Readings for today: 1 Samuel 18:5-19:24, John 8:31-59, Psalms 112, Proverbs 15:12-14
"Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands." (1 Samuel 18:7)
It doesn’t take much to ruin a relationship. A friendship. A partnership. Saul and David’s relationship began with such great potential. David was Saul’s champion against Goliath. David was humble and aspired to nothing more than service to his king. David didn’t pose any kind of threat to Saul. In fact, quite the opposite. Everywhere David went, the armies of Saul had success. Every battle David fought, the armies of Saul won. David was Saul’s greatest general. His greatest asset. Their partnership could have re-shaped the geopolitics of the entire region. Sadly, Saul fell prey to envy. He simply could not and would not share any glory with another. So when they returned in victory over the Philistines and the women ascribed greater glory to David, Saul became angry. The more David experienced success, the more Saul’s jealousy grew. Finally, things came to a breaking point when Saul tried to take David’s life. Such is the power of envy in a person’s life.
Ultimately, the sin of envy is rooted in discontent. We believe we deserve more than what we have. We aspire for greater position. Greater power. Greater wealth. Greater influence. We believe we’ve been wronged. Passed over. Dismissed. When we see others around us seemingly getting ahead. Collecting awards. Achieving success. We perceive it as a diminishment. We fall for the lie that their success somehow highlights our failure. Their victories somehow bring to light our defeats. We measure ourselves against them and are found wanting. As soon as envy sets in, it is tough to root out. It warps our thinking. It clouds our vision. It changes our perceptions of reality.
I think of how envious I have been in my life. I remember as a young pastor just starting out how envious I was of my colleagues who led larger congregations, held greater influence in our city, and seemingly got all the press. I remember going through difficult times in my marriage or with my children and envying those around me whose marriages and families seemed to be so strong. To this day, I struggle with the sin of envy. Always comparing myself to those who have achieved more than I ever will in my life.
What’s the antidote to envy? Godly contentment. Resting in the truth that it is God who directs my life. God who commands my destiny. God who holds my future in His hands. My life is not my own. My achievements and success are not mine to claim. This life is not about me and my glory. It is about God and God alone. Jesus understood this, of course, when He says in John 8:54, “My glory is nothing.” The Son of God didn’t come to glorify Himself but to bring glory to His Heavenly Father. He didn’t come to accomplish His own will but to fulfill the Father’s plan. He didn’t come seeking His own success but sought first His Father’s Kingdom and righteousness. Because Jesus was faithful to His Father, He was exalted. He was lifted high. He was given the name above every name. Imagine if Saul rested in God? Imagine if Saul truly understood that the glory of Israel had nothing to do with him and everything to do with God? Imagine if Saul saw his role in God’s Kingdom clearly? David would never have been a threat no matter how many ten thousands he killed. Imagine what would happen if you and I rested in God? If we truly understood the glory of our lives was not our own but the Lord’s? Imagine if we saw our role in God’s Kingdom clearly and we embraced it with joy? Would that not put an end to envy in our lives?
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 20-21, John 9, Psalms 113-114, Proverbs 15:15-17