What if all the stuff present in our life is causing what matters most to be absent from our lives?
John 13:34-35 ESV
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Life isn’t about how many LIKES you get, but it’s about how much love you show.
Types of Envy
1. Financial
2. Relational
3. Circumstantial
Philippians 4:10-14 ESV
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
Contentment is Learned and Fleshed out in:
– Adaptability
– Dependency
– Mutuality
Ecclesiastes 2:11 ESV
11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
Adaptability
James 3:14-16 NIV
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
Exodus 20:17 ESV
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Proverbs 15:15 NLT
15 For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
Dependency
Philippians 4:13 ESV
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Mutuality
Philippians 4:14 NLT
14 Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
1 John 3:18 NLT
18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.