I've been recently struck with a couple of challenges. Basically I feel jealous and I am often not very kind. These two things overlap in my life as the Lord has revealed to me that, when I am feeling jealous, unkindness flows from me. Just like when a dog is jealous for it's owner's attention, it might act unkind toward another dog.
A while back I wrote a post about social media (read it here) and explored a few of the reasons why I have avoided some of it. It is from a sense of pride that I would choose to enter into today's social media craze because I want attention from people. But because I have chosen to abstain, I often feel left out and jealous that other people seem to be connecting and having fun without me. These feelings are especially escalated when I hear that guys are texting, snapping, etc. some of the women I am close with because I know it feels good to have that attention and yet, partly because I don't want to get emotionally attached to a bunch of guys, I must keep holding myself back despite my feelings which would tempt me ultimately to search for security in the approval of mankind rather than in Jesus.
"Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places in the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is in the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and it is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.'" - Jeremiah 17:5-8
It is in these times when I feel jealous that I am also tempted to judge others for their use of social media and think of myself as superior to them in an effort to make me feel better. This prideful attitude that results from my initial jealous feeling hurts other people as I tear them down in my thoughts and sometimes my words. It is very unkind overall, and terribly sinful.
"For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world." - 1 John 2:16
"'Scoffer' is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride." - Proverbs 21:24
Yesterday I discovered a Christian talk show (listen to it here) which addressed a number of things I've been wondering about but the title specifically caught my attention as it read, "The Kindness Challenge." I was very thankful to have been reminded that it should not take much to show kindness as a Christian because kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Though I will still struggle, I want to be known as someone who is kind. Especially to those whom I've hurt, have hurt me, or had consistent conflict with. Simple words or acts of kindness can go a long way. Plus we are commanded by the Lord to, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32
The battle rages on.
A while back I wrote a post about social media (read it here) and explored a few of the reasons why I have avoided some of it. It is from a sense of pride that I would choose to enter into today's social media craze because I want attention from people. But because I have chosen to abstain, I often feel left out and jealous that other people seem to be connecting and having fun without me. These feelings are especially escalated when I hear that guys are texting, snapping, etc. some of the women I am close with because I know it feels good to have that attention and yet, partly because I don't want to get emotionally attached to a bunch of guys, I must keep holding myself back despite my feelings which would tempt me ultimately to search for security in the approval of mankind rather than in Jesus.
"Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places in the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is in the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and it is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.'" - Jeremiah 17:5-8
It is in these times when I feel jealous that I am also tempted to judge others for their use of social media and think of myself as superior to them in an effort to make me feel better. This prideful attitude that results from my initial jealous feeling hurts other people as I tear them down in my thoughts and sometimes my words. It is very unkind overall, and terribly sinful.
"For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life - is not from the Father but is from the world." - 1 John 2:16
"'Scoffer' is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride." - Proverbs 21:24
Yesterday I discovered a Christian talk show (listen to it here) which addressed a number of things I've been wondering about but the title specifically caught my attention as it read, "The Kindness Challenge." I was very thankful to have been reminded that it should not take much to show kindness as a Christian because kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Though I will still struggle, I want to be known as someone who is kind. Especially to those whom I've hurt, have hurt me, or had consistent conflict with. Simple words or acts of kindness can go a long way. Plus we are commanded by the Lord to, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32
The battle rages on.
nice blog!
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