Envy!
Envy is one of the seven deadly sins. I am not sure if I am guilty of it today, but I may have been in the past. I am glad God forgets my sins because it is probably a good thing that I have already forgotten all of my past sins. Every day is a new day. We can choose good or evil. We can dwell on how good God has been to us or dwell on how good God has been to others.
Both of our readings today revolve around envy. I recently watched part of the Movie, “Casablanca” with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. It is a perfect story of love, envy, betrayal and forgiveness. Every time that I watch it, I notice something different in the plot or dialog. We all know how the story ends. The same is true of scripture. Jeremiah 29:11 God has a plan for our lives.
The secession of Christ goes from Israel to Reuben. You may wonder why not Joseph. He was the good guy in the story. Nonetheless, God chose David over his older brother. Even though Joseph was reunited with Israel and saved his family from starvation. Still God also chose Reuben in the line of secession to Christ. It is important to note that God chooses the good and the not so good to build the Kingdom of God.
Many years ago as a young man, I was fired from one job that I loved. I loved the people I worked with and was happy at my church. However, one of my supervisors at the time was not happy with me. I was fired. At the time I was living in another state. Since I was fired and single, I moved back to the city where my parents lived. I was very depressed by all of this but got a better paying job. God’s plan was working.
As it turned out that wasn’t the only reason the Lord inspired my termination. My parents were getting older, and they needed me to help. My dad died three years after the move. My sister and I helped take care of my mother until her death. My Mom lived on her own but never drove a car. So I would help around the house and take her to the grocery store.
Sometimes the injustices of life work out to help family and looking back we forget the bad times, because there is so much to be thankful for today. ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them.
Is Jesus speaking of me as well?
That is the question. God’s plan can redeem our most sinful intentions and turn them into His purpose and Glory. Reuben sinned but even though his sin was scarlet, God used him to save Joseph and ensured the genealogy of Jesus. I encourage you to find ways to avoid sin, repent and produce fruit that will build the Kingdom of God. It is time to forgive friends and family that have wronged us. Don’t close doors, but open them and let the Kingdom of God come into our lives.
Going back to the movie, “Casablanca”, Rick the character played by Bogart ended up saving lives and began a “beautiful friendship” with Louie the policeman. What better time to build the Kingdom of God and relationship with our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
God Love You Always,
Bob Burford
PS: Please pray for Cancer victims. Please pray for Peace in the Ukraine and the salvation and physical and mental well being of the Ukrainian people. Pray for the salvation of the Russian people.
