The Emotion of Displeasure by Rodney Howard Browne

Have you been envious of somebody else’s success? Perhaps your neighbor brought home a mint vehicle this week, or maybe somebody at work just got the promotion you desired. When eventualities like these stir up inexplicable reactions inside us, we just might have an issue.

Envy is the emotion of displeasure on seeing some other person’s good fortune. Are your sentiments always the clearest indicator of truth? Most frequently, the answer’s no. In fact, Scripture announces that our hearts are “deceitful” ( Jeremiah 17:9 ). We must instead concentrate on what we are true: God’s Word.

Let me ask you a query : what pleases you? Does your joy rely on possessions and accolades, or do you draw your pleasure from the Lord? If your pleasure is in “things,” then you should expect a tussle with envy at any moment. In our proud spirit, we believe that we have entitlement to somebody else’s blessings. In a way, we are pronouncing, “God, You gave this thing to that person, but you must have given it to me. You were wrong.” We may not say it so really, but our actions could be talking louder than our words. When you’re feeling the beginnings of an envious angle, ask God to refocus your attention from “things” back onto Him.

Have you been envious of somebody else’s success? Maybe your neighbor brought home a mint auto this week, or perhaps someone at work just got the promotion you desired. When situations like these stir up inexplicable reactions inside us, we just might have an argument. Envy is the emotion of displeasure on seeing someone else’s good fortune.

Are your affections always the clearest indicator of truth? Most often, the answer’s no.
Truthfully , Scripture asserts that our hearts are “deceitful” ( Jeremiah 17:9 ). We must instead focus on what we are true: God’s Word. Let me ask you a question : what pleases you? Does your joy depend on possessions and accolades, or do you draw your pleasure from the Lord? If your pleasure is present in “things,” then you can expect a tussle with envy at any moment.

In our proud spirit, we believe that we have entitlement to someone else’s blessings. In a way, we are announcing, “God, You gave this thing to that person, but you must have given it to me. You were wrong.” We may not say it so truly, but our actions may be chatting louder than our words. When you’re feeling the beginnings of an envious angle, ask God to refocus your attention from “things” back onto Him.