
I sat there for a minute and thought, I am actually praising God to the high ends of heaven for this: bread.
It was like a rite of passage or something. haha
God loves you, he loves you enough to ask you to trust in his personal revelations to you from his work in your life.
S
When you compare yourself to others you are essentially tearing them down in your heart so that you can feel better about yourself.....so in essence you are holding them accountable to your expectations of what and how you think they and their lives should be. This may seem harsh but Jesus said that if you commit murder in your heart it makes you the same as a murderer.
I think you are fulfilling this statement from scripture: "judge not, lest ye be judged yourself, for the same measure you use it will be used against you". I believe this to be a temporal and not an eternal statement. I have a question for you.......how hard are you on yourself....how do you view and think about yourself?
I think you are fulfilling this statement from scripture: "judge not, lest ye be judged yourself, for the same measure you use it will be used against you". I believe this to be a temporal and not an eternal statement. I have a question for you.......how hard are you on yourself....how do you view and think about yourself?
S
Something about the people that you describe in your op make you insecure about yourself. Instead of facing whatever that insecurity and or fear is in you, you focus on what you perceive to be fault in them. Like Danalee said, anger is generally a secondary emotion with fear/insecurity as it underlying cause. If I was to guess it has something to do with your family of origin in an unresolved conflict.