Envy, Part One
Jealousy is coarse and cruel. Envy is sneaky and subtle. Jealousy clutches and smothers. Envy is forever reaching, longing, squinting, thinking (and saying) sinister insinuations.

Written by Chuck Swindoll, these encouraging devotional thoughts are published seven days per week.
Jealousy is coarse and cruel. Envy is sneaky and subtle. Jealousy clutches and smothers. Envy is forever reaching, longing, squinting, thinking (and saying) sinister insinuations.
In all of this darkness, there is one beacon of light. People considering suicide usually want to be rescued. They leave clues that read, “Help me!”
The longer I live, the more I realize the scarcity of people who can be fully trusted with confidential information. The longer I live, the more I value those rare souls who fall into that category!
Stop lying to yourself, first, then to others, second. Honestly admit that cheating is self-deception, that the biggest loss is suffered by you, not by others.
Apprehension. It’s as American as a Chevy or TV dinners. And it’s strange. Apprehension is a notch or two above worry, but it feels like its twin.
Scriptural justification for this? Yes, indeed. In fact, the entire New Testament is filled with such directives. Of course, it’s easy to miss them when we are blinded by the most common disease known to humankind: selfishness.
Chances are very good, in fact, that there are those in your church fellowship who feel unwanted, forgotten, unloved (and unlovely!)—and are more lonely than words can express.
As we discussed yesterday, the church is overrun with parrots and virtually devoid of eagles. Too harsh? You decide.
Parrot people are much different than eagle thinkers. They like to stay in the same cage, pick over the same pan full of seeds, and listen to the same words over and over again until they can say them with ease.
We can make an idol out of anything or anyone in life. A church building can become an idol to us, when all the while it is simply a place to meet and worship our Lord—nothing more. Your child can become your idol...in subtle ways you can so adore that little one that your whole life revolves around the child.