7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.
8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?
9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.
Jealousy is a terrible sin. Saul was so jealous of David’s popularity that he watched and waited for opportunities to kill him. In spite of this, David so respected God’s choice that he refused to kill Saul, even knowing Saul’s intent.
I hope that you have never been the focus of someone’s envy or jealousy. It happens to children in school, to workers in all fields and positions, even to neighbors. Children can be bullied for being too smart, too attractive, for having better clothes, etc. Workers may find that others take credit for what someone else has done. Neighbors have been known to vandalize the property of those they envy. People have been fired when a jealous employee made up stories about misbehavior. God has given each of us the gifts that we need to accomplish the mission he has planned for us. We do not need to measure ourselves against anyone else. Someone will always be better looking or more intelligent, or wealthier, than you or I. That does not mean that God loves that other person more. It does not make that person better. God made each of us in his image and likeness – not some of us.
Let us all look to ourselves and see how we can be the best person we can be. Let us examine all the ways in which we can grow in our knowledge of God so that we can follow Jesus more closely. The only one our lives need to be pleasing to is God, and he already knows the gifts we have been given and he also knows how we can use them for our good and the good of others.
Gracious God, you have given us all we need to serve you and fulfill your mission for us. Let us look to you in gratitude and pray for guidance in using our gifts to the fullest, and not compare ourselves to others. Amen.
