I’m sure all of us have felt ENVIOUS of someone at some point.

• Maybe she is blessed with a height of a model’s and you’re just barely 5 feet.
• Or maybe he drives a new Volvo, while you only drive a hand-me-down from your father.
• You think you’re not as smart as him/ her, and you only have average grades.
• Or your best friend is always the one on the spotlight while you always have to take the backseat just to let her shine.

We all have our insecurities. It is in our human nature to never be contented with anything, be it our present lifestyle, our economic status, our appearance, or even the people we’re currently with. So, we channel all these negative vibes into envying someone who seems to have what we don’t. And thus, we constantly find ourselves slowly whining about the ‘unfairness’ of life when in reality, we aren’t really doing anything to get ourselves out of our present rut.

In short, we’re not saving ourselves. We’re just digging our own graves a little deeper than before.

One of the strongest stories in the Bible about envy is Chapter 4 of Genesis, where Cain killed Abel because the former was envious of the latter’s favor in God’s eyes. Back then, Cain always gave fruits as offering to God while Abel offered the fat portions of the meat from some of his flock. Driven by his envy, Cain brought Abel to the fields and killed him.

He received his due punishment of course. But this hasn’t changed the fact that Cain even went as far as killing his OWN BROTHER, his own flesh and blood, just because God favors Abel more than him. Because of the green-eyed monster, he committed a grave sin and even disobeyed the Lord.

Every time we get jealous of others, every time we covet others’ properties, every time we let that green-eyed monster take over our disposition, WE COMMIT A SIN TO THE LORD, although indirectly. There’s a reason why we’re in our present conditions right now, and there’s also a reason why we were created this way. Wanting what others have is like saying that we don’t like what God gave us. 

But we all know that God is the master architect. HE IS THE MASTER DESIGNER. Therefore, all of us are HIS masterpieces. That person might have something you don’t have but that doesn’t mean that he is better than you. We were all created differently, in God’s own version of uniqueness, so it makes sense that we’re all different from each other right? If all of us were created having the perfect attributes and sporting the same IDEAL appearance, then we’re just like the same Barbie dolls being manufactured in a toy company. Just like everyone else. Yes, we have the perfect lives we have always dreamed of.

But so is the rest of the world.

God designed us in such an imperfect way, and yet He wants us to use this imperfectness to become perfect in His eyes. Because we all have the potential to be.

He made us imperfect so someday, we can find imperfect persons like us, and together, we complement each other. Together, we become perfect in each other’s eyes.

The next time you become envious of someone, think of your OWN characteristics that make you shine above the rest.

• Still envious of her long legs? Naaah. Not anymore. Petite girls are cute.
• Still envious of his new Volvo? Don’t be! At least, yours is vintage! :))) And when that car breaks down, you’ll have a chance now to ask your dad to buy you a newer model. 
• Still envious of his stellar grades? Well at least, you can take it easier in studying. Sometimes, when people are so grade-conscious, they slowly forget the real joy in ACTUALLY learning.
• Still envious of your best friend? Just be proud that you have a best friend like her! Your shining moment will come too, and I’m sure she will be as proud and as supportive as you were with her before.

And don’t forget to always, always pray. It’s hard to fight this temptation. That’s why we have our prayer hotline to GOD, open 24/7 <3

I’ll end this devotion with a short prayer. Every time you feel jealous of someone, you can pray this:

“God, give me the strength to overcome my insecurities today. I may not be like him/ her but I am me. The me You designed and created. Your beloved daughter/ son. Help me not to envy others anymore. Help me to be contented with what You gave me. Because YOU are the greatest designer of all, and I know that whatever happens, I’ll still be your best creation.”

Have a blessed week ahead of you! <3