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One of my favorite parts about mine and Michael’s evenings is after we’re done eating dinner. The candle is usually burning (and Moose has normally stopped begging by now). We pull our chairs back and just talk….

This last week it was one of those nights. I was sharing with Michael what I was learning in my morning quiet time–sharing with him the things in my life that the Lord was gently pulling back in my heart that didn’t honor Him. This particular thing was coveting. Envying what others might have. Being jealous of their things, place in life, season. (A reoccurring, constant struggle for me).

That morning before I started my quiet time I was journaling asking the Lord to help me (which He takes joy in answering that request!) with my coveting heart. Funny….I closed my journal, opened to the next day in my devotional and lo and behold….it was James 1:13-18. If you’re unfamiliar with that passage the basic gist of it goes like this: Each person is tempted when his own desires draw him away. That desire leads to sin. And that sin leads to death.

Ooookay. As if I wasn’t already feeling convicted of my discontent heart, the Lord said, “I’m going to reveal to you the weight of your sin.” You see, sometimes I think, “Oh, it’s just wanting that _____. That’s no big deal.” But here was Scripture ripping up that lie and replacing it with, “That desire for _____, that leads to sin. And sin brings about this thing called death!” Hello! My wishing for the ____ someone else had, or desiring the _____ season of life someone else was in? Not good.

God began teaching me through cross-references in my bible (because Scripture illuminates Scripture) that before I even begin desiring something, it starts with what I see. Let me give you an example: I open Pinterest and start scrolling. There I see a gorgeous white farmhouse kitchen! Oh how I’d love that! And seeing it begins to lead to desire. Now I desire that kitchen, aka: I’m ungrateful for the kitchen that I have. I’m jealous for what they have. I covet that kitchen and my thought process turns to this, “If only I had that white kitchen, then I’d be happy.” (Idol anyone?) It works for so much more. Exhibit B: Instagram. Scroll, scroll, scroll and all I see are successful entrepreneurs with businesses that are impacting lives. And then I want that. (Yep, you guessed it, desire). And together everyone—what have we learned about desire? Desire leads to sin, and sin death! It goes like this. I see something –> I desire it –> I sin –> I’m led to death.

As I was sharing this with Michael, I began asking him what he thought the opposite of coveting was. I proposed thankfulness.

Instead of wishing and desiring those things that I don’t have, I’ll recount the things that have been given to me with gratitude.

I could tell he was thinking.

Then he said something that changed my whole perspective on jealousy.
He said, “I think that thankfulness is the first step. But I don’t think that’s where it should end. I think equally important is celebration.”

I asked him what he meant. Wasn’t thankfulness the same thing as celebration?

Thankfulness is this: Recounting all the good gifts that the Lord has given to me and praising Him for them! This leads to a heart of gratitude! Michael calls this the shield.

But celebration is the sword. It’s the act of slaying any remaining jealousy.
Celebration is this: Entering into the blessings that others have been given and rejoicing with them! You see, I can be thankful for what I have and all the sudden my mind begins to be protected against incoming thoughts of desiring more. But when I go further and take the next step of celebrating with others what they have uniquely been given (with a genuine, authentic heart) it kills that envy all together. (With the help of the Holy Spirit of course!)

To celebrate with others is definitely the harder of the two. It’s an act of placing them above yourself. Of knowing their gifts, their talents, their new job, their growing business, their updated house, their promotion (you fill in the blank here) and ENTERING INTO THAT THING WITH THEM, rejoicing ALONGSIDE THEM and delighting ALONGSIDE THEM! And get this, to celebrate is a verb! It’s an action which means we have a response to the feeling of thankfulness. Don’t get me wrong, celebrating with others in the thing that you long for is hard. Really hard. But oh how it shifts your mindset, your attitude. How it wipes out that envy trying to grow inside you!

Friends, may we become people who love others well. Who recognize jealousy lingering in our hearts. May we recount and remember the ways and good gifts God has uniquely given each of us, guarding our hearts with them. And then may we go a step further and celebrate with one another in the good gifts Gods has uniquely given them! Amen?

Amen.