The Envy Behind Action.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)
Sherlock Holmes and Watson walked in silence until Holmes spoke up. “No, Watson, we should go to the post office now to see if your doctor has posted that letter to you.”
Dr Watson was astounded. “How did you know that was what I was thinking? How did you know I am expecting a letter from my doctor?”
“Elementary, my dear Watson,” the detective drawled. “As soon as we stepped out the door, your hand went to your pocket to check you still had the keys to the house. Normally that would lead to a sense of security and freedom to think different thoughts, yet you seemed a little preoccupied with your keys, leaving your hand in your pocket and jingling them. The expression on your face indicated some thought, and I realized that there must be more on that key ring than merely the keys to the house. I remembered you telling me recently you had opened a post office box downtown, and surmised that you were thinking about some incoming mail. Since you have recently visited the doctor, I thought that perhaps an important letter from your physician might be expected. You then took your hand out of your pocket and pressed it against your abdomen and I concluded that I was right and that the incoming letter would contain some important information about pain in your abdominal area. Then you raised your head suddenly in a manner that people take when dismissing a thought from their minds, I daresay with the thought that you would check your mail another time. Hence my comment.”[1]
We are just as confused as Watson about our sinful actions, attitudes and words that seemingly come out of the blue, but the connection between envy and other sins is far more direct than the connection Holmes traced from stepping out the door to his comment to Watson. It is seems strange that most people would agree that envy is bad, but few people recognize it in action.
Gary [my pastor] provided a long yet still incomplete list of the different negative things that can develop as a result of envy – anorexia, adultery, bitterness, gossip, insecurity to name a few. I invite you to do the same. Sit down and trace a variety of sins to their beginnings. You will suddenly see envy everywhere. That is because, like love, envy can be an engine under the surface that unconsciously drives us – usually where we don’t want to go. There can only be one engine. Love does not envy. An important part of learning to love is to recognize and confess “false engines”. This requires honesty and humility. Ask God to help you see where envy has infiltrated your life and ask that he will help you replace that envy with love.
[1] This is based on a situation with different characters and details that I once read in a detective book. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to track it down.
[This is taken from "Love Does Not Envy", Day 2, Week 3 of the Love Devotions.]
Sherlock Holmes and Watson walked in silence until Holmes spoke up. “No, Watson, we should go to the post office now to see if your doctor has posted that letter to you.”
Dr Watson was astounded. “How did you know that was what I was thinking? How did you know I am expecting a letter from my doctor?”
“Elementary, my dear Watson,” the detective drawled. “As soon as we stepped out the door, your hand went to your pocket to check you still had the keys to the house. Normally that would lead to a sense of security and freedom to think different thoughts, yet you seemed a little preoccupied with your keys, leaving your hand in your pocket and jingling them. The expression on your face indicated some thought, and I realized that there must be more on that key ring than merely the keys to the house. I remembered you telling me recently you had opened a post office box downtown, and surmised that you were thinking about some incoming mail. Since you have recently visited the doctor, I thought that perhaps an important letter from your physician might be expected. You then took your hand out of your pocket and pressed it against your abdomen and I concluded that I was right and that the incoming letter would contain some important information about pain in your abdominal area. Then you raised your head suddenly in a manner that people take when dismissing a thought from their minds, I daresay with the thought that you would check your mail another time. Hence my comment.”[1]
We are just as confused as Watson about our sinful actions, attitudes and words that seemingly come out of the blue, but the connection between envy and other sins is far more direct than the connection Holmes traced from stepping out the door to his comment to Watson. It is seems strange that most people would agree that envy is bad, but few people recognize it in action.
Gary [my pastor] provided a long yet still incomplete list of the different negative things that can develop as a result of envy – anorexia, adultery, bitterness, gossip, insecurity to name a few. I invite you to do the same. Sit down and trace a variety of sins to their beginnings. You will suddenly see envy everywhere. That is because, like love, envy can be an engine under the surface that unconsciously drives us – usually where we don’t want to go. There can only be one engine. Love does not envy. An important part of learning to love is to recognize and confess “false engines”. This requires honesty and humility. Ask God to help you see where envy has infiltrated your life and ask that he will help you replace that envy with love.
[1] This is based on a situation with different characters and details that I once read in a detective book. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to track it down.
[This is taken from "Love Does Not Envy", Day 2, Week 3 of the Love Devotions.]
posted by Ali at 8:23 PM
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