Today’s Reading, Genesis 30-31
Focal Scripture: Genesis 31:5 “He said to them, “I can see from your father’s face that his attitude toward me is not the same as before, but the God of my father has been with me.”
When things go well for you, do the people in your life celebrate your victories or do they try to diminish what is happening. I once dealt with a person that would look for any opportunity to criticize me or find a problem with anything I was involved with. It got even worse when other people would compliment what I was doing to this individual. Once this person saw me again they would attempt to complain and criticize every decision that I made. Instead of celebrating victories, this individual, had a heart of destruction, especially when they were not being promoted.
In today’s reading, Jacob realizes that Laban has turned his face against him and it broke the relationship. Laban was excited when he had Jacob as a worker. However, now Jacob is being blessed more and it is intimidating Laban. Laban was jealous of another persons success because he wanted it all for himself.
So what about you? Do you celebrate other people, even if it means that you aren’t celebrated? The Bible teaches us that we should lift one another up, especially when they are successful. The Bible also teaches us that we shouldn’t have a heart that is prideful. We should consider others above ourselves. We should promote others even when things are not going our way. If God chooses to bless an individual that should be a moment for celebration, not destruction.
I want you to examine yourself on how you treat others who are successful. I also want you to ask yourself if you promote others who have what you want? Jealousy has no place in the Kingdom of God. It also has no place amongst individuals. As believers we should be careful who we let into our circles of influence. Because when God begins to move in your life you need promoters not destroyers.
A hard lesson to learn is one where you see the jealousy and vindictiveness of people. In these people you see a heart that is focused on themselves and not on the Lord. You see a personality that does not need to be in leadership. You also see a mentality that is never happy and looks to cause division. True friends will celebrate your victories even when their own personal life is falling apart.
So what type of friend are you? Are you a friend who celebrates others? Our hearts should always be toward the good of other people. When we don’t live that way it reveals a cold and wicked heart. Our calling is to live like Jesus and that means making people a priority, especially in building them up as individuals.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Genesis 32-34
