Topic: How do you react towards others’ blessings?
Bible Reading: Genesis 37
Memory Verse: Genesis 37: 4b
… they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
Good morning ladies and gentlemen! How are you all doing? I am great; by God’s Grace! How is your morning so far? Mine has been great so far! I am trusting God that the day would be great and filled with many pleasant surprises. Well, we continue our journey through Genesis 37. We would be exploring our actions and reactions to other people’s blessings/ promotions/ favour. How do you react to the news that the young boy who was last in class is now the CEO of a Fortune 500 company? Or your colleague at work won a big deal for the company? Let us see what we have to do as Christians!
From the memory verse, we see that Joseph’s brother were jealous of the amount of love and favour he was receiving from their father. This jealousy, then, turned into hatred. This hatred grew and filled their hearts that they could not speak to him kindly. There are many cases of this amongst our Christians brothers and sisters. And even between blood siblings; just like Joseph and his brothers. As Christians why do we do this? Do you do this when you hear or see the favour upon other people’s lives? Do you know some examples of people who do this?
Well, this must stop. As Christians we must support and encourage one another. When someone is soaring high, we must be happy for them Why? Well, because the world is full of seasons and times. Someone’s season is now; yours might be next year or in two years. Just know that your season is the right time for you to shine. Do not hate on people or feel jealous when you hear or see of someone’s greatness.
Why do you hate another person’s blessing? Do you know by doing so you have sinned? Hatred and jealousy are not from God! God does not like people who are driven by these emotions because they do not listen to Him. Their mind, soul and heart are filled with malice. God cannot reach out to talk to them. This could lead someone to miss their blessings. How? Well, God might be trying to talk to you, to direct you to your blessing. As you are not fixated on Him and you are distracted, you can miss this! I pray that this not your portion.
I pray that the Holy Spirit fills you; to help you to understand the importance of timing and love towards others. Hatred for other people’s blessing shows a huge gap/ hole in your understanding of love. Love for others is shown physically through support and joy for others.