Nougat 21

What happens when you lose your footing? For me, it is complete disaster, as I have had knee problems and losing my footing means the problem has been exacerbated. For others, it’s probably not as worrisome, we just get back up again. Whether some of us sustain injuries or not, it can be uncomfortable and so, we usually try to avoid spaces that would realize the problem. But are we as careful when it’s our spiritual journey? Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The psalmist is clear. Envy can derail us. In the natural and the spiritual. For when envy becomes misguided, our focus shifts from God and our assignment to an individual or organization which becomes ‘competition’, ‘idol’, or worse yet, the ’enemy’. While friendly competition is considered healthy, envy that encourages living like the Jones’s is dangerous. This has the potential to foster rash and expensive decisions, fueled by the enemy of our souls to push us further and further away from God.

Remember Cain and Abel? (See Genesis 4) When God rejected Cain’s sacrifice, he was consumed with envy and permanently eliminated the competition – his own brother. No matter how God warned him ‘sin is crouching at your heart’s door’, Cain had zero interest in God’s voice. It was the same thing with King Saul, Israel’s first king. Fairly humble in his approach to life, he was the king for the season until David came of age. His kingship was not in question initially, but a series of unfortunate events resulted in his ‘impeachment’ and in his stead, David was anointed. But word on the street was that David eclipsed him. The intensity of the envy made David an idol, he was totally consumed by pursuing David, though it was a negative desire. Under the influence of envy, Saul gave himself fully over to the pursuit of David, with one intent. Murder. Years later, Herod had a similar response on hearing about Jesus’s birth – he claimed he wanted to ‘worship’. God knew his motive and saved the day. In Envy we can lose our footing!

The psalmist reminds us that that doesn’t have to be our end. We can regain our footing and not devolve into sin. Our response to envious thoughts does not have to result in murder, pursuit or such evil actions.

1. James 3:14 invites us to acknowledge the reality, without bragging on it. By recognizing our envy, we confirm that there is potential to slip.

2. Having acknowledged our reality, we initiate accountability and restoration by confessing our sin to God.

3. We can also work on pinpointing what is causing the envy, and seek to improve our skills or allow ourselves release from feelings of inadequacy. Either option involves others, so we’re also improving our accountability. This does not always mean broadcasting our sin, rather it’s about eliminating recurrence.

4. Strengthen ourselves by meditation on God’s Word and perhaps genuinely befriending the source of our envy. I’m hoping that the value of the friendship will preserve our footing and prevent spiritual injuries.

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Siblings, we can, must and will regain our footing by staying focused on Christ, and by maintaining a vibrant prayer life.

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May all we seek be found in Christ