What To Do with Envy and Jealousy.

On April 20, 2013, UNC-Charlotte played their 2013 Green and White Spring Game on the new McColl-Richardson Field. The 2013 Season was UNC-Charlotte’s first football season since 1948. Excitement permeated the campus as students, alumni, friends, and families gathered to watch a scrimmage between coach-selected squads.

Tailgating, cheers, chants, lots of food and drink, parties all around campus. As one reporter put it, “the fans were amped, they were alive.”¹ My wife and daughter, both graduates of UNCC, and I, along with some friends attended the game. I agree with the reporter’s assessment.

And then I spotted him.  The Official Fan Photographer!

When I posted my photo in my “photo-a-day” challenge, the caption read “I want to be this when I grow up…” I don’t know the age of the photographer, but at that point I was already in my mid-50s. Clearly, I’d grown up and then some. Not likely I’d become an official photographer of anything unless I changed my life focus. The idea was fun, but not serious.

Writing is different. Though I considered doing more with my photography, I decided to spend my energy on writing. While I enjoyed taking photos, God called me to write. Even with limited readership, I love practicing the craft. Whether working on a novel, writing a Sunday School lesson, or drafting a blog post, I relish doing what God called me to do.

Because I’ve chosen writing and success is important to me, it’s easy to feel a bit envious when I see other writers getting published and touting their new books. I may even question my decision, discipline—even my calling. Why them and not me? I might even dip my toe into the pool of jealousy.

For the sake of this post, I’m using envy as an emotion felt when you desire what someone else has. Jealousy is stronger and means you are concerned you may lose something important to you to someone.

Do you find yourself envious or even jealous of others?

Do you feel insecure around those you believe are doing what you want to do, be who you want to be, experience what you want to experience? How do you handle it when you feel that way?

The New Testament Corinthian church faced problems with envy and jealousy when it came to spiritual gifts. The Corinthian Christians became prideful of their gifts and dismissed the gifts of others. This caused division among believers.

Paul wrote to them in 1 Corinthians about a better way of life. That better way stood on the shoulders of love. He put it this way…

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant.” (1 Corinthians 13:4, NASB)

When we become envious or jealous, let’s take Paul’s advice to heart. Let’s love others. That way, we’ll have a hard time with envy and jealousy. And when we’ve reached our own milestones, we’ll not want to brag or show arrogance.

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When I see someone else succeed, I try to share their success with a wider audience. I pray for them. If appropriate, I write a note of congratulations. I show love the best I know how. Makes it real hard to be jealous after all that!

What about you? What tips do you have for the rest of us?

P.S. Even though I never became an Official Fan Photographer, I had the pleasure of photographing the Official Fan Photographer! Fun Times!

Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.

¹I used information from this report to supplement recalling my experience and this post. https://inside.uncc.edu/news-features/2013-04-22/football-%E2%80%93-true-value